The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-11-09

plexity which prevailed Of the, cato on
the other sidei The carriage in which
u was suppoyed the secretary was
driving atoHhd had not appeared when
lhe nfst gun fred on the river front.
Peal after peal followed and still no
carriage. At length, Just as the I'D.
miral had given himself over to abso.
lutte despair, up caine the carriage,
driving furiously, mud enyeloped in o
cloud Of dust. II seemed that one
heayy gentleman Of the aectetaiy's
party chose 10 drive around, and, hear
Ing the 1rst gun OF the salute, the
driver had attempted 10 reach the
ground SO that the guest might not
miss any part Of the reception. II was
natural chat all should suppose the
secretary TO be in that carriage, aud
the appearance Of the htoat gentleman
confirmed tho belief, SO the admiral
and all hib officers gave the customary
salutation in splendid style. The four
companies Of marines presented arms,
and the band went into eestacies. AT
this juncture the strange gentleman
got out, and the admiral vas adyane-
ing toward him, when q messenger
came DIP and informed him that the
secretary had landed at the wharf, and
was there alone. Tho strange gentle.
man was left 10 his fate, and under the
swift orders Of the admiral the whole
force started on double.qnick for the
wharf, the officer in advance, and the
battalion Of marines, with It's band,
preceding, followed close after. The
marines being more accustomed to
double.quick step than the admiral and
his officers, gained on the latter, and
as tho hurrying column pressed on 1t
was well closed up. Then came the
browning catastrophe. Turning o
sharp corner in the road, whore It
passed between two high buildings,
aud where the echo was altogether con-
iusing, the admiral and his companions
bore directly down upon the still more
astonished secretary, and the next in
stant the drum major, with his big fur
cap and baton, projected himself into
the official presence, followed by drums
and brass horns in dire confusion, and
an instant later, the column Of marines
telescoped tho whole party, after the
manner OF o railroad collision. lie'I
The situation was at least grave.
The admiral had grasped thesecretary's
hand at the first meeting, and was try.
ing to explain, when the player on the
biggest horn arrived, and before he
couid halt, had run the instrument
over the Secretary's shoulder, till, seen
from his own party. the illusion OF his
having Joined the band was complete.
AMI TO make matters worse, the thun.
der Of the last guns OF the salute was
rafting between the buildings. render.
ing explanations on either side almost
impossible. But after some tive min.
,ites, which 10 the admiral seemed as
many hours, the salute ended, the ma.
rines regained their ranks, the band
g3titselfltogether and Withdrew to one
side, and the admiral soon explained
how he had been misled by the mes
sage from Master - that the "secre-
tary will drive around"
As the reception had been thus some.
what marred when judged by naval
standards, the battalion OF marines was
marched 70 the parade ground, where
they were reviewed by the secretary.
Here everything passed of with the
strictest regard to tactics, except that
the secretary, instead Of standing oppo-
sito the colors when the line formed for
review. was furnished with rocking.
chair, which, on account Of his pre-.
yious fatigue, he occupied while the
column passed twice in review. After
this the secretary and the other mem,
bers Of his party, all looking as II they
had seen sights enough for one day,
were escorted TO the admiral's quarters
and provided with a lunch, which re.
stored the fortunes Of the day. Before
II was over, Master - had learned
the difference between gigs on wheels
and gigs afoat.