The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-11-20
HIS ORDERS WERE VALID.
A Well Told Story or the Gem
tennial Exposition.
An Astounded Officer, q Delighted Private
and an Amused Correspondent

the sun came down Win SO much
force that it turned the tar pavement
into a soft paste, / was in the building
in which the United States government
had its exhibit in connection with the
Centennial Exposition. Hot as it was,
the people thronged all the big build
ings and crowded the little circular
railroad which made $4,000 or $4,000 q
day. Ihad been writing about the big
show and what was to be seen there
until it was a sorry task indeed, 1t
was so hot I did not feel like work,
and so went over to the Government
building to look at some of the inter
esting things to be seen there. As
usual, the place was full Of people, to
many of whom the sight of such col
lection of guns and munitions Of war
was a great wonder indeed. AS 1
passed out Of the main aisle into one of
the side ones, thers was slight delay
owing to a lady catching her dress on
the corner of projecting box-the
box was entirely out of its place or the
mishap would not have occurred.
When the walk was resumed l found
myself beside heavily built man, VINO
had stopped to watch the eXtrication OF
the lady's dress. He was dressed in a
dark suit, with long-tailed frock coat
and soft felt hat, the brim of which
hung down so low in front that ii
shaded the wearer's face. He wore q
beard, closely cropped, and allowed his
chin to rest upon his breast. A soldier
who was on duty at that particular
place came around, as l stood there
and slowly walked down the aisle, the
man beside me bent forward and, in 6
short, sharp. military tone exclaimed:
"Private."
The man stopped, looked surprised
at the manner of address used by ;
civilian, and saluted.
THAT box is in the way; help mt
move it," said the man, and the soldier
with good natured remark about thu
difficulty of keeping things in order
complied with the request. A petit,
officer came up just as the soldier wa
aiding the stranger in pushing the boz
out of the way. do not know VIVA
tine officers rank was. but from hi
Major Generalship strut 1 guessed hin
to be a corporal. The instant he say
what the private was doing he crie'
out:
"Who gave you orders to move thos
boxes?"
"The box just tore a lady's dress
sir" replied the soldier in an EN-
barrassed way, after saluting. at wa
moved out by somebody, and 1 jus
stopped to fix it."
ooh. you did," said the young strut
ter tartly. "Well, sir, l don't wan
any more Of this interference with tn
exhibits unless you have orders iron
me or from some other of your supe
riors."
AT this juncture tall, thin ma
whose cheeks were sunl1en and who's
hair and beard were red, came up t
the man who had caused the soldier
trouble and with an exclamation of IT
lief he said: 81 was looking for 20
and had given up hope of finding you.
"Wait a minute was all the repi
given to this salutation, and then tai
ing a step towards the officer, he sale
"Of1icer, the private was doing hi
duty. 1t is as much the duty of tn
men stationed here to see that the pull
lie are protected from discomfort as
is to guard the exhibits"
"The man acted without orders" RI
torted the officer, sharply.
81 gave him his ORDERS" was tn
quick reply.
Before the officer could speak tn
man who had just joined him chime
in, saying:
"Oaicer, this is President Gran
His orders, l trust, will be strict
regarded in future. am the Secretar
of War" And with a rather angr
look at his subordinate the preser
Senator from Pennsylvania q. Donal
Cameron) walked off with the Pres
dent, leaving the officer astounded, til
private delighted and myself high
amused.-PittSJu1gh Dispatch.