Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-02-17
Why the Soldiers Laughed.
BY JAMES FRANKLIN Fits.

There is no class of men better en-
titled to enjoy genuine, innocent fun,
han the soldiers serving in an active
campaign. They are entitled to it, and
Ehey do enjoy it with a zest that think
bther men cannot feel, for the reason
hat they have their lives in their hands,
Ind the occurrences of the next hour
br day might put them where humor
4 unknown. 1t was relief for the
brave fellows comprising our volun-
keer armies to relax little occasion
kllv; to turn from the stern business
bf war and fighting and Tighten their
condition with all kinds of fun and jest.
That they did SO, on occasion, most
nproariouslv, I need not say to my vet
eran comrades. The soldier who could
bot stand practical joke was out of
place among the volunteers. And
hose who could take joke, and were
quick to retaliate in kind, found their
ares much lightened, and the bond of
omraleship strengthened. 1 am not
BY any means the only soldier whose
tick. and-mud chimney, in winter quar-
Fers, refused to draw, and who discov-
bred, upon examination, that some kind
Fomrade had stuffed an old pair of blue
pants into the opening. And I expect
hat am but one of many such vic
inns who discovered the author Of that
(niquity, and got more than even with
him for the same. At least, was one
who did that thing.
When discipline was relaxed in fa-
Forable situations in camp or barracks,
the "camp-elephant" used to be pa
FADED about. It was the same animal
that we have seen shown in parlors at
home, when the young people get hila-
flous, but constructed on larger and
more scientific principles. He was
powered with army-blankets and blue
Pvercoats in profusion; he had an i'm
mense motive power of human arms
end legs under him. but carefully con-
fealea; soldier always bestrode him,
keeper walked by his side; long
blue pants-leg, tied at the end, was
waved in the air for a trunk. Followed
Py jovial procession, the elephant
would make the circuit of the camp,
Pnd morose indeed was the officer who
you'd not come out at the call of the
enlmal and answer his salutation.
The negroes in Louisiana and Vir-
Elna furnished constant fund of di-
|erslon for the soldiers. The sack
aces, wheelbarrow-races, blindfold-
aces, and others of that class that I
pave seen since those days, seem but
amt imitation of the real thing that
re were accustomed to have among the
people who invented them. And some
INES, and not rarely, either, when we
gould get some venerable African, the
ate Of whose birth was mere matter
P1 conjecture to himself, so far back
oward the early days of the Republic
as it, to twang his banjo and sing one
B the pathetic slave-ditties of the
Poush, and, later, to "pat" while a
Pnsk and lithe-limbed young Freed
nan executed dance in style that
Dan Bryant might have envied-then
We thought we could tell something
bout the origin of the negro show
pl,nnstrelsy of the North.
Perhaps it ought not to be mentioned
this connection, but the fact is that
ne religious outpourings of the col
req race were so extravagant as to af-
of1 mirth for the soldiers. They
fonld not help the mirth; nobody could
no heard some of the supplications at
ne negro prayer-meetings. The boys
ways tried to restrain themselves
nile meeting was going on, but back
camp the best imitator of the dialect
as sure to be greeted with approving
h out Of laughter.
on, Lawd Gawd, do come down
eah! Come down to de pore niggahs!
press de army an de navy OBJ de
mon. Lawd Gawd! bress ell de
PIERS Dress de good Marsa Linkum!
Ptess Genl Grant! Come right down
oah' Oh Lawd, IN dis pres e7at 7ao,u"
Many things that the soldiers got
ola OF from the outside were very
nluslng, and had wide circulation. I
now OF nothing of this kind that trav-
teo farther or was more keenly en-
Ryea than the intercepted love-letter
inc girl down in Dixie to her Con-
Paer Ia soldier at the front. It
Feathed the warmest spirit of true
w AL the wav throuoh hut tha wind.