Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-07-21
sglOnth's Column.
"HAY-FOOT STRAW-FOOT 7"


Many boys and girls may have heard
these words applied in derisive way
to raw recruits who were making
beginning in their military education by
learning to march but very few young
people-or old ones, either-know how
the terms originated. r.rr
During the war of 1912. there was
great deal of drilling and training among
the militia men all over the country,
especially in the larger cities and towns.
where the principal recruiting stations
were situated. In New York City, much
of the drilling of newly enlisted men
was done in what is 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 country. and these, Of course,
knew nothing at all about marching in
military fashion. They could walk far
enough. some of them, and work as
hard and bear as much fatigue as any
soldier in regular army; but they
walked as they pleased, and had no
ideas about such things as keeping
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 continually getting them
selves and their companions into dis
order by mixing up their legs,-that is,
moving out their right leg when the
officer who was drilling them called out
left" and the other leg when he called
out fright" If they could have put
both legs forward at once, it is probable
that they would sometimes have done
so.
TO make these men understand exactly
which leg was meant when the officer
gave his orders, curious plan was de-
vised. 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 well the diff
ference between hay and straw, and so,
when they were ranged in line and the
officer gave the word to march, and
called out, "Hay-foot straw. foot hay
foot straw-foot J" each one of them I'M
derstOOd exactly which was the foot he
must put forward.
1t sometimes happened, however, that
man would be 80 busy observing his
companions and perhaps making fun,
ut the same time, of their attempts tC
walk like soldiers, that he would forge
his own business, and put forward hil
"straw-fOot," when "hay-foOt" was called
for. -..|
1t must have been very funny to SCI
these raw recruits-here a country host
Ter in high boots and striped shirt
there farmer in his shirt-sleeves anC
broad straw hat then, perhaps, vii
lage doctor or school master, with hi
high beaver hat and his spectacles, will
tall boy near by in cap and short jack
et-all marching side by side. witt
hands down by their sides, thumb
turned out, eyes fixed on the officer a
he stepped backward before them, an,
all keeping time to the monOtonous cal
Of "Hay-fOot straw-foot hay-fOOt
straw. foot %
The regular soldiers who may hav
been drilling at the same time probabl
smiled, if they did not dare to laugh
at these queer looking men, with thei
hay and straw bound legs; but th
mothers and fathers and sisters of tn
recruits, if any of them CHANGED to com
to town to see their sons or brother
drill doubtless thought the affair a 6r
military display, and that jeremiah {
Caleb would be q general yet if the wa
lasted long enough.-S. Nicholas fl
July. ~ efrr5rs.