Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-07-03
yds Augstss Nerstd.
An AMY rNoIDENr,
nsw an Oacsr's Servant Acted as the "arard
Rounds"

A6 showing the atCacnment OF
some Of the military officers SER
wants 10 their masters, / will relate
an Incident which occurred In a
garrlsOu town In which the writer
vas stationed for some time: An
ofIicer OF rank In the artillery was
named In garrison orders as the
of1cer Of the day. AS the "grand
rounds'' It was his duty to visit the
garrison guArds at night. Having
sat pretty late at mess and being
fond Of the bottle, his gait was
very unsteady when he rose from
the table to proceed to his quarters
TO dress for duty. Before dressing
be threw himself on his bed, say
Ing; 49,. .,..,.
call me vt O'clock"
A. l O'Clock the servant at
tempted to rouse him, but without
effect. The servant got the officer
upon his feet, shook him, applied
wet cloths to his head, but all to
no purpose; the gentleman had
been going on short allowance of
sleep for . week, and now nature
had taken hold Of him, and, being
backed by the wine he had drank,
held him fast. The servant was
frantic, knowing we'll the conse-
QueBce that would ensue II bis
master did not make the grand
rounds. While wondering what
course to pursue, his eyes fell upon
bis masters uniform, sword, ETC.,
all ready laid out for him to put
on. The master and servant were
about . eixe; the clothing OF the
one lifted the other to perfection.
''There's no other plan," said the
servant to himself; sits an awful
risk, but I'll attempt It."
Hastily throwing of his clothing,
he donned his masters regimentals
the splendid uniform of the artil-
lery-buckled on the sword. drew
the heavy busby over his brow, and
casting an admiring glance at him.
self In the glass notwithstanding
his anxiety, locked the door upon
his master and went out. The
orderly was waiting in the barrack
Ruard-room and turned out with
fhe guard to present himself.
"0o aheadW said the pseudo of.
ficer.
"Which guard fret, sir?"
"The magazine guard"
The orderly led the way. Guard
after guard was visited, and the
servant began to enjoy the masqer-
ade. It was something unusual for
him to be announced as "grand
r0unds,n and to have a guard pre-
-
suspicion that the master and the
man had changed places for the
time being. although the subaltern
officer in charge of the main guard
perhaps felt little nettled to have
his friendly salutation, after the
guard had been turned in, respond
ed to 80 gruffiy.
On returning to the quarters the
servant found his master still sleep.
ing. Unable to resist the tempta-
ton to admire himself once more
in the glass, the servant paraded
W aad down the room, casting
sidelong glances at the mirror.
While so doing the officer awoke.
He was not little surprised to see
what appeared to be himself strut
ing up and down the apartment.
soon discovered, however, that
apparation was his servant,
], anxious to know what the un-
nal masquerade was for, kept
let. The servant, after two or
zee turns, sat down, and leisurely
sw off the spurred boots, divest-
himself of other articles of uni
,rm in their order, and then heav-
ing q sigh. said:
"It's id we'll over.n
~ should think it is" cried the
officer; "what dye mean, you ras.
cal, by putting yourself into my
uniform, eh?"
W didn't know you were awake.
sir; do you know what time it is?"
The officer had forgotten that he
was on duty, but it now flashed
upon him at once. Jumping from
the bed he looked at his watch.
"Holf.past 4! My God, I'm
ruinedW
Then turning to the servant, he
said:
"Now, then, why DIDN'T you call
me at O'Clock? Do you know
what you've done?"
"6ir, 1 might as we'll have tried
to waken q dead man. 1 used
every means to waken you, and
you will see by the stains on your
linen that I even deluged your
head with water"
"Too late to take the guards
noww groaned the officer. "The
night has passed away and day is
breaking"
"Never mind, sir; cheer upI The
grand rounds visited the guards;
everything Is correct. Just make
out your report as If you had taken
the guards"
"What d'y mean?"
II mean that 1 have been the
grand rounds tonight, and acted
the part SO well that not q soul
suspected but that it was you.
Now you know why had on your
uniform.n
The officer stared at his man a
moment.
"Do you mean to say that you
have personated me and taken the
guards?"
"Yer. sir; that's it. Ipersonated
you"
The officer grasped the servants
hand.
"Ashton," said he, "you have
done me q great service. I shall
not forget it,"
Nor did he forget it, and the SER
want kept his counsel so well that
the incident would never have be-
come known but for the officer him.
self. who blurted 1t out one evening
while in his cups to some Of his as
soclates. The story was too good q
one to keep, and IL quickly spread
over the garrison. The authorities,
however, paid no attention to it,
and the officer did not suffer from
the expose.-Boston Commercial
bulletin.