Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-13
SECRETARY TRACY AT A LOSS.
Private Giles Keeps Secret the Place
Where He Got His Liquor.

This village, quiet and far removed from the
world Of noise and hustle, says an Owego special
to the New York Tribune, was formerly the
home Of Secretary Tracy and there is hardly q
man. woman or child here who does not know
the Secretary. 1t was here that he began his
practice Of Law and distinguished himself be-
fore sage justices OF the peace and in the county
courts. There is hardly an old-time country
lawyer in the neighborhood who cannot tell
stories Of cow-and-pig cases in which the gen.
eral," as he is Familiarity called, won village
fame as counsel. His argument and summing
up in these cases were as careful as if the WELL
being OF great corporation depended upon
the result and many a Woodworking farmer
and village shopkeeper have reason to be glad
OF having engaged 'the general"
There was an occasion, however, upon which
Mr.. Tracys argumentative faculties completely
deserted him and left him entirely at a loss.
Early in the war Lawyer Tracy became Col
dred and ninth New York volunteers, q rcgi-
ment which he had organized. The regiment
rejoiced in u private, '.Bri'' Giles by name, who
was recruited at Owego and who gave Col.
Tracy more trouble than tho enemy. 1t was
not that "Bri' Giles loved his country less, but
that he loved his whisky more. He would get
drunk at the most inopportune times. and
whenever drunk he was utterly unmanage-
able and as noisy as a field battery. Col.
Tracy cut off all Of the ways by
which 'Bri" probably got his whisky, but
still ''Bri' got it and often got a .'stilL" Long
confinement in the guard house seemed to have
no effect upon the incorrigible private and he
invariably celebrated his release py a hearty
drunk. Until discovered by Col Tracy he
would carry the barrel Of his musket plugged
up and full to the muzzle Of his cherished
liquor. When Col. Tracy put stop to the use OF
this ingenious flask, by decreeing that Bril-
should be a soldier without gun. "Bri" bought
boots bigger than his feet would FILL and upon
a march used the unoccupied space in them for
''tangle-foot' literally true).
At last Col. Tracy became thoroughly dis
susted, and resolved at all cost to discover
where Giles got his liquor. After Bril- had
been drunk for AZ unusually long time the
colonel sent for him, and although the man
was still far from sober he was able to stand
alone and to talk plainly enough to be under
stood. The conversation that ensued was the
following:
Col. Tracy-Giles.
Giles-Yesh (hic) shur Clic).
Col. Tracy-l understand you have been
upon another regular drunk.
Giles-Enny (hic) body (hic) told ye that
Frank. (hic) told the truth. when drunk he
invariably called Col. Tracy Prank
Col. Tracy-Now, Giles, I'll make a PROPOSE.
to you. IL you will tell where you get the
whisky, I'll let you off; otherwise am going to
punish you 30 severely that you will never for
get it.
Giles-Gon' to (hic) punish me?
Col. Tracy-Thats what I'm going to do IL
you don't tell.
Giles-She here, Frank approaching and
becoming confidentiaD if ennybody (hic) asks
you where 'Bri' Giles gets his (hic) whishkey
you shay-no! (hic) you shay you won't tell i'm
(hic). You shay you don't know (Nc). Ye jush
tell i'm ye dontknow, and by. (hic) Franz,
that'll (hic) be the truth.
The present head of the Navy Department
was completely staggered, and "Bri' didn't &c,
punished severely. Giles is still living. on a
little farm near Owego, and drives in fire.
qucntly to get his dearly beloved jug filled to
the neck He has done it ever since the war
and, drunk or sober. he swears by Secretary
Tracy and votes for him for President at every
election.