Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-01-29
Written for Clark's School visitOr.l
THE woRD-ARMY.
By REV. W. b. WATKINS.

What wonderful things words arel
What a power they exertl How mys-
teriousl How they mould. and weld,
and lift. and sink. and disintegrate hui
man societyl Tongue bullets. or
thought-concealers. or balm of Gilead,
Just as the speaker willsl
g And then too, what an army
there is of them-an army of living
nounsl General A. and Colonel B. and
Major G. and Adjutant D. and Captain
E, and Lieutenant F. and Sergeant G,
and private H. and all the host Of them,
down to Contrabaud z. Did you ever
see the muster-rOll Of this word-army?
Turn to Webster OF Worcester.
8. I have Worcester's muster roll
before me. The names OF Just exactly
one hundred and four regiments are
here all alphabetically arranged. And
here is the birthplace of many Of them,
the major part. however, like our revo-
luIionary ancestors. are of pure Saxon
blood. While some are war-worn and
battle-scarred. many more have been
acting as reserves and home guards.
Their knapsacks and bayonets are all
rusty.
4. They do not all come up to the
army standard. Occasionally one is
found too weak, another is exempt, and
third has come SO far. and has mixed
with such strange-tongued comrads so
long as not to feel perfectly at home.
A lew rebels; they have stolen into the
camp. eluded the vigilance of the pick
cts. and cannot stand erect and look
you in the face, but are compelled to
lean, and are so marked in the muster
roll.
8. And they are all arranged in di-
visions. and corps. and brigades. and
regiments, and companies, and squads
he iHigfSs 6HH' E tyy y EFs RqmBBs5d BBfs5dRhs hs
into use when surprised by the enemy,
and are most frequently seen where the
cries OF the wounded are heard.--The
propositions are the ''pioReers" Of the
army, for they go before.
6. The companies are verbs; some
belong to the regulars" others are
tronSitiUe. and lew. confess, are de-
feetiUe. Al good soldiers ought to love
each other and obey their superior Of
ficers. and verbs. you know, agree with
their nominative 10 number and person..
The verbs are the only ones that can
drill. and march and countermarch.
and load and FIRE.
z. Nouns belong to the grand d.
visions while adjectives and adverbs
form the different corps. Lieutenants,
| have thought. must be pronouns, be-
cause they are often used "for. or in
stead OF" others. The nouns claim all
the cannOns, and cartridges, and caps,
and colors. and clothing, and cores
pondents. The adjectives say they are
perfectly welcome TO them. il they will
only permit them to enjoy all that is
grand or gallant, or glowing or glad
itOrial.
8. There is great difference in the
generals Of this word army. Some use
the soldiers merely for dress-parade;
others that they may acquire fame;
while others again aim to crush the
enemy and restore peace and order
The poet and the orator bring them
out in grand review, mix the zouaves
with the regulars. the infantry with the
cavalry. the marines with the artillery,
the Garibaldians with the Irish brig
ade
8. The grand design of these words
is to fight the battle Of life. and gain
the final victory. When man first sim
ned he introduced the wicked words,
secession and rebellion. And good men
are marshaling words in books and pa
pers. and in the pulpit. to Danish the
monster wrong. and te proclaim to all
the world emancipation from the chains
Of error and sin and superstition. May
the battle go bravely on, and may the
viciors be crowned at last with perfect
triumphl-New Brighton, Pa.