The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-05-20

MYRA'S NiEANDERINGS.

MYRA'S NiEANDERINGS.
The Sweet swecpers-l'retty Soldiers /,
Pretty Unifor,ns-A Plume Drill-Crud,
Views of tho New " Militia
NEW ORLEANS, May Is, 1892.
MY DEAR FLoRRIf:
You should appreciate the sacrific,
your friend has made for YOU this morn
lug. Instead Of yielding to lazy self
indulgence and enjoying the morning
nap, which yon know is the sine qua no,
of most indolent people, she has arise,
simultaneously with the god Of day i,
order to make mp arrears with you.
should have written Saturday lis is my
Won't, butt wanted to tell You about the
Plume Drill" of Saturday evening
hence my delay.
Now this Plume Drill was not the
contest of skill of the Washington Artil.
lery Guards, though it was held at their
Armory, but a drill of twenty pretty
maidens who, ahjnring the arms and
weapons of the stronger half Of human
ity, WELD with triumphant air Wooms,
and bear the suggestive title of "Swect
Sweepers." fear shall not bc able to
give yon an adequate idea of the grace,
dexterity, precision aud order of this
brigade. all the more remarkable because
they have only been practicing one
month. Their costume is unique, taste
til and chariningly becoming. Cheese
cloth, which you know is cream tinted.
trimmed with wide folds of turk red
cloth The skirt is made full and hangs
i'll graceful lines about the figure, while
the jacket is tight and close, adorned
with very striking looking buttons and
similar trimmings as the skirt. A cum
ming little busting cap made of this same
elieese-cleth material, tipped with red,
frilled with lace, with a coquettisl rib
bon bow on the side, crowns the head,
and there could be no more becoming
he;ul-gear. Each wouid-be soldier wears
a tiny dust pan made to order for the oc-
casior, on which, is gilded two miniature
crossed brooms. The dust pa,is simulate
cartridge boxes, and give the wearers q
very military (!) air, Of course! The
brooms are also made to order, and are
| lighter and smaller than tho ordinary
sweeping broom.
| Aneiegant plume was offered the young
lady who acquitted herself with most
credit at the prize drill Saturday even
| ing, and don't think any more allnrins
reward could have been promised in these
days when feathers are quite above PAL
IN tie eyes of the fair sex. You may
imagine the expectancy aud growing
hopes entertained by these twenty six
eager young ladies, each one of whom
doubtless cherished in the secret depths
| of her heart the belief rs well as hope
| that she would prove the successful con-
testant.
The judges were extremely critical,
| and as they confronted them with ii,fex-
ihlc and impartial air, aud at the small
lest irregularity or faint error whicl, tho
| spectators with the most intent gaze
| often failed TO perceive, pointing the end
Of a baton grimiy and austerely at the
unfortunate asp;rant to signalize her
| defeat, and invite her to quit the ranks,
we congratulated ourselves that we had
| not subjected ourselves to so overwhelm-
ing and embarrassing al ordeal. One by
one they were dismissed till bnt two were
| left, and of these two, Miss Dickey, the
| graceful Orderly Sergeant, stood her
ground to the last, aud received, amid
| the applause Of the assembly, the beau
tifnl plume as well as the highest honor.
Tuesday evening the "Sweet sweepers :"
are to give an Entertainment Drill ut the
French Opera-House, for the benefit of
| tue overfowed districts. One of the
prettiest features will be the grand tab
leau of the Camp Ground; tents pitched,
| arms stacked, aud groups gathered upon
camp. The young soldiers will sing
.'Tenting upon the old Camp Ground
assisted by u quartette of male voices,
and after the drill is fairly over there
will be very good music by some of cur
| best amateur talent.
| One of the "Sweepers informed MS
| that the Broom Brigade" of Memphis
also composed of young ladies-is to
visit orr city with the Porter Rifles" !"
aud challenge the '' Sweet Sweepers for
{. tiriii. Will it not be an achievement
if our company carries off the prize,
when they have been learning military
| tactics SD SHORT Il time
Oh, l must not forget to tell You such
Il good joke on them. Bridget came into
the house the other morning in a high
state of excitement, and urgently re
| quested Aunt Chat to " look in the papers
and STE if it were true!" "See if what
is true, Bridget7" mildly interposed
Aunt Chat. why, Madam, some one
| told ire while ago that the young ladies
Of the city were going to fight down on
| Canal street with brooms, and l told him
| didn't believe it at all, at all: hut he
SAID it was raelly SO. aud could go home
and ask my madam!' This worthy Hi
bernian clearly indicated that notwith-
standing her disclaimer, she did give
credence to that astounding announce
ment. She is fresh from the shores of
Erin, and affords Us considerable annse
ment by her queer blunders and peculiar
eNclamations.
| An old colorcd woman took different
view of cur broom soldiers. They were
| practicing in the basement of the Baptist
Church one evening, and she, passing by,
exclaimed with bated breath: "L:,wsy
mussy nebber seed sich folks AS ta is !!
Da's bin tfyin' all sorts ob ways to git to