Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-11-15
An oLD-FAsH1oHED .MusrER."

An oLD-EAgHI0HED MUSTER"
An old-fashoned muster was equal
to q modern ''Mardi Gras." The
Governor was the commandef-in-chief,
but as he could not be personally pres
ent the militia were reviewed by proxy.
Every county had on aide-de- campe
with the rank of Colonel. He held his
rank and title as long as the Governor
held his Office, and he was expected to
holler for him, and, if necessary. he
must fight for him on suitable occa-
sion. IF the Governor failed of re-
election, these Colonels had to retire
too, and new set were appointed. but
the old Sc: never lost their title, and 80
the State in course of time got pretty
full Of Colonels. On muster day the
Colonel wore cocade hat and q red
plume and epaulets and long brass
sword and big brass spurs, and horse
pistols in the holsters Of his saddle,
and he and his personal staff rode up
and down the lines reviewing the
militia. who were drawn up in a double
crooked straight line in a great big field
that was full of gullies and broom sage.
Some wore coats and some didn't;
some wore shoes and some didn't; but
none wore boards, for in those days
none wore boards but gamblers. Some
were armed with shotguns and some
with rides or muskets, but most of
them carried sticks and cornstalks and
umbrellas, and they stood up or squat
ted down at pleasure. and about half
the time hollering for water.
The Colonel and his staff rode up
and down the lines on fine horses that
danced and pranced like there were
tacks under the saddles. The roll of
each company was called and every
man answered to his name whether he
was there or not. Then the Colonel
took central position and faced the
long audience and waved his glittering
sword and exclaimed: Attention, bat
talionl Shoulder arms, right face,
marchl" Then the kettle drum ratified
and the fife squeaked and some guns
went off half cooked and the militia
gave three cheers for the Colonel and
were disbanded until the next muster.
Old man Brooks was the chief musician
in my day, and would not have.sex-N
changed this Office with the king Of
England. He always played "Bfook1's
March" for the militia to locomote by.
They never marched or kept step by
the music, but they got along somehow
by walking and trotting and pacing
and fox trotting by turns.
Old father Brooks played his part
we'll in the drama or farce, or whatever
it was. He magni6ed his office. He
loved music. He said his fife was his
life and his fiddle was his riddle. On
his last bed he sent for my father to
come and see him. Old and wrinkled
and cadaverous, he motiOned to be
propped up in his bed, and then, with
an inverted chair behind his pillow, he
pointed to his fiddle that lay npon the
shelf near by and il was handed to him.
Hugging it to his old bosom he smiled
amid his tears and whispered: 81 wish
that I could play you one more tune"
That night the old man died, with his
left hand closed hard and rigid around
the neck of his violin.
| After the muster was over then came
the horse racing on quarter nags, and
swapping, and Of course Aome pugilis-
tic exercises in front of the groceries.
Jim Bowles was the center of crowd
from his beat, and stripped to the waist
he pranced around and popped his fist
in the palm of his hanc, and jumped
up and cracked his heels togather three
times before they struck the ground,
and gave wild Iniun whoop and ex-
claimed: I'm the best man in Pinkney-
vile district About that time big Jim
Robinson jumped up in the center Of
anothered crowd and yelled I'm the
best man in Ben Smiths district" and
Nick Rawlins screamed like a panther
from another crowd, and gritted his
teeth and shook his hair and yelled:
Gentlemen, my Betsy Jane says I'm
the best man i'll Rockbridge deestrict,
and reckon she ought for to know"
1t was just like game cocks Growing
in the barnyard, and, like the cocks
two of them soon got togather and