Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-08-22
"Hay-FOOt! Straw.FOOt!"

Many boys ana girls may have heard
these words applied in derisive way to
raw recruits who were making begin
ming in their military education by learn
ing to march; but very few young peo-
ple-or old ones, either-know how
the terms originated.
During the war of 1919, there was a
great deal of drilling and training
among the militia-men all over the
country, especially in the large cites and
towns, where the principal recruiting
stations were situated. In New York
City, much Of the drilling of newly en-
listed men was done in what is in now
City Hall Park, in front of tavern
which stood where the Sun newspaper
building is located. Many of these
would.be soldiers were from the coun-
try, and these, of course, knew nothing
at all about marching in military fash
ion. They could walk far enough,
some of them, and work as hard and
bear as much fatigue as any soldier in q
regular army; but they walked as they
pleased. and had no ideas about such
things as excepting STEP" It is even
said that there were fellows among them
who did not know their right foot from
their left, and who were therefore con-
tinually getting themselves and their
companions into disorder by mixing
up their legs,-that is, moving ont their
right leg when the officer who was drill
ing them called out Left" and the
other leg when he called out "Right."
If they could have put both legs for
ward at once, it is probable that they
would sometimes have done so.
To make these men understand ex-
actly which leg was meant when the Off
Ger gave his orders, curious plan was
devised. Around the right leg of each
man, Just below the knee. was tied a
wisp Of hay while wisp of straw was
tied around his left leg. Now, these
country fellows knew very we'll the
difference between hay and straw, and
so when they were ranged in line and
the officer gave the word to march, and
called out, ebay foot! straw-foot! hay
foot! straw. foot" each one of them
understood exactly which was the foot
he must put forward.
Itsometimes happened, however, that
a man would be 80 busy observing his
companions, and perhaps making fun,
at the same time, OF their attempts to
walk like soldiers, that he would for.
get his own business, and put forward
his "straw.foot," when "hay-foot" was
called for.
It must have been very funny to see
these raw recruits-here o country
ostler in high boots and striped shirt:
there farmer in his shirt-sleeves and
broad straw hat; then, perhaps, q village
doctor or school.master, with his high
beaver hat and his spectacles. with a tall
boy near by in cap and short jacket
all marching side by side, with hands
down by their sides, thumbs turned
out, eyes fixed on the officer as he step
ped backward before them, and all keep
ing time to the monotonous call OF Hay
foot! straw-foot! hay.foot! straw-foot!
The regular soldiers who may have
been drilling at the same time probably
smiled, if they did not dare to laugh.
at these queer-looking men, with their
hay and straw bound legs; but the
mothers and fathers and sisters OF the
recruits, if any Of them CHANGED to
come to town to see their sons or broth
ers drill doubtless thought the affair
fine military display. and that Jeremiah
or Caleb would be general yet, 1t the
war lasted long enough.-St. Nicholas.