St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1879-03-22


debbil he won't!" 1t was just little
heavy for him.
JOHN PHBN1Xj AND JEFF.
DAVIS.
a Nsw Story Told ut the sireasesf Of
American HI u morists.
A New York correspondent of the
Indianapolis Journal gives the following
interesting "reminiscences of the late John
Pie lix--Lieutenant Derby, OF the Il.
States army.
When Frank Pierce was President,
Jof. DAvil, THAI SECRETARY of war, is
sued general invitation to officers Of
the army who were skillful dfaughts-
men to send in suggestions for the new
uniform which it had been decided to
adopt. One such invitation was sent to
each officer. Lieu tenant Derby was
very ready with his pen--a really inge-
NOUS artist. Ia reply he sent to the
war department design for new uni-
iorm--or rather peculiar addition to
the old uniform--the; AMENDING Mt con-
sisting merely of ring attached to the
seat OF the trousers of each private sol
der. Each officer was to carry, instead
ola sword, a long pole, with hook in
the end like a shepherds crook. The
pole and the ring enabled officers to keep
the privates from running away in battle.
Fugltives could easily be caught by it
and brought back. ssragglers could be
Kept in line. Moreover, the ring would
be very useful in the cavalry service to
tssten soldiers to the saddle to prevent
them from falling of and in the artil-
lery service the rings were to be used for
draught purposes id the absence of
mules.
| These specifications were accompanied
by the most grotesques pictures, reprez-
enting tfticars hauling back coWardly
recruits by the serviceabls ring, cavalry
securely as:ened to the top of their
steeds by the same device, and artillery
men harnessed to cannon, drawing them
through narrow defiIes. or up an ACTIVITY
inaccessible to mules. by cables attached
to the posterior staples,
On another sheet of bgistcl-board was
an illustration in gaudy colors of " Der
by's Rotary Mule Ho#itz.r," accom-
panied by the following description
"Upoh the back of a young and vigilant
mule, strap mountain howi!zar. the
rnuzzle pointing toward the tail. A
similar piece of ordins nee is fastened
with iren bands undo, the animals alb.
domen, the muzzle aimed between his
forelegs to the front. There are fur
gunners, two to each piece, and per
suader," as he is called, whose business
it is to persuade the mule to stand firm
and not retreat, by stufiug him with
oats, after each discharge, with a tin
sausage -stufIer. When It'd ana or other
legitimate game, appear in view, the
mule is, by crank movement on the
| tail, linbered to the front. 1t don't
| matter which way the mule face {aDd
here is where my patent comes ia), ore
gun ia always pointing towards the front
At the command Fire = the top how'll
Ger is discharged. The rec, i! throws the
mule On his back, bringing the second
gun into position. This Is discharged.
which gu iden!y throws the rnulo 10 bis
feet again. when the gunners swab Gu,
the mules throat with hay andsreload.'
The accompanying illustrations (in
brown, red, blue and gold, and still on
6le in tbs War Department. represented
the rotary mule in seven different atti.
tudes, looking esntsnted and happ sill
the time.
This was felt to BE- outrageous auda.
city on the part of a subaltern. TIE
clerks in the war department laughed at
the funny letter immoderately, but Their
sulesiors looked serious. jefferson Davis
the head OF the department, was terribly
indignant, and he resolved to defend his
wounded dignity. Charges and specifca-
tions were drawn up against Lieutenant
Derby, and the officers were actually
named for his court. martial, when VIM.
L. Marcy, secretary of state, said to the
irate secretary "Now, see here, Gen.
Davis; don't do it. This Derby has IN
doubtedly superfuous development of
humor. But he is shrewd and ingenious
and really fine draughtsmsn. He has
qualities You can organize
court that will convict him, but Won will
be a butt of ridicule on account of il all
your life. Better file the suggestions of
The crook>and.ring and the lively rotary
mule, and say nothing" And he did. ]
When to Eat Fruit.
There is rule ON board steamers eo> ,
a. be-