The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-06-07
DALLIHORE'S WHISPERS

DALLIM0RES WHISPERS
How many men enter the army sole
" on account of the uniform? How
| many Of those who are supposed to be
enamored of the adventures and perils
of a soldiers life are enamored only of
| the tinsel and strappings Of a soldiers
coat? 1t would be interesting to know,
but, owing 10 the unaccountable reti-
| cence on the part of those in influence,
it is impossible so discover.
Still, occasionally there occur cases
where, though no confession in made,
| a shrewd guess may be hazarded that
aesthetic consideration had much to do
in inducing the gallant warrior to
| choose a military career.
Capt Dallimore's was one of these.
Capt. Dalton baltimore was not very
adventurous, nor a very courageous,
nor a very ambitious man. but he
was unquestionably very conceited
| one. His conceit, however, referred
| only to his appearance. He never
| imagined that he was cleverer, braver,
| or more high-minded than his fellows;
in fact, his private opinion was that in
these qualities he was rather below
than above them. But when it came
to good looks-well, every time he
glanced in his glass, and that was pret-
| ty often, he felt, with thrill of pleas
ure, that there he had the advantage
Of most people.
And he was not a bad-looking fell
| low. He had a rather long face, pass
able good features, and fairish hair,
| and he wore muStache, large mutton
| chop whiskers, and a pi,1ce-nez He
was very tall and very slight; and his
| clotheS-which is not always the case
even with military men-were OBJ
| viously made for himself
His appearance was better than his
manner; that was affected and insipid
to a degree. He could not be induced
| to manifest nothing but the most
| lanquid interest in anybody or any
| thing about him. No matter what
was the subject which was occupying
the attention of the rest of the com
pany his attention was concentrated
| on himself. While the others were
testing. chatting, or disputing he was
engaged examining the fit of his Jacket
| or the cut of his oyeralls. or else strok-
ing his mustache and passing his fin
gers aiIectionately through his whisk-
| ers.
These latter hirsute appendages were
| the cause OF much mockerv and heart
! burning in the regiment. His brother
officers strongly disapproycd Of them
| They could understand and sympathize
| with his devotion to his mustache-
| they all wore mUstaches themselves,
which they carefully nurtured and ten
deriy cherished he was the only
man in the regiment who spOrted
Whiskers, and the others regarded his
| indulgence in them as an unwarranta-
| bic license, not TO say breach Of dis
| cipline.
Dolly, my boy" one would say,
| ''why don't You shave and look like a
Christian?n
Prefers tolool likes goat, another
would say.
You see,n a third would put in,
she's not very energetic, and the
whiskers save him a good deal Of work;
with them he has only to wash half of
| his face
But Capt. baltimore would only
laugh languidly at all such coaXing,
| bullying, and rcmonstrance. He loved
| his whiskcrs, and was determined not
to lose them. Besides, he suspected
that envy had something to dowith his
fellow-oilicers' disapproyal.
Capt. Dalton baltimore never regret
ted his choice of profession. The
Lancer uniform exactly suited his taste
| and figure His duties he found light,
and, on the whole, agreeable; while
the effect of his lace. spurs. and
charger upon the ladies was all that
| he could be desired. The only draw
| back he ever found was the fact that
his regiment was 50 frequently sta
| talon in remote villages. where he had
little company and little opportunity
| OF receiving what he felt was his due
| OF feminine admiration and attention.
His delight, therefore, can be mag
| ined when his regiment received or
| ders TO leave the obScurity of BraXby
| for the publicity and gayety of the
| Irish metropolis. He had been in
| Dublin before, and knew what he had
| to expect there-not an occasional dim
ner At Lord Broadacre's or Squire
| Cherry's. or dance every six months
at the town hall. but a succession of
| banquetS, receptions. and balls, and
1 ttAC sNNiillIk tttlbl dl4i NttNO OilbI VI StOiGS
Of the prettiest women in Europe.
The gallant captain was not doomed
10 Disappointment, Dublin proved
everything that he expected. All that
was wealthy. beautiful, and fashiona-
Bile in the city received the Lancers
with open arms. Cards of invitation
| from the castle, Merrion square, and
! Old Trinity came in scores to every
officers quarters. From colonel to
| lieutenant they were al in demand
| everywhere, but meme of them seemed
to be quite in 50 great demand as Capt.
Dalton baltimore.
1t was about month after the regi-
ment's arrival in Dublin that Capt.
! baltimore was, alone of the LancerS,
| present At a dinner given by Mr.. Justice
| McNurthur in his fine house in Fitz-
william square. Judge McMurthur
was famous for his dinners. and though
| Capt, Dalton baltimore knew there
would be no ladies there-the host
| was bachelor-and that he would be
acquainted with few of the guests. he
/ gladly accepted the invitation. And
| he did not regret it. 4 better dinner
| he had never eaten, and the wines were
| simply Incompatible The only thing,
besides his appearance, in which Capt.
baltimore took an absorbing interest,
| was his stomach.
The COMPANY. like the dinner, was