Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-03-26

A1lACA tAAS D-tIAs gnu IHC hllTTlUg notes or
"adjutant's call, T" followed BY the burst
Of martial strains in swinging six-eight
time, heralded the coming of the troops
Of the whole command.
Company after company. the cavalry
from the west, the infantry from the
east end Of the quadrangle, came march
ing forth upon the level. green CARPET.
seemingly intermingling in confusion as
they neared the center, vet unerringly
and unhesitatingly marching onward.
until presently. with the solid blue and
white battalion in the center, and with
the yellow plumed helmets Of the cav
airy parading afoot on both hanks. the
long statuesque line stretched nearly
half way across the longest axis of the
quadrangle. Company after company.
the white gloved hands clasped in front
Of each man as its commander ordered
Parade rest, and Col. Morris himself
who had with much deliberate dignity
Of manner marched out in front Of the
center, now stood in solitary state with
foldedarms and glanced quickly along
the motionles5 line, while back Ut him
some thirty yards, all along the edge of
the parade, in buggies, carryalls. 'busses.
in long somber rank afoot, Central City
looked admiringly on. For a moment
the main interest seemed to center On
Lieut.. Hearn, and fingers could be seen
pointed, and voices heard announcing.
s'That's him, as he stood tail and erect
in front of the troop he was commanding
in old Blauvelts absence.
With flourish of truInpets and three re-
sounding ruffies the band swept out from
the right front, and then all eyes were sud
denly greeted by an unaccustomed sight.
On the troops, long schOoled in military
etiquette, the effect was not at the time
apparent-neither BY word nor sign was
there indication that anything unusual
had occurred; but in the populace, long
accustomed to individual visits to the
fort and to observation Of its military re-
quirements. Keep off the grass" and
by no means intrude upon the space re-
served for military exercises, the sensa-
tion was immediate. Elbowing his way
through the crowd standing at the edge
Of the parade ground, with cigar tip
tilted in his mouth, his Ii ight spring over
coat thrown back, with the same cool
deliberation that characterized all his
movements, the representative Of The
Palladium sauntered forth upon the
sacred precincts, and never hesitating
until he had almost reached the com
manding officer, presently came to a
species Of parade rest" Of his own, half
sitting on the backs of his hands. which
were supported on the knob Of his mas
sive cane, and there coolly surveyed the
proceedings from the very spot reserved
for the adjutant, one yard to the rear
and three to the left of the commanding
officer.
Some of the soldiers in ranks. unable
to repress their merriment at the sight
Of 50 unusual breach Of etiquette,
could not refrain from tittering. The
voices Of the file closers could almost be
heard in stern, low toned reproach.
Stop that laughing Murphy -sQuiet,
there. Duffyt' Morris himself could see
that something unusual was going on,
but, totally unconscious that his own
official precincts were the scene Of the
solecism, never changed his position,
but stood there sta-uesque. soldierly and
precise. al Unconscious of his self ap-
pointed staff officer slouching behind
him. AS fcr Mr. Abrams, happy in the
conyiStion that the people could not but
look on and envy the proud prominence
Of the representative Of the press, he APP
peared to have no other care than that
Of the criticism due the public of the
martial exercises now taking place.
That it was probably the colonel's inten-
tion to mako u speech of some kind to
his men Mr.. Abrams did not doubt, and
that The Palladium should have every
word Of it he fully intended.
The band by this time was hammering
half way down the line, and the officer
Of the day, coming suddenly in the north
west gate from visit to the guard, be-
came aware that something was exciting
the merriment Of the few men on the
verandas Of the cavalry quarters, and
then caught sight Of this strange figure
out on The parade He looked hurriedly
about III search of nc colonel's orderly,
but Brooks, as we have seen. had al
ready gone on his mission to the station.
Not a soul was there to whom he could
intrust the duty, yet he knew be could
not allow such breach Of military pro
priety to occur right under his eyes.
There seemed 10 help for it; he had to
60 himself: and. by 10 means liking his
duty, Capt. Cross, of the Infantry, has
tened out on the parade, and with the
eyes Of both lines upon him. though the
heads of the troops remained scrupu-
lously fixed to tho front. ha stepped UP
to Mr.. Abrams, tapped him on the
shoulder, and civilly said:
II beg yonr pardon, sir, but no one is
allowed on the parade ground. | shall
have to trouble you to fall back to the
roadway"
Mr. Abrams looked angrily around.
What. Be compelled to quit his position:
to fall back in humiliation before all
those people ana meekly take his station
among them. ana actually to have to
confess that. after all, a newspaper man
wasn't the monarch of all he surveyed
NeYerl
I'm here in the interest Of the journal
I represent, and l have full authority
from the commanding general to inspect
anything at this post" was his instant
answer, accompanied by shrug Of his
shoulders and an lgly scowl.
Il cannot help that, was Cross cool
yet civil reply. you can see Just as
well from the edge Of the parade, and
here you viii be in the way"
II can't see it clear back there, and
mean to stay where | can see and hear
If there's anything | don't understand /
wish to be where Col. Morris can ex-
plain"
Thanks to the banging Of the band, all
this was inaudible to the colonel, who
remained in blissful ignorance of the
colloquy taking place 50 near him.
'.You cannot stay here, sir" was the
firm, low toned answer II viii take
pains to explain everything to you after
you retire some twenty yards, but !
trust You will not make it necessary for
me to be more imperative. Come, sirlr
And 50, with the worst possible grace,
Mr.. Abrams had to give ground, and,
accompanied by the officer of the day,
fall back to the general throng. 10
cover his modification rs much as pos
sible, Cross, in smiling and courteous
manner, went on to explain the purpose
and details of the parade But Abrams
only turned angrily away. Twice he