The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-06

lightly poised and so full of swinging andulating
motion it almost seemed that the wind moved
him as it blew over the plain Yet every nerve
muscles and sinews that seemed so pliable were
equal to the curling of the most fiery animal
do not think that he sat on mis- horse with more
grace than the other officers, for they rode
superbly but it was accounted by others
almost an impossibility to dislodge the General
from the saddle, no matter how vicious the
horse might prove. He threw his feet out of
the stirrups the moment the animal began to
show his inclination for war, and with his knees
dug into the sides OF the plunging brute he
fought and always conquered. With his own
horses he needed neither spur nor whip. They
lwere such friends of his, ard his voice seemed
$50 attuned to their natures they knew as well
by its infections by the slight pressure OF the
bride on their necks what he wanted By the
interest inclination on the Generals part they
either sped on the wings of the wind or adapted
their spirited steps to the slow movement OF the
march. 1t was delight to see them together.
they were so in unison, and when he talked to
them, as though they had been human beings
their intelligent eyes seemed to reply.
4'As an example OF his craftsmanship he had
sway of escaping from the stagnation of the dull
march, when it was not dangerous to do So by
riding short distance in advance o. the column
over divide, throwing himself on one side of
his horse, SO as to be entirely out of sight from
the other direction, giving signal that the ami
speed that could be made. The horse entered
into the frolc with all the zest of his master,
and, after the race, the animals beautiful. dis
tended nostrils glowed blood-red as he tossed his
head and danced with delight.
SIN hunting the General rode either Vic or
Dandy. The dogs were so fond of the latter
they seemed to have little talks with him. The
Generals favorte deg, Butcher. would leap up
horse in starting. The spirited horses, mounted
by officers who sat them SO well; the sound of
the horn used for the purpose of calling the
dogs; their answering bay, the glad voices and
.-whoop-ila to the hounds as the party galloped
down the valley are impressions ineffaceable
from my memory They often started a deer
within sound Of the bugle at the post In a few
hours their shouts outside would call me to the
window, and there, dropping across the back OF
ore of the orderlies horses, would be a magnlf-
cent black tailed deer. We had saddle of
venison hanging on the wood house almost con-
stantly during the winter The officers, and
even the soldiers tables had this rarity to vary
the monotony of the inevitable beef
Mrs. Custer says about the life Of army
women:
"a woman on the frontier is so cherished and
appreciated. because she has the courage to live
out there, that there is nothing that is not done
for her if she be gracious and courteous. In
twenty little ways the officers spoiled us, they
never allowed us to wait on ourselves, to open or
shut door, draw up our own chair or to do
any little service that they could perform for
If we ran to the next house for a chat, with
shawl thrown over our heads. we rarely got
chance to return alone but with this undigniied
head-covsring were formally brought back to
cur door! / wonder if it will seem that we were
foolishly petted if reveal that our husbands
buttoned our shoes, wrapped US up Il we went
out warmed our clothes before the fire,
poured the water for our bath out of the
heavy pitcher and studied to do innumerable
little services that maid would have done for us
in the States.
ST don't think it made us helpless, however
In our turn, we watched every chance we could
to anticipate their wants. We did hundred
things we would not have remembered to do had
not the quickly passing time brought nearer
each day those hours of separation when we
would have no one to do for l am sure never
saw more tender men than the officers. One
learned to conceal the fact that one was ailng or
fatigued, for it made them 80 anxious"
Whatever Mrs. Custer touches she leaves Wv
idly before the reader, aud one could quote and
quote half the book till the description of that
final summer when with premonitions of disaS-
ter they had never known before, Custer started
Cor the battle of the Little Big Horn, and was
never seen again.
New Books.
JAN VEDDERs WIFE A Novel By Amelia E. Barr.
Dcdd Mead & Co., New York; The Bowen Merrill
Company. Indianapolis. Price. $125,
HOME STUDIES IN NATURE. BY Mary Treat. Illus
trated. Harper & Brothers, New York; The Bowen
= Merrill Company, Indianapolis.
FLY RoDs AND FLY TACKLE Suggestion as to their
manufacture and use. By Henry ?. Wells. Illus
trated. Harper & Brothers. New Nork; The Bowen
Merrill Company, indianapolis.
The 'fyr fsherman's best friend; valuable
book by writer well up in his profession.
THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF SCHOOL OFFICERS
AND TEACHERS. By a member of the Massachu
sets bar. Harper & Brothers, New York; The
COmpanY, INDIANAPOLIS.