The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-12-23

Long yeafs ago, when eFeryhody
went soldering at least once a
year, muster-day might truly bay e
been called the American carnival. "
All able-bodied citizens between
eighteen and forty-fve years, not
members Of uniformed company,
generally called volunteers, were en-
rolled in the ''corn.stalk melishy," I"
The annual parade Of that redoubl-
able body was a mad festival, wbeE
eycg the greatest and wisest became
for the nonee IS froliesome as The
most miscbievoas boys. The penal
ty for not answering at roll cali was
fine of dollar or tws, aud even the
busiest preferred to turn out for an
hour or SO, and have some sport, rath-
er than pay the fine. A dollar in
those DAYS Mas a much larger scm
than it is now, though only worth
100 cents. Towards the close Of this
debatable custom il became common
all through the State, 10 elect as
captain of militia the person least
fitted for the Office, and least able to
enforce aEy Of his orders or wishes.
At the same time, the more i1coDgru-
GUS the lress ASSUMED, The more be-
coming it was held to be, aud the
more popular the wearer. Armed
and equipped as. The law directs" (" was
among The stately aud official phrases
used IN ordering parade. This was
literally construed to mean every
thing, Umbrellas, pitchforks, fails,
corn-stalks, and in one instance We
remember seeing a s'bold soldier boy"
grayely marching in the ranks with
goodly length vi stoye-pipe on his
shoulder.
The military knowledge of the
officers might have been fathoned
without line or plummet, when We as
sure the HERALD readers that one of
them, in our own knowledge, being
haunted with an indistinct notion of
marking time," dim remembrance
OF seeing the volunteers do some
thing like it, gIavely command
ed bis company to show feet"
and gave them an example by hold
ing ont first one and then the other
Of goodly sized pair of rongh-shod
understandings
Another illustrious commander, o.
the honor of whose acquaintance we
could boast in early youth, but not at
the time referred 10, was elected to
the honorable but onerous command
of company OF mullen stalk rangers,
and as was not unusual, was exceed
ingly proud of the honor.
Ii was not customary to have mu-
sic for the militia, the volunteers gen.
orally claiming it. On this occasion,
however, the full drum corps was on
hand and headed the company. The
captain was so charmed with The mu-
sic, so claled with his honors, that be
could not keep away from the side Of
the drums, where he marched With
surprising dignity and grace. Every
few rods be would wave his sword,
the music would cease fer an instant,
and be would below out his com
maEds in thunder tones. The COM
mands it is safe TO say were not found
in SCOTS Tactics" the authority OF
that day
In marching through the street the
captain OF course displayed all bis
military skill and daring, and when in
the center Of the town be waved his
sword, wheeled around to give an
important command be had studied
out; the music ceased, the captain
gave portion Of his command before
he discovered be had 60 followers.
They, 10 passing an alley bad quietly
fled of and disappeared while the
captain was listening 10 the martial
strains.
Poor fellow Ii nearly broke bis
heart, and no persuasions could iG-
duce him 10 take the field again
10 those halcyon DAYS 'local OPP
lionr was pot. Good Iemplars aud
Recbabites unknown; temperance So
civties existed and were popular, but
tutal abstinence was unknown, un-
dreamed Of. The TcesotaI 0bsiain-
in'. 2 as il was called, was Of 3 later
date and changed public sentiment
Drinking was freely INDUCED IN,
even by persons habitualIy sober
Dancing, horse-racing, lighting, inI
fact every species Of amusement and
dissipation known to the people Of