San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-21

| ItSSc lOI VIC Lluhl'
Whoever reads the local reports of
our English papers about the Great
Texas Militia Encampment," the Ex-
press last week publishing daily from
| tour to five columns OF encampment
reading matter, must indeed get a
grand idea of this encampment.
To be candid the whole affair
is nothing but the biggest humbug
we ever saw, and if we have pity for
anyone. it is General Stanley with
the regulars, who had to participate
in this soldiers farce.
We admit that we are not in love
with militarism, but are of the opln-
ion that if we must have military
exercises, they should at least be
carried out with some show OF discip-
line and manly earnestness.
To be q soldier, if the necessity
exists, good enough, bat to play
soldier is the most ridiculous and
childish farce one can imagine, in
tended for children, but not for men.
To tell the truth, the entire ZEN
campment of Texas state militia" was
nothing but child's play, even more
carricature of military life as il.
ought to be. If any old Prussian
sergeant or corporal had wit
messed these exercises on the parade
grounds they would have been struck
with appOplexy on the spot. Such
movements! Such evolutions! They
certainly indicated, If we don't come
today we will get there tomorrow.
The uniforms alone show that there
is not a trace of military discipline.
Here is brave warrior with a cap,
there is one with a helmet and still
another even with a SLOUGH hat.
One has blue and another
a red handkerchief around his neck :;
we even noticed several officers wear
ing q cloth in the same manner as a
protection against the sun land this
at o'clock in the evening, when it
was certainly not Sd very hot whilst
their men had to do without such
protection. IL soldier cannot
stand such little Inconvenience,
he had better stay at home by
mama, for if an encampment
has any object at all, it is to prepare
the militia for actual war. If this OBJ
ject is lost sight of, then nothing re-
mains but children's play. 1t is a
be found among these militia soldiers
and even among the officers. They
are, with few exceptions, nearly all
little urchins, who have hardly
outgrown their boy breeches,
hence their delight in playing
soldier, provided you don't ask too
much trouble and exertion and dish
them up their meals at regular meal
hours. II that is not done, long
faces are worn, and, like bad boys,
they are apt to say: "Wewon't play
any more!"
The uniforms of the militia are
in general fairly Of military
style and free from such mon
key-like dressing as the mill
tia usually like to show, with
the exception of zouave COM
pany l16 mem of Denison, whom no
one could look at without a plying
smile. The braves have intensely
carmine pants and similar jackets,
with the usual trimmings in yellow.
These brave sixteen evidently thought
they were awfully nice!!
Whoever thinks our remarks too Sc
we're need only look at the sponsors"
who play q grand role on the grounds,
even q grander one than General
Stanley with his staff. These spon-
sors are pretty girls, who wear the
uniform of their respective regi-
ment and who, of course, only
want to be oourted. Another queer
sight were those little uniformed
"kids,"9 or 10 years old, brought
here by some of the companies to par
take of all exercises and parades
In conclusion we say that all this
play would be Insignificant in its
place, If the public and the press
would not applaud and lionize these
toy soldiers in an unusual manner.