Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-07-03

to act as British General, and declared
that he wanted to command the Ameri-
cans He said that Barry had only lived
in Springfield for one year and was
therefore not entitled to the highest Of
fee the town afforded. Herbert said
that he didn't care to stand up and be
beaten, even in play. He sweiled him.
self out and strutted and staggered
considerably over his own fancied Inn
portance.
The F1emings were prominent people
in Springfield, and when Herberts Ia
Their learned that his son wished to play
the part of General Greene in the sham
battle he sent word to the teachers OF
the academy that Herbert's wish must
be granted or he would no longer pat
ronize the school.
Barry Cartwright bad been in an &c
stacy of delight when he realized that
he was to lead the American army on to
victory He had fancied himself riding
his fathers horse into battle, and had
imagined that staid old animal trans
formed into gallant charger, seething
with foam, and prancing to martial mu-
sic! He had fancied himself, with sword
at his side, shouting his commands in
warrior-1ike fashion. He was a poor
boy. His father had lost an arm while
fighting for his country, and had to
work hard to support and educate his
family. Barry had been obliged to wear
a suit of clothes that had been awkward
ly remodeled from his fathers old uni
form. Herbert Fleming had once ridi-
culed the cut of these garments, and
Barry had been stung by the ridicule. I
am afraid that he had cherished
grudge against Herbert ever since.
When he discovered that he was to be
the hero of the sham-battle he took con-
siderable satisfaction in thinking that
Herbert would greatly like to be in his
shoes on that occasion.
Poor Barry was not to realize his tri-
umph, after all The teachers in the
military academy did not dare offend
Mr.. Fleming, and they decided that
Herbert should be given the coveted
generalship. Barry was told that he
must command the Hessians!
Nobody knew what his disappoint-
ment was. Nobody knew how he shut
himself into his room and foughta battle
with his ugly feelings toward his school
fellow and with his own disappoint-
ment. The boys pride was wounded,
and he felt that he had been defrauded.
He had taken his chances with the
other boys, and had honestly drawn the
ticket that entitled him to the favorite
,generalship. Why should he be forced
to give it up? He would have refused
to take any part in the sham battle if it
had not been for his father. Barry did
not want him to share his disappoint-
ment. He said nothing about the affair,
and consented to represent the Baron
Knyphausen.
It was a bright spectacle-that little
parade that marched through Spring
field on the Fourth of July. The women
folk had taken an interest in the affair
and had made the boys uniforms. The
band played, and, dear me, what an i'm
partial band it was! 1t played cyan
kee Doodle" and ''God Save the Queen"
with equal enthusiasm.
The two generals made gallant ap-
pearance-Herbert upon a spirited black
mare and Barry upon his fathers sedate
old sorrel. The two officers preceded
their armies in their march to Academy
Green, where the school principal, Mr..
Dinwiddie, made speech and astonish-
ed the town by his eloquence. He told
of the battle that had been fought and
won in Springfield in the year 1880, and
how the stout hearts of the Jerseymen
were shaken when they discovered that
they had no more wadding for their guns
There was an American minister in the
thickest of the battle, named James
Caldwell. He was great soldier as
we'll as a great preacher, and was called
the ''Rebel High Priest" His wife had
been shot by Hessian soldier, and
the terrible news was brought to him
while the battle was in progress, and at
the time that the want of wadding was
discovered. Mr.. Dinwiddie said that
this good man did not stop one moment
to vent his grief when the dreadful
news arrived. He did his duty before
he uttered one lament A poem, by
Bret Harte, told exactly what he did:
/" They were left in the lurch
For the want of more wadding. He ran to the
church.
Broke the door, stripped the pews, and dashed
out in the road
With his arms full Of hymn books and threw
down his load
At their feet: Then, above all the shouting
and shots
Rang his voice: Put Watts into 'em-Boys
give 'em Wattsl'
And they did! Mr. Dinwiddie de-
clared that the British army was driven
out of Springfield, thoroughly democrat
lied and thoroughly astonished at their
own defeat They did not know that a
heoric preacher and the peculiar merit
in Dr. Watts hymns had conquered
them!
When the grafton was concluded the
band played "Hail to the Chief,' and
then the sham battle began.
Were / a soldier would give you all
the details of that bloodless war. 1
would tell you how the scouts came out
to discover what the enemy was doing.
1 would tell exactly how both armies
advanced and reiterated. I would tell
how the old cannon doomed away on
the hill, and how the rifles were loaded
and reloaded with harmless blank cart
ridges would tell you all about the
real smoke, the real racket and the real
enthusiasm that accompanied this pre-
tended battle. But I am no soldier,
and therefore could never do the sub
ject justice.
On the occasion of which write both
Generals were unhappy, and this proves
that greatness does not always bring
contentment. The Baron Knyphausen
found himself envying General Greene
and thinking bitter thoughts about him.
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