Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-07-02
From the Christian Citizen.
THE HEROIC AGE OF THE UNI
TED STATES.


TED STATES.
The ten years that Immediately succee-
ded the Declaration of Peace, constituted
the heroic age of the United States. II
was the age of military bands and bards
the great reign of cockade and epau-
lettes; when those who had been peaceful
citizens in The war, became valorous sol
dlers. and charged the air with long undu
Iatlng rows of bayonets, and scorched the
trees and clouds and Themselves with the
vlllaInous saltpetre. 1t was the great era
Of trainband chivalry, when every able
bodied man was summoned to the parade,
to charge his gun with powder, and him
self with rum; when corporals and other
distinguished men did doughty deeds on
the village green, aud captured hearts at
the head OF sections Z; when the whole
village assembled with beating hearts, and
mothers, with infants in their arms, stood
swetering in the sun 10 see the trainers
when the rustic swain who had we'll nigh
lost his suit in his Sunday clothes. became
irresistible in his fair ones ewes when he
dnnned the uniform Of tranband Mars.
There is no period of equal duration in
our history, when SO many influences CO.
operated TO make the war spirit the mania
OF the people. 1t put old age, manhood
and infancy under martial law. Itturned
the nursery into little military camp.
where the associations, impressions and
OBJECTS of war were the first impressed
upon the infant mind. When the little
things nestled within its bulrush ark, and
strained It's eyes to see what kind Of n
world II was born into, to look for some
object 10 love, It's mother satisfied its year
ming instincts with miniature instruments
OF war, It's constant companions were
soldiers equipped in pastry and squad
rons of fierce looking troopers Of sug gar,
guarded lis cradle. AS soon as the bow
had donned the garments which were to
distinguish his sex, his father celebrated
that public distinction by presenting hum
wooden sword, with several inches Of the
point painted red to suggest It's bloody de-
sign. AT this point OF his military edu-
cation, he was piled with q set Of inhuen-
ces which have ceased 10 exist.
In every neighborhood there were al
ways several Revolutionary soldiers, whose
hearts burned within them while recount
ing from house to house, the thrilling re-
m'nIscences of that long struggle. And
the l'ttIe fellow stared with extasy atthose
strange stories. Holding on to grandpa's
knee, he looked up into his face with start
ling interest, while the garrulous old man
was rccounting 10 4 contemporary the
dreadful fatigue of Bwgoyne How it
fired his young heart to see the old man
turn the right wing of the British army
with his crutch, while the other limping
veteran took them in flank with his staff.
and routed them horse and foo: over a sim
gle mug Of hard cider. He now begins
10 have presentlment that he is to be
man. In his Illicit explorations about the
Kitchen, paror and garnet, he has discov-
cred his fathers gun, his cartridge box,
the lcd-tipped plume, and particolorsd
coat. From that moment ha looks with
sovereign contempt upon his tin and pew
ter dragons. He will be pacifed with no
compromise with his mother or sisters
he spurns with Indignation all illusions to
The shortness of his legs; he will no; be
bought off with any promise of larger
troopers i'll wax or wood !; but insists upon
being led to the parade to see the trainers.
Ills lalhsr acquiesces with an air of fcign-
ed reluctance but his mother, charging
him h;m not TO get before the guns, stands |
long in the doorway under pretence of re.
teratlng that charge, bat really to admire
the martial bearing of her husband, who
knows she is looking at him and wonder
ing al the difference between a military
coat and a farmers frock.
The boy comes home with eve, larger
than his fathers; and the visions of that
day iil- all his dreams for the next wear. /
lie ventures out into the street alone, and
with the first boys he meets he forms a
military association. They march by sec
tons or in Indian .fle, as they call it, to
the same district school. The school-mis-
tress makes them spell by patoons; and
the boy that hits the target the oftene,t in
the eye, she sends strutting home with a
penny epaulotte pinned 10 his shoulder
HIS exutlng parents respond 10 this reward
of merit, and give him n couple of Indian
crackers or copper. If the latter, mil
itary fund is established, and the next dav
at noon, goose quilts loaded with powder
'io SiootIHB dOOul tie SCHOOL mouse llOOr.
More extensive operations in the fascina-
ling combustible succeed. a contribution
is levied upon all fusible things in the Gel
lar, kitchen and garnet; and the next week.
when the first class Of boys arise to read.
every mothers son of them has a leaden
plummet, pewter button or the handle of
a pewter mug in his pocket for some pat
riotio object
Alter many serious givings out nd Civ
ngs IN, pewter cannon is added TO The
letcnccs of the country, and then comes the
tug of war. On the mex: Fourth of july.
our Juvenile and honorable artillery com
pany appear on The village green, and con-
tend for the mastery of the village swivel
for then every village has swivel, as
much as minister. Submitting to sub.
ordinate capacity. they are content TO bring
turf and bricks TO be rammed down the lit
lie rusty ordnance, and rum and sugar from
The store to charge their parents with; re-
relvlng in return the sweelened sediments
oil hundred glasses 10 inspire them on to