The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-08-23
Making Bold Riders
New York Times 1,estar.

i The drill for to-day was s'school Z, =,
soldier, mounted" which took nlo., ' :
the great riding han. As the till 1 !
drcates, thedrin is an exhibition ~ !.
dividual skill in horsemanship IA
said to beR great tavorite with the b0,. :
but the severity OF the traininr a.
have to undergo before attaininr Il.
degree of skill deemed necessary IFor i
officer, lis something they never forrs.
The record tDf broken arms, strs;s.s
wrists, dislocatsd shoulders, fractn,ss
legs, ano days spent in the hospital I.
reason of limbs rubbed raw, attests Il.
TACT that there is no child's play in N.
teaching Of West Point. They don't A.
things there for fun, and little sympash,
is wasted on the unfortunate youth vbo
in his early efforts in the saddle, lcom.,
to grief with broken hone. He ID mo,.
likely to get reprimanded for ri,
awkwardness than to he conaoled with
There was great crowd present at lthe
hall when the drill began, too larse
indeed, to find places i'm the small ,pal.
leries of the place; so, when these Ne,s
full of ladies, the more agile among 4be
male spectators climbed up on window.
stills and the like places, while other
crowds besieged each of the fonr larpe
doors OF the building. This is the one
occasion on which the observer might be
Justified in surprising that the work
done was 8 good deal for show, became
it lis here that the excited spectatow
applaud every boy who goes through
well. Let him take every head, and he
is certain of hearty round of Applause
The comments of the spectators are often
very amusing. When the boys CONS
mence using their revolvers, some one il
the gallery anxiously Inquired if they
had 'freal bullets" in them, and seemed
rather relieved when assured that they
did not, and there was consequently no
danger of any stray lead finding its way
upward. When the order was given 10
dismount and mount at speed the area
of the hall was Instantly q scene Of gal.
looping horses, riders jumping of, Others
jumping ON, some down i'm the tansbatk,
others clinging TO the main aad bride
desperately struggling to get astfide,
horses rearing and plunging, and gene
rally a remarkably time for all; then
the women began to utter little screams
which increased to % shout when ONE Of
Che boys makinga spring for the horses
back (there were no saddles) went
clear over it and plowsd up the
Dark in the middle of q rush
Of galloping beasts TO the Imminent
danger of his brains. "Why, this is
quite danger0usll~ exclaimed an indk
sidual in the gallery, indignant at ths
hanger the boys being made to run such
risks. The good gentleman seemed ~
suppose that the services were medg
or show. ut lie needless TO say that the
boys did we'll; they always dos but
while none fall below o jeartain Level,
here are vast differences between then
sbove that level. Some of the boysfake
wonderfully well 10 the work, and fee
rs much at home cutting and alaahing
about ON O baresbacked horse as I'D 4
rocking-chair, while to Others it never
BECOMES easy. They do the wotk, out
It is hard. The sactnal movements q
The drill with sabre and pistol are ieE
The soldier is started from the COMPANY
% make thecircnitof the hall. Putting
mis- horse TO a gallop, he begins by hiine
1t a head ON o post, retnrns his pistol
he Iholstss, draws his sabre, and " fall
,peed, makes q thrust at another Eheal
IN q post, then q cut at one lying on voc
ground, then Jumps q hurdle, and y
humping, clashes o head from post 10
tide it, or thruats at q suspended ng
on q level with his own head; ano'
Iaatly, makes o right thrust at ancina
head ON o post. 10 80 through snf
parformaneeo nahprse withouta saauf'
md . big pair of spurs on ones hsea,s
not an easy task, and if any one fnlnr
t is he had better try it in the neaissa
The different GR@ ~
;hrusts are, of course, against anians9
md cavalry.