The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-03
THE ORDERS WERE VALID.
N Incident of the Great Centennial EXPOSE
ti0n at Philadelphia.


Pittsburg Dispatch.
One hot day, eight years ago, when the sun
came down with so much force that it turned the
tar pavement into soft PASTE | was in the build
ing 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 buildings and crowded the little e-cu
lar railroad which made So, 600 or 81, coo day.
| had been writing about the big show and what
was to be seen there until it was a sorry task
indeed. 1t was so hot did not feel like work.
and so went over to the government building TO
look at some of the interesting things to be seen
there. As usual, the place was full of people, to
many of whom the sight of such a collection
of guns and munitions of war was a great
wonder indeed. AS l passed out of the main
aisle into one of the side ones there was
slight delay owing to a lady catching her dress
on the corner of a projecting box-the box was
entirely out of its place or the mishap would not
have occurred. When the walk was resumed
found myself beside a heavily built man, who
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 it shaded the wearer's face. He wore a
beard closely cropped, and allowed his chin to
rest upon his breast soldier who was 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 a short,
sharp military tone exclaimed;
Private"
The man stopped, looked surprised at the
manner of address used by q civilian, and sa-
luted
THAT box is in the way; help me move it,
said the man. and the soldier, with good ma
tured remark about the difficulty of keeping
things in order complied with the request A
petty officer came up just as the soldier was
aiding the stranger in pushing the box out of
the way. L do not know what the officers
rank was, but from his major generalship
strut guessed him to be a corporal The in
slant he saw what the private was doing he
cried out
''Who gave you orders to move those boxesl"
''The box just tore lady's dress, sir" replied
the soldier in an embarrassed way, after salut-
ing. st was moved out by somebody, and just
stopped to fix it"
"Oh you did! said the young strutter, tartly
well, sir, don't want any more of this inter
ference with the exhibits unless you have
orders from me or from some other of your SUI
periors.n
At this iuncture tall thin man, whose cheeks
were sunken and whose hair and beard were
red, came up to the man who had caused the
soldiers trouble, and with an exclamation of re-
lief, he said Il was looking for you and had
given mp hope of finding you"
''Wat minute" was all the reply given to
this salutation, and then taking step towards
the officer, he said: Officer, the private was
doing his duty. 1t is as much the duty of the
men stationed here to see that the public are
protected from discomfort as it is to guard the
exhibits"
''The man acted without ORDERS" retorted the
officer, sharply.
Il gave him his orders, =" was the quick reply.
Before the officer could speak the man who
had just joined him chimed in, saying;
"Oficer, this is President Grant. His orders,
1 trust, will be strictly regarded in future. L
am the Secretary of War" And, with a rather
angry look at his subordinate, the present sena-
tor from Pennsylvania u. Donald Comeron),
walked off with the President, leaving the officer
astounded, the private delighted, and myself
highlY amused.