Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-07
One of John pbmu;x,. yo,..

''fut there's one thing about him" said Mni-
, io,a, THAT don't believe has ever been pub
iished-a practical joke, Of course. When Frank
flelce was president. Jen Davis. then secretary
oi war. issued general invitation 10 officers or
Ii'c ann! VINO were sktilful draughISmen. 10
stin ~ suggestions Tor the new uniform which
u lad ceen decided Ia adopt. Oae such invita-
tioh was sent 10 each officer. Lieut. Dtarbt was
~ iTao! Huh Dis peil-a really Ingenious ar
liSt- In reply lie sent design Tor "A peS unit
forni-or rather peculiar addition 10 The oId
uilfoim-the amendment consisting merely of
ring attached TO the seat OF the trousers of
each private soldier. Each officer was to carry
instead OF a sword. long pole with n hOgS In
Inc end. Ike q shepherds crook The mole and
. Ine ring enabled officers 10 keep pryateS from
running away IN battle. FugitiyeS could easily
he taught by il and brought back. Stra-glerS
could be kept in line. Moreover the ring would
De very useful in the cavalry service TO faSten
soldiers To the saddle TO prevent them from fail
ing on, and In the artillery service the riag1
WERE 10 De used Tor draught purposes In the alb
seace OF mules. These specifications were ac-
SuhipaHed pH the most groteSQue pictures, req
te>ehtlng officers hauling back cogatdIy re-
eIults by The seryiceabe ring. cavalry securely
l;aS1ehed 10 the top OF their s;eeds by the same
uetce. ana artillery-men harneSSed IN can
nun, ufaWlng them through narrow defleS
VI up an ACTIVITY Inaccessible 10 mules hy
ofbor ,lached TO the poSterior staples on an
~ onet sheel OF pr1Stoiboard was an illustration
III GauuS colors OF Derby's Rotary Niue How
TI, accompanied by the following eSer1nfinr.
{, ~ aun tne PACK or a young and vfgtant ml!c
strap mountain howitEer the musrle o,i-,rt1
toNaIo the tail. \ similar piece of ord, 80 3,
,o Mith IRON bands under the animll'S IN
uoinen, the mU7Zle aimed between MS f,,,..
W the front. There are four gunncTS-t,r, :,
eocn piece-;tnu ''perSGader.'' as he is ,.atlal
shcSe ouSlLeSS III Is 10 persuade the nlIn !,
Stahc hfm and not retreat by stuifInr MIN ma,
oats after each discharge with ti7 ss,isa ~
StuHef When Indians or other Ie,itirn1te am,
appear I'D view, the mule is, by a crank rl1x"
HtnJ on the tsli, Numbered To the trnat II a an,
hiaSe any Qll1i ence which way the mule r3,e.
anu mere Is NDeie my patent comes in one Gun
- always pointing toward the front Az the
.9iuihahu he' the top h0witZer is diSchlr,ra1
me recon throws the mule on his back. nrins,-
IS shS sSSQiu gun INTO position. This is dis
chaigeuW WHICH suddenly throws he uoule Ia III.
leet again, when the gunners swab out tho
NIUE ) throat with hay, and reload The n,on,
Hanl Ing ILLUSTRATIONS lin brown. red hI-la and
goa, ana Still on file in the War denartmpntE
represented the rotary mule in seven different
atlluCeS, looking cohtentPd and happy al! The
time. This was felt 10 be outrageous aud lrify
on the part or a subaltern. The clerks i'm me
war department laughed az the funny letter
lnlnoderately. but their Superiors looked Seri-
Gus. Jefferson Davis was terribly ind Jnant
and resolved TO defend his wounded disni,y
Charges and specifications were drawn un
against Lieutenant Derby. and the officers
were actually named for his court martial when
Marcy, secretary OF State, a man OF more sense
ana Scli-p0iSe, said 10 the irate secretary. Now
see mere, Gen. Davis. don't do il. This DerOy
mas undoubtedly superiiu0us DEVELOPMENT OF
hu1n0r. But he is Shrewd and Ingenious and
really flne draug1tSman. He has valuable
qualities. You can organize a court that will
on account OF IL all your life Better file The
suggestions OF the crook and ring and the lively
rtary mule ana say nothing And he did
Cor ef IlGt2H0l,Oiis .JoUrf,at