Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-02-28
A Game OF Brag.
par or uE ANrEIcax aNB HErTIsH AENI
oFIICIEs.

The following Is one Of Gen. RaBdolF
b. Mareys q" Border "reminiscences; "
Many years ago before Gen. Scott an
Sir John Hervey had adjusted the inter
"a iional complications involved in III
settlement Of the northwestern bcuniar
question, and when serious apprehension
we're entertained Of a collision between ih,
local authorities along the border, oul
government established at Houlton, Me.
some fifteen miles distance from a point
on the River st. John, where there was an
English garrison, military post suisse.
quently Known as Houlton Barracks. {"
This post at one time was garrisoDed by
artillery troops under the command Of
Capt j. B. Magruder, a tall, handsome
man Of elegant address aud courily pre-
sence, whose social congeniality, inherent
colloquial tendencies, and sparkling, viva
ciOus bon mOts were acknowledged by all
his acquaiutanccs.
The following little episode will exhi5-
it his character in a prominent light:
lie, upon one occasion, obtained leave
Of absence aud visited Quebec, carrying
letters Of introduction to English officers,
by whom he was received very cordially,
and invited to dine at the mess Of the til
regiment Of -, which was eminently
an aristocratic organization, embracing
upon its muster roll several younger scions
Of nobility, with men of large private
fortunes, who prided themselves upon
their luxurious style of living and enter
tanning, which, in some respects, it was
'aid, excelled that of the household troops,
The mess hall, upon the occasion re-
erred to, was draped with colors of the
wo consanguineous nationalities, exhibit
ng the red cros of St. George, surmount-
d by the Imperial crown, entwined
'ithin the graceful folds Of the stars and
tripes; and the messtable groaned be-
cath the weight Of ponderous service
f gold and silver plate, which, though an
lititiatory stipend from months pay
ON all the officers who had ever Joined 4
e regiment besides perennial SUISSE
lent tax, had been constantly accumuat.
g for over century, all of which was
.blbited in dazzling splendor on the oc.
sion. ....
In word, everything within the power
money, art, and taste seemed to have
en- exhausted in augmenting and giving
llllancy and ectat to the fete, and it
Is doubtless imagined that the Yankee =
lcer would be strlck with amazement Va
the blaze ofmagnifcence which flashed FE
on him as he entered the hall, and en-. ter
w inc
nous | have no doubt he was very and
> TuI
lch astonished, for he certainly had gro
yer before seen anything like it. But gro
was far from exhibiting any surprise ''f Is
the contrary, he seemed to look upon 81 s.
whole thing with as much nonchal. pur
re as as if it had been an everyday aE J G W.
+, and, with his usual selecon6dant as. GIG
ance, he made himself not only entire. At
1t ease, but rather conspicuous in sug- a1
ting and leading the conversation, ;, :.
oh, among variety of topics, at length soil
led'upon the subjects of the relative It is
and emouments allowed in the Eng. TraT
g small
and American armies. Bein
he Englshmen admitted that their thus
was small, but said this was a matter for FOL a 4
title moment to them, as their private S p,n,
SEES enabled them to live as they pleas. i' III
independent of their pay; and they G Gldl@
cared to derive especial satisfaction &c,
disclosing the magnitude of their in s speG'i
es and expenditures desir
10
turing the conversation, one of the For t
ers asked Capt. Magruder how much
ne received. to which he replied:
Well, now, my dear fellow, declare, TI
my honor, | have not the most dis
conception. 1t strikes me, however,
l have heard some poor devil of
ain, who was entirely dependant upon
'ay, say it was something like two or
hundred dollars a month, but really IL
=. 2.
not positive. At all events, its prosp
!, =, 3.
} bagatelle, and I never have anything tion,;
with it myself. give it to my bank
II to divide among the servants for reach res h
et-money, and suppose they know dis s.
bout it." great
s. 7
ener
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