Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-10-24
From the New York Tribune.
Training Day In New York.

Yesterday was 80 Gneral Trainin Day. for those
unfortunates who could would not fork up the
seventy fve-cent excuse There poor show,
however only here and there forlorn hope of half
a-dozen wretches who looked for all the world if
thew were newly captured Mexicans wofully latter
ed by marching through chapparal. One squad,
which seemed unusually smart, consisted of ten men
besides the officer. The latter functionary had
rusty sword and one of the decemvirs bore huge
horse-pistol; these were the only weapons in the
crowd. One seedy white hat a shiny
cap, one Panama sadly dilapdated and one CLOS
sy Knox which gave him world of uneasiness be-
cause of the rain. Nine of the ten rather he
low the ordinary longitude, while the remaining
whole nearly seven feet high. His tremen-
dous altitude was the cause of much annoyance to
the fussy little officer, from the fact that he
the lofty one-owned the big pistol and persisted in
doing the musket exercise with it. Finally to equal
ize the matter, the officer induced Mr.. Lanky Tow
ers put his broad pedestals in the gutter while the
short fellows ranged along the curb-stone and he
managed to make things pretty nearly even. The
evolutons of this party unique and instructive
umbrellas and did excellent service and
ry shoulder up went the shades and the drip
ping cane-bearers leaned up to the parasol-owners
like invalid kittens towards warm building materials.
Instead of music, mschievous boy knocked march
out of barrel-head. as the woful ten gave their
field exercises, and pegged to and fro at the word of
command. At last the officer got the squad into
proper trim and ordered charge upon a coal-box
Immediately in front, but by skillfu evasion, the
detour around soft-soap barrel and brought up at
the counter in the rear of the grocery, where the
charge resulted in two-and-six- pence against the
long fellow, with cigars the officer. The remain
der of the . trainin = was conducted n the same
place and manner, and the worthy officer is proba-
bly, ready to endorse the military science of his
mand to the perfect satisfaction of Major General
sanford, Commander of the First Division of the
Militia of the State of New York. In the Park
squad of victims. numerous and rather better
equipped. were almost mokbed by crowd of boys
1t supposed at first that the little urchns had
caught some Boomers but they proved to be trainers
In the upper part of the town. considerable body had
been collect ted, where they passed for new cnmpa-
ny of fantasticals and their fancy costumes and bur-
lesque arms were very generally admired What
sad falling off from the good old fashioned country
1rainIn Day." with its lucions accessories of new
cider and gingerbread with the old soldier OF the
last war who did the musket exercise with his feet.
and the wonderful drummer who would quaH his
glass of rye while his drum-sti flying in the
the clumsy cavalry sentinel chasing some daring
browncheeked country lads stealing sly raps at the
big base drum, initiating. like the frog in the ia
ble at the opportunity of holding the capn's horse.
Those Trainin' Days; but the frightful and
sckly burlesques got up in the city, like those of
yesterday, ought to be made penal offence; 1t is
personal indignIty to the memory OF the grey-head
ed heroes of the old regime, and wonder that
the boys feel disposed to mob the participants Il is
clear of false pretenses and calls loudly for
abatement 1t is libel within the meaning of the
statute against defamation, which says citizen
shall not hold another up to public odinm or place
him in position where he may appear ridiculous.