Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-10-01
hearted q fellow
q
AS ever cracked a joke
Or eyor q cracker broke.

Or evor a cracker broke.
Withal, the mans tongue never
harmed any one save himself or those
who took pattern after him, though
he would delight in abusing a coward,
If ever such a character came in his
way. Still he was thoroughly,
thOughtlessly profane man.
But profanity was not rarity in
an army camp. 1t is little curious
that with death staring the men in
the face almost every hour, the sol
dier became Indifferent to that which
is denOminatcd spiritual interests.
Yet, somehow or other, an idea had
obtained place in the belief Of
many Of the army that men who
cOnsCientiOusly go to war for what
they deem is their cOuntry's right or
demand, will always be sure Of saliva
ton beyond the grave. Their cOnsO-
latiOn was that Justice and Mercy
both interCeded for the brave who
fell in defense of their flag. Others
became utterly callOused and indift
ferent to the matter of soul and re-
ligjOn. / knew one dear fellow, the
idol Of his household at home, and
the pet and pride of messmatcs and
comrades in camp "a bright and
promising young man whose passion
and whose sin lay almost wholly in
cards, in gaming. Before he had
been out year the poor boy sickened
and became an utter and hopeless
wreck in his tent-thence to the hos
pital. He played cards, | grieye to
say, even on his dying bed. The rul
ing passion became strong even in his
death. In the last hour he said:
prop me up, boys, in my bed. I
want to play one more game before |
go. Who will play with me?"
2 His COmrades-not believing the
end was so near-bolstered him up as
best they could; but in a short while
the dear fellow was gone forever
ere the game was ended. Here's
prayer for your rest and your MEM
,ory, my dear friend! His grief-strick-
en father when over SO years of age,
led a fine company of my old country
men out to the front under famous
general. He took his sons place in
the army. But half his men never
again crossed the Threshold of home
after bidding goodbye to their loved
ones, but they achieved immortal
honor for their leader and their COM
mand.
{ But Jess Coward was the most rest
less and the most impatient-if not
the most insubordinate-man | ever
saw under drill. He rebelled at the
4 i,Nlir nf f
self, for he was always ready for the
hight when that came on. There was
one trouble with many Of our high
spirited and self-willed young men
entering the armieS-they could not
quietly, and at all times, properly
submit to the rigors Of discipline.
The idea Of mastery, or authority, is
repugnant to the American youth
who believe in the idea Of democratic
equality. The commands Of author
ity often came from men who were
the social and intellectual interiors of
many in the ranks or in subordinate
positions. Jess Coward was one man
who would never acknowledge supe-
riority in any position, or in any fea-
ture, in any mortal man-save in the
commanding general of his army.
jess would invariably yield absolute
and profound obeisance and obedi-
ence to him-and to him only.
In our camp of instruction the
drill-master was an DID, warm, and
personal friend of edwards. They
had been raised together in a country
town; and, while the drill-master had
achieved, or reached, the rank of
Major, Coward could not forget or