The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
A Large Attendance ana a Well
Pleased Audience.

An immense crowd witnessed the COM
petitive drill last night between the
Broom Brigade and the Austin Greys,
and Turner hall was literally packed,
standing room even being hard to pro-
cure. Each company drilled four fours,
thus making sixteen in ranks, and
It was left to the option Of COM
manders what figures, and how
many, should be executed. The
judges were General w. H. King, sdju-
tant general of the state, Colonel viii
Lambert and Captain John b. Arm
strong, and the companies were COM
manded respectively by Captain Ed de
Normandie and Captain Smyth.
The Greys first entered and drilled TO-
half an hour, having substituted, in ac-
cOrdance with the agreement, the young
ladies' brooms for their guns. The boys
drilled finely, in most respects, so far as
the marching was concerned, but the
manual of arms, with the brooms, puz-
zled them. They acquitted themselves
with a great deal of credit, however, and
left the hall amidst much appreciative
applause.
The girls then entered and went
through the many intricacies of the drill
with the most perfect precision. Their
marching and wheeling, by platoons as
well as by fours, were well nigh without
an error 1t was soon apparent to the
general observer that the girls were the
more perfect, and the decision of the
judges in their favor was applauded, not
at all because of desire to see the girls
win merely, but from the universal and
honest opinion that they did the finest
drilling.
After the competitive drill
was ended, the GIeys gave an exhi-
bitlon in the manual, with their guns,
and also in skirmish drill, which was
very fine. The red jackets then came
back and went through other and more
difficult evolutions, after which Gen.
King, in few remarks, gave the uuani-
nous vote of the judges in favor of the
female soldiers.
Mr.. A. p Woodbridge then, in a brief
and neat little speech, in behalf of the
broom brigade, presented to Capt. Ed.
de Normandle an elegant diamond ring
indicative of the gratitude of the
young ladies for his invaluable services
IN perfecting them in the drill, as well as
of their high regard and esteem for him
personally. Capt Ed. replied that he
felt amply repaid for all he had done in
being the commander of so gallant a
corps. Mr. Woodbridge also presented
Mr.. James l.. Sheperd, who commanded
the brigade at its first public exhibition
drill, a handsome gold headed cane as
token of respect and esteem on the part
of the young ladies.
Capt Smyth announced that his COM
pany would put up gold medal, to be
hn fvun Anr
ing the coming state fair. The
entertainment, which was greatly enioyed
by every one present, closed with de-
hghtful dance.
BROOM HANDLES.
Gallery positions were the most desir-
rable.
We never saw better pleased all
dience.
The skirmish drill by the Greys was
very much admired
The prettiest girl in the hall had on q
red jacket. Now guess who she was.
The Greys calamity gave three rousing
cheers when the decision of the judges
was announced.
The reporter heard an accomplished
military man assert that he had never
seen more perfect wheeling and turning
than that done by the brigade.
An overzealous friend of the Greys
was heard to remark that the boys did
not try much. There's where the fox
and the sour grapes story comes in.
The Greys made mistake, when told
to fire, in dashing the brooms down.
When brooms are fired they are generally
aimed upward-at mans head for in
stance