The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-08-31
WAR EXPERIENCES.
by MM. W. WEIGH.

A lSecere March TO Memphis, Conttnned-
Heat and Dust-Unpieasa II and Ols'ruct
t,s-Wise Provisions Of NaturC-Hdr
and Beard-The March Enact.
If the SD men had been severely tried
by the march from Moscow to Lafayette
by heat and humid atmosphere, which
temporarily Frustrated so many, an equal
ly serious experience awaited them In an
other form the rest of the way to Memphis
The soil along the region, of character
soon TO be rendered very muddy and heavy
from rain, also rapidly dries, and the deer
dust bed II leaves is difficult TO move
through. Being very light, 1t fills the all
so densely on slight disturbance that pro
gress Is seriously INSTRUCTED. When there
is reckoned the cloud of dust single team
and wagon will raise, 1t can readily be
inferred what volume will attend the
movements of so large an army with all it'
artillery and heavy transportation. Fe"
reflect on the details of obstruction lnvolv'
ed 10 heat and dust. Regarding 1t as dis
comfort entirely falls to reach 1t. The
meshes of all clothing are charged with IL
the pores of the skin are filed, and perspi
ration to that extent mechanically repress
ed. The skin Is chafed and excoriated, all
the worse from the heavy arms, belts
straps. canteen, haversack, cartridge box
with forty rounds various accoutre
ments, the shoes become filed with dirt and
sweat, and the feet, from constant grind
ing, are apt soon to be made raw" with
all not blessed with calloused skins Who
ever has experienced even very slight
chaing of the feet from faults In shoes
can imagine all with an uninured sol
der. Long ,dreary miles ahead the march
wearisome and discouraging a, bes', and
every stop torture. Breathing is very off
ficult In such an atmosphere; and much ID
implied In that, more than Is at first imag-
ined To keep the eyes open It all badly
endangers them; and they must be, for all
must see their way. They thus become
much irritated and iniiamed. Permanent,
impairment, almost entire loss of vision
resulting from that cause, was incurred on
this very march. All was rendered worse
in that the men had not become Injured &c
this severe form of service; and month
preceding had been passed In compare
lively luxurious living. II Is not to be
forgotten, withal, that the Overpowerlng
heat was Intensified by that of the bodies
or so many men marching In compact col
. umn (by fours) not readily passing off NJ
chance for 1t; the atmosphere being OF
higher temperature, the tendency to equal
ize making worse condition.
Nature does nothing in vain. She Ii
wiser than her children. Students of an
atomy and physiology see nothing but wise
design In the structure amid functions OF
the animal economy as whole; and form
the greatest and most complex apparatus tC
the minutest and seemingly most insight
cant organ. Fashion restricts and hurtful
ly hampers; but not without due penalties
annexed to the violation of divine law
The hair and the beard have signiflcan,
and salutary uses In the numerous and va
ried conditions and vicissitudes, TO which
man Is specially exposed In his career
through existence. He who will study the
structure and characteristics of the brain
will note the provisions made TO preserve
II as nearly intact as possible through all
the circumstances endangeriDg Its integ
rity 10 which 1t Is exposed. Against blows
and shocks 10 which II Is constantly liable
the hair Is great protection In obtunding
them: the force thus expended often pre-
vents fatal conclusions" II Is an indis-
pensable equalizer of heat. A heavy
growth Of hair, uncomfortable" though II
be, saturated with perspiration, affords q
means Of free evaporation; rapid elimi
nation Of heat Is favored, and It's equil
ibrium preserved. Heavy, artificial heaC
coverings, have the opposite effect and de
feat the very purpose for which the hail
and beard were In part designed On the
other hand, Is the hair protection to the
brain on exposure TO extreme cold? In
stances are not few, where other structures
were but partially injured by long expos
ure TO cold, the head being but lightly
covered, serious AMI permanent injury L
the brain, with impairment of the mind
resulted.
AN ILLUSTRATIVE INSTANCE.
Within my memory, | cannot forbear t
relate that fifty years ago, while breakws
ter protection and harbor Improvements a
Buffalo, N. Y had been but inconsidera
BILE, and the low grounds adjacent TO Buff
falo Creek, called the fats" were subjec
TO heavy overflow from the severe autum
nal gales which sometimes swept dow,
Lake Erie, not only would vessels be strand
ed In theh streets ard on vacant lots Of
that part of the city, but tenements woul
be Hooded and washed from their Pounds
lions. Much suffering, exposure and los
OF life would often be caused.
On one such occasion, after night c
4, terrible storm, the morning light reveale
some persons, both men and women, clin,
ing for life to some wreckage of buil(
Ing half mile from Main street, whic
had been so graded as to be considerable
above the level Of the adjacent tract over
HnUah AhaVtIu