The Dickinson press., 1888-01-21

bels. There are four of these unprincipled
wretchcs, who, in consideration of II monthly
bride of SIS apiece, consent to make life mis-
cradle at this particular hour of the day by
destroying your morning nap. They puff
out their checks till they are red in the face
and the veins on their forehcads stand out
like cords from tho eXcrtion, and they pour
forth the brassy notes till the words set to
reveille by some sarcastic soldier go dancing
in your brain and won't be driven out, ut
terly destroying sleep and ultimately driving
You from your he'd at the unsecmly hour of S
in the morning.
Bugles.-Allegro.
Ican't get 'em up,
Ican't get 'cm up,
1cant get EN- up in the morning;
Ican't get EN- up,
lcant get en- up,
lcan't get en- up all da.a-ay.
Reveille is succeeded by a profusion of
calls at short intervals; there is mess call,
summoning tho defenders of an effcte civil
cation to their morning coffee, bread and
meat; there is sick or surgeons call, when
the weak and ailing repair to the post hos
pital for treatment by the post s%awboncs:
there is stable call, ut which the cavalry
company marches its column of tours to the
cavalry corral for the morning grooming
and feeding. This sight, repeated each sue.
ceeding morning, fills the heart of the
"doughboyn foot soldier, who is exempt from
such duty, with delight.
The water wagon, drawn by six mules, APP
pears, and the barrels standing at your door
are filled with n fine yellow solution of earth,
popularity supposed to lie water. We are
quite primitive here; no elaborate system of
r-.-
filled at the little stream that runs past the
post, and is thence drawn directly to your
door. After standing twenty-four hours in
the barrels the sediment settles in a degree,
so that the water is quite available for wash
ing purposes. But for drinking, a system of
straining, boiling and filtering makes it none
use it, and are thankful it's no worse.
The hour for guard mounting has now
come. The rcgilnental band is stationed
here, and a very good bnnd it is. With
out it existence would become still more
nearly unbcarablc than ut present. 1t plays
each morning at guard mounting, has band
practice for an hour aftcrward, plays again Mt
retreat parade, favors us with II concert
every Sunday afternoon and furnishes music
for the hops gotten up weekly by the
restless subaltcrlls. After guard mounting
there Isl al informal gathering of the officers
of the command at the little one story adobe
dignificd by the name of the administration
building'-considerablc of Il title for SO small
and unpretentious n structure to staggcr be-
meath. Here we find the colonel in command,
with the nd jutant and the q~uartcrlnaster of
his rcgimcnt-two first licutenants, selected
for their especial fitness for these positions of
responsibility. Here is the gray headed cap
tain of the single infantry company at the
post-a man who entered the service before
you We're out of swadlling clothes, sir, and
who thinks his gray hairs entitled to con-
siderable respect for his long and most excel
lent service. Here, too, are both of his
lieutenants, fiery youths, chatting because
promotion is so deuced slow. Here, also, are
the three officers of the cavalry contingent,
gorgeous with uniformly large yellow shout
der straps and broad yellow stripes. Their
aggressively flaring facings contrast glaring-
ly with the modest and unassuming blue and
white of their infantry brethren.
Here all hour is passed, chatting of the
events Of tue day, discussing orders, or scan
ming the papers brought i'll by the soldier
mail carrier from the railway station nine
miles away. From the administration build
ing tho officers scatter to wherever the day
may have i'll store for them. The captains
go to inspect their company quarters and
Kitchens; the lieutenants, devoid of such re-
Sponsibilities, saunter to their own quarters
or up the officers line to the colonel's, where
the ladies are gathered, and pass some little
time there i'll social chat.
All, however, retire to their own quarters
before the sun is very high in the heavens. In
this hot southern climate nothing is done
through the day. The orderly has carried
the various orders over the post before 10
o'clock; the "herdn of horses of the cavalry
troop are down in the valley, where the trees
afford them q welcome shade and the running
stream quenches their thirst; the parade
ground, sparsely patched with clunps of
grass, presents q steady, tircsomc glare; the
garrison flag hangs Imply against the staff;
the very staff, leaning from the perpendicu-
lar, appears overcome by the extreme heat;
no sign of life is visible, save for the lizards
darting about under the direct rays of the
sun; it is insutferably, ~unspeakably hot.
Within doors, in darkened roolns, the holders
Of this little post pass the hot, weary hours us
best they may. Some read, some sleep; in
fact, beyond the attractions of the post suit
tiers card room and green covered table,
scarcely anything practicable remains but
reading and sleeping. The chief end of man
here seems to be to pass the hours of exile us
comfortably as possible; and so We find the
necessarily small libraries of the reading Of.
ficers filled with the works of standard au,
thors, whereby the tedium of these long, list
less hours may he beguiled.
So passes the day, till the lengthcnine
shadows announce the approach of sunset
The bugle sounds the call for dress parade
doors of quarters are opened wide and from
them the ladies, in cool, fresh toilets, issu.
forth to adorn the verandas IL by theil
presence lend grace to the scene. The officer
join their companies, the shor. line of troop
is formed and the daily retreat parade, TIL
sole "pomp and circumstance in which GU
little post INDUCES, proceeds slmartly to
close. The parade closes the day; the bugl
sounds retreat, the flag is lowered and 500
in the swiftly gathering darkness may b
seen the forms of the sentinels walking thei
solitary beats, keeping a wary lookout 70
foes. hypothetical and actual.
The sun has gone to rest behind the jagge
western mountains that from their gra
heights look down upon us, and tho rise
moon floods the scene with her silvery ligh>
All! the brilliant southern moonlight is b+
You'd oil compare. But bark. there's q bug,
strain in the air, rising to its highest MOI
and falling, dying way again in soft, lor
drawn cadences. Involuntarily you hush
listen. Taps. The last call of the da
Those notes, SO often sounded mournfully {
arid plain and in dark ravine over the lone
grave of the fallen comrade, now breathe
farewell to day. flights out,' and with Il
last notes the windows Of the long, low bu
racks become darkened. Silence broods O
all, and ave for the watchful sentinel paci
the confines of the post tho garrison sleeps.
Cerl Rretar in New YORK Ti,cea
Phases of the Capper's Work.
In all swindling schemes the capper is a b
factor. He is the man who makes bogus be
with the three card monte man. He aids
the disposition of "green goods" He assis
at mock auctions. He turns up at the race
He may be seen on the floors of the e
changes. He makes purchases with q lol
voice and great publicity to induce Others
buy. One phase Of the capper's work is SCI
where rows of uptown buildings are occupi
with tenants, who get more or less free he
until the buildings are sold, and tho pu