The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-05-12
REGULAR ARMY LIFE.
Hrs. Custer Tells How Cavalrymen Pine 20
Their Sweethearfs.

Hrs. Custer Tells How Cavzlrymen Pine For
Their Sweethearts.
Earlyfn the spring the Seventh cav
airy found themselves again in Kansas
Some Of the officers took leave of abb
sence, and, after the years separation
from their families, the. rejoicing was
great Two of our number brought
their wives back to camp Others were
deprived of that pleasure because their
wives could not endure the hardships,
or their children were to young to bear
the exposure. There was great eX-
changing of condolences concerning the
experiences of the officers on their
leaves, and much unreserved narrating
of domestic scenes; for, full of railing
as every one was. mans family life
was sacred and he felt that he could
speak of it freely; so it was indeed as if
we were one family. Those who went
home amused US on their return by
their stories of how they had surprised
the home people-stealing in at the
back door, catching up their wives and
swinging them in the air, while the
frightened servants, hearing the
screams, ran from the kitchen with
hands covered with -four, and the coach
man from the stable, still holding his
curry-comb all Of them ready TO defend
their lady against the imagined burglar
or assassin. One of our number reached
home in the evening while his little
son was sleeping. He was awakened in
the morning by the vigorous application
of pair of little fists on his face and
an angry demand from the little fellow,
accompanied by some terrible language
that tie yOungSter had learned at the
cavalry stables, to get out of his moth
er's bed" He had in the year that had
elapsed entirely forgotten how his
father looked, and, not knowing he was
coming, he did not suspect the identity
Of the intruder.
Those officers who had no families
were busy over piles OF love letters
awaiting them from the East, and sought
in vain places where they might read
In peace, for those who were not so
fortunate as to have a sweetheart
rallied the lucky ones and interfered as
much as possible with the envied enjoy
ment Still, it is well known fact that
a soldier is usually lover. The old
saw: Love rules the camp, the court
the grove" is one that fits all nations
and all eras. Officers are pretty fear
less about their devotion; if not avow-
ing it openly, still wearing all sorts
of love pledges-chains and lock-
cts, which, with the open-throated
shirt in a campaign are easily
seen, or keepSakes on the watch chain;
perhaps curious ring which could not
be mistaken for a mans under any cir
cumstances, or other such things /
have even seen a bangle made large
enough to encircle the arm, and locked
on, Of course, by fair hands A Cath
olic officer often wore an Agnus Del,
and / believe that many a man would
have disfigured himself with an earring
If the girl he left behind him had asked
to pierce his ear for that purpose. They
did not hesitate to carry their sweet
hearts picture in their inner pockets
and around the campfire take them out
and look at the loved faces by freight
the last thing before sleeping.
Imagine, then, with all these officers,
most of whom were in love with women,
either their wives or the girls they
hoped to make their wives, what time
of rejoicing 1T was when partial civiliza-
ton was again reached, and the cars of
the railroad were almost in sight, mean
ing to them an opportunity to go East
or, failing that at least daily mail!
Every ones heart seemed to be merry
the sounds of laughter and song rang
out from the tents, and the soldiers
danced in the company streets to the
music of an Irish bagpipe differing
somewhat from the Scotch instr ument
but with just as merry music) that be-
longed to a recruit newly arrived
From Following the Guidon."