Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-08-05
From the ST. Louis Revcilic.
T AK E TT OF
BY SOLITAIRE.

Take 1t cool" Is very common piece of ad-
vice, often gratuitously rendered to Young qentle
man OF warm temperament, when he is about to
tear his under garment but the advice is often dis
regarded, to the great detrmen of superficial sur
iaces and the dlscoioration Of exposed parts of the
human face divine In the above mentioned case
the advice might be proftably followed, but there
are circumstances which forbid the quiet and un-
moved contemplation of an approaching crisis To
say to man who is seated i'm falling building
take 1T cool, would be mockery of his situation
or TO whisper TO three hundred passengers upon a
magnificent steamship, as it is running with full
mead OF steam, bows on TO tine main nd to ''pos-
sess themselves ola frigid state" would be down
right aggravaon Of their position. 1t is also suffi-
Client cause for hostile rencontre to grin at de-
1eated candidate, and tell him to "take il cool -
but there are cases which, as a modern romancer
would say, in point Of downright provocation, rise
IN sublime magnitude above all these, and will
endeavor to make good the assertion by presenting
an example.
In the wild days of Mssouri-no one, we pre-
sumo, will dispute its present civilized state-a
number of the more eXcitable and adventurous
young officers of our gallant army We're stationed
at Council Bluffs, TO guard the frontier from the
incursions of wild and then powerful tribes which
roamed in that immediate neighborhood In their
isolated position they had little to destroy the mo-
notony OF life except an occasional march to check
some tribe which was warming into hostility. or
IN inventng and playing off tricks upon each other
1t mattered not how outrageous, or dangerous, or
ridiculous, any devllment practised upon one off.
Ger by another should be, they never for once grew
angry, but the victim merely set his wits to work
toll possible, surpass his own case by retort on
his adversary. Lieutenant who was particular
y good at these practical jokes because his dirni-
He'd and cool manner made him less suspected than
dnC had rNl.t ar
Lieutenant who had delightful lisp A short
time after at az. evening card party in his quarters,
the dignhed Joker was eypatiating several off
GERS, among them his lisping victim, how very be-
coming 1t is for man, under all circumstances 70
keep cool, and RENAL ked moreover that in his own
case 1t was constitutional habit in the face of the
most threatening consequences, to retain nerve
which dehed surprise The advantage Of such
temperament was enlarged upon the chances it af
forded of escape from danger particularly pointed
out, and general ascent given to its great value in
the possession of military man.
well, Jim" inquired the sping friend. chow
would you do, thopothe thel with an inch fnthee
'houid crop ltthelf INTO high walled auple i'm
which you had taken shelter from company of
tharp thootertl'. and where it wath therain if you
poked out yonr nothe you'd get peppered!'
CHOW % said the other, winking at the circle,
'why, take it cool, and spit on the fi,scen'
"Yeth, ttath true" answered the lispnq leu
tenant, apparently perfectly satisfied, aud another
wink travelled round the circle Of optics.
The party broke up, and all retired for the night
except the patrols, who continued their rounds, as
we believe they generally do on military posts un-
I'll morning goes into fragments, when the air of
hustle and activity began its hum in the barracks
The soldiers were passing from their several quar-
tiers, and soon there were a number gathered upon
the parade. Presently several officers assembled,
ia oil, Il.
the lIsPng Lieutenant; he looked at the group and
Immediately passed into the quarters of his digni-
fled friend, who was still in bed.
"Ah, is that you, Charley said the sleepy
Lieutenant, iaziiy opening his eyes.
''Yeth JIM" said the lisper, 81 want to try an
experiment thith morning. and thee how d--n cool
yen Gun be !" saying whici, he walked deliberate
ly uPto the fire burning upon the hearth. and
placed in its hottest centre po,oder canister and
instantly retreated.
There was but one mode OF egress from the
quarters, and that was upon the parade ground
the rear being built up for defence against attack
The occupant took one glance at the fire. saw the
canister, and comprehending his situation in mo-
ment, he dashed at the door, but his friend had it
fast on the outside
Charley, let me out, if you love me ?'' shouted
the occupant of the quarters
"Thpa on the canister, Jim )" shouted he in re-
turn.
Not moment was TO be lost-he at first snatch
ed blanket to cover his egress, but now dropping
At, ne raised the window and out he bounced-sans
cultottes, sans every thing but very short under
garment; and thus, with hair almost on an end, he
dashed upon full parade ground. The shout
which hailed him brought out the whole barracks
to see what was the matter, and the diGnified
Lieutenant pulled tall Sergeant in front of him to
hide his parade dress.
"Why didn't you hpH on it, Jim ?" inquired
Charley.
because there was no sharp shooters in front to
stop retreat" answered Jim.
"All got to thay ith," says Charley, ''that
you might thafely have done it, for III thware there
wathn't grain Of powder in it,"
Under volley now of the sharpest kind fslloot-
ing, the cool and dignfed Lieutenant rereated in
to his quarters, perfectly satisfied TO acknowledge
that under some circumstances, it is not very easy
to take cootty?