Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-08-28


for II, you can have New England rum, or its
more popular substitute, "black strap" one.
half rum and the other half molasses. Await
ing the inspection, soldiers on leave Of ab.
senoe minge with the oommoners partake of
the refreshments, including the black strap,
and nod their plumes or rattle their swords
while they dance the double shuttle" or
"out double pigeon. wing" on the platforms,
10 the great wonder Of the crowd.
When the regiment gathers itself together
II Is sight 10 behold. There arc perhaps
Ave hundred men, all told, in two ranks. A
part Of them rejoice in gayly .colored uni
forms, but the majority are 'the flood wood, "
dressed in sleeps gray and blue jeans and
armed with rifles, muskets, and fowling.
pieces OF every pattern. This motley baud
''toe the mark, "a small trench that has
been cut in the turf to save their reputation
for alignment. Then they break into pla.
toons, aud are inspected, man by man, by
the adjutant and his aides The inspection
being over about eleven o'clock, the colonel
appears all glorious In brass buttons, epaulets
~ large AZ tin plates, and a cooked hat of
great proportions. Once more the regiment
forms in double ranks, with presented arms.
The colonel and his "stad" ride slowly down
thu line, turn back, and take their stand for
review. The music, just a. ii came from
every town contributing TO tho regiment, has
been pooled" and placed in the charge OF
leader. II Is a strange medley Of snares,
kettle, and bass drums, OF ffes clarionets
and piccolOs, with an occasional "Kent bu-
gle"-the predecessor of the cornet or some
other instrument of brass. II ia poor music
at the best, and II cannot go far beyond
marking time for the marching. But ia il
not better than the simple drum and fife OF a
common training day2 The full brass
band, We must recollect, is too expensive a
luxury except for the most extraordinary 90.
oasiona, and even then we run the risk OF
hearing Highland Mary" repeated all day
long, 30 scant is the repertoire. Tue regi.
ment, headed by the cavalry and the music,
passes the colonel and his staff. The music
wheels out Of the line, gives 'three cheers, "
and remains at the coloners side till the regi-
ment has returned to its place. A hollow
square Is formed, in imitation Of the great
Napoleon at Waterloo, and the colonel ad-
dresses his brother officers and fellow SOL
diers" in few fitting words and retires from
the field.
And now comes dinner, "A most important
feature Of muster. day. No one has had q
bite since his breakfast at home by candle
light, unless he has patronized the refresh
ment. booths. Even then ho will not allow
his appetite for the MONDAY meal 10 become
impaired. BY previous arrangement, each
company dimes by itself, or it joins forces
with some friendly company and hires the
services Of a caterer. Tue hotel OF the viii
lage cannot begin to accommodate the pub
lio, whether martial or civilian, and tempora.
ry sheds cover long lines Of tables on which
the feast ia spread. II is a Jolly company
and the scrAmbliDg for the viands and the
vintages, IL there are any il done in a good
natured way. As the repast draws TO q close
and dessert is in order, the caterer appears
at the end Of one Of the tables in shirt-sleeves
that are more than wet with Precipitation.
Under his arm he holds q pile Of plateless
pies, Just a. the newsboy on the train secures
q pile of magazines. The caterer marches
down the length OF the table with the half
inquiring, half defiant announcement, pies,
gentlemen pies, gentlemen !" At every
step he reaches for a pie, gives it a dexterous
tvirl between his thumb and finger, and
sends 1t spinning to the recipient with skill
and accuracy OF aim which would have done
credit to the disk -thrower OF the ancient Ro-
mans.
The moon gum" fred after dinner, calls
the regiment back to the parade-ground. The
real work of the day is over and now come
recreation and amusement. The remarkable
''eVolutions" of the several companies are
shown. each town striving TO outdo the 9th
era. OF course the Walton Light Infantry
will excel all the rest but it may be no easy
matter TO make every one think a. we do.
The newest evolution-that of the snake on
training dAy-certainly brings down the
house, even IL it fails to carry an admission
Of its superiority. When this friendly rival
ry is over, the sham fight proceeds A rough
structure of boards and boughs has been pre-
pared TO represent a fort, aud one OF the
companies is imprisoned therein, with little
air or light, and with no means of defence
except TO discharge their guns upward The
advancing regiment fires by platoons, which
wheel outward and retire TO the rear to load.
The artillery fires blank charges from neigh
boring hill The sweltering soldiers within
the fort are only too glad to capituate and
let some other company take their place the
new company, In turn, TO capitulAte and
march out with the honors OF war. Mean
while, the cavalry-whOse horses are more
used to the plough than to the din OF battle
has retired to distance, and indulges in a
sham fight on its own account. And yet in
spite OF all this preparation and in spite Of
the pains that have been taken TO show the
fancy movements of the soldiers, you will
seldom see a company that is really well
drilled in the most simple movements; for
drill masters are unknown.
Auo ohAh hBht Boeb oh ui to"htu nuh5o',
when the regiment is dismissed at the signal
OF the evening gun. And now comes the
hurry TO reach home. Such reckless driving,
such wild racing over the hills and along the
rough roads and lodges, and such desire TO
take of somebody's wheel" you never saw,
unless you have been TO q muster day before.
This is part OF the fun and IL you do moi
take II as the correct thing, and enjoy it too,
you might as well have stayed away from the
muster altogether.