The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-07-16
THE GENERAL'sARTICLE.
Contribution to History Lost by Wife's
Critical Acnmen.

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4 Contribution to History Lost by wife's
| Critical Acumen.
General Meckleham, in imitation OF
greater men, decided upon writing a
series of war articles. "Why shouldn't
[, Nary" he asked of his wife, who be-
ongs to a literary society, and who is
considered an excellent critic. 81
should just like to know why ! ought
lot to give my experience? l went
through the war, and served with dis
,inction, even if I do say it myself
Another thing in my favor is that !
know how to write. understand the
construction of sentences. / under
stand the use of vigorous English.
What do you say, Mary?"
"Why, by all means write your ex-
perience. lido not see why you should
keep back anything that might prove
of interest to the public and result in
profit to yourself"
CHATS it, Mary; that's it. You
have hit the nail squarely on the head.
While ! was at college the students used
to laugh at me for continuing to devote
so much attention to rhetoric. twill
all come i'll handy now, you see. Vel
shall 90 to work at once
The next evening, when the lamp had
been lighted, the general said:
''Mary, are you ready to hear my
war paper.
He read it to her.
"What do you think of it,"
at is good"
Don't you think it's first class?"
eyes, l do"
81 have never said much about it,
Mary, but lam a writer. Many a time
while visiting newspapers Offices,
have said to myself, 'Ah, well, you fell
lows think that you are great writer's,
but you haven't learned your first les
son. So you think it, first class, eh?
Now, l shall wad it up and send it to a
magazine. ] ought to get at least 500
Tor it."
"You are going to copy it, are you
not?"
ooh, no, not necessary. It's as plain
as print
81 didn't know but you might want
to make a few corrections. Let me see
the manuscript minute. Listen to
this paragraphs: General Beauregard,
seeing that the left wing was weaken
ing, determined to reinforce them.
Don't you think it should say ST i'll
stead of 'them'?"
"Why? Refers to the soldiers"
"No, it means wing, which should be
it. !"
"Well, go on, 60 on
"'The general at one time, continued
the woman, finding another objection
able paragraph, was much moved to
see soldier dragging a gun with brok-
an leg"
whats wrong with that? It's a
TACT, for / saw it myself"
eyes, but how did he drag gun with
broken lce?"
"Confound it. don't you see? The
fellows leg was broken, but SO de-
termined was he that he still stuck to
the gun"
But he didn't dragit with his broken
leg"
Hang it. the fellows leg was broken
II understand that"
"Well then. Leg was broken, but
unwilling to retire from the field, he
erawled along, dragging his gum"
s.Wlth his broken leg?"
"Mary, haven't you got and sense at
all? The statement is as plain as day
light. When you strike a woman on
military matters, dad blame it! she
can't see two inches
II understand it we'll era,.gh. The
man was dragging his gun with his
broken ,.s, which, I should think,
Nauld ,aiiffer very little from drags;;.s
his broken gun with his leg"
The general wheeled around ir his
chair, showed bath hands into his peck
cts end, IN 8 CALM voice, slightly
trembling On the bosom of struggle,
s:ss.;i1:
"When ! married thought that my
wife was q sensible woman. thought
that she was woman af literary
taste All, Lord! Mary, your blamed
blindness has confused me. Read that
paragraph again"
q The general at one time was much
moved to see a soldier dragging gun
with broken leg All, see," she ex.
claimed.
81 am glad you do, Mary"
'"The soldier was draggiuga gun with
broken leg-the guns leg was brok,
en-"
"Gimme that paper' he exclaimed.
I'll he eternally burned if l allow
any one to-Mary, / am ashamed Oh
you. Go on away, and leave me
alone To suddenly discover such ig-
norance totally brushes me. Do you
think that 81 gun has legs and arms
like man? Do you for minute sup
pose-go on away, l tell you?
"You mean that a soldier with a
broken leg was dragging his gun, don't
you?"
"Hah?"
She repeated the renlark.
The gentIsat took the manuscript,
i;e{,l.ded It with. mock precision, andpu.t
It in the stove.
"Why do you burn it, DEAR"
ooh. l was afraid that i might
break one Of its legs. reckon it's safe
enough now. The next time YOU ash
NE to write anything, FIJI do it. Oh,
yes, TIL seize broken-legged pen and
write the life out Of it, A prophet is
not without homer. and so on. You
have beaten me out of 500 in cash,
qnd ! nope YOU are satistied.-Arkan-
saw Traveller.