Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-06-04
The s%ueALIERN,s "TAr."
A Very Usefnl Friend Of British Onicers
IN India.

The subaltern's tat" is doubtless un
L known 10 99o people out of Il thousand
10 the small minority he is remember
cd as the useful and faithful ANNA
,, who has made it possible for officers Il
: perform their daily duties when sta
: toned in India Tat is the llindus
lance for pony and the Suhaltcrn's tat
comes into existence as soon rs q regi'
ment marches into its %cantonmcnt, no
matter IN what city they may be. The
tat is the COMMON property of the
~ucutcnants and it is on his back that
those hard worked officers spend much
Of the day and night when detailed for
orderly officers duty.
AS a rule the tat" is bought from the
outgoing regiment and at the first COM
ing in Of a new corps is really most use
inl, for he knows a good deal more
about the geography of the |cantonmcnt
ana where the scntrics are posted than
the newly arrived officers. Though
having many masters, the tat has
ny no means a bad life of it. lie has
ms own 'syrc' or groom, his graSs-cut-
ter and aS much gram" us is good for
nm. At o'clock in the morning he is
10 hc seen near the mess house, saddlcd
ana waiting for the officer, who is in.
slde having his morning coffee, per.
chance Il "B. and s.
AS one jumps into the saddle there is
no need to guide the animal, who knows
ms rounds thoroughly. but it is as well
ociorc starting To givc him a few humps
OF sugar. 1t is II kindly thought any
way and the pony perhaps starts with a
quicker gait for the Quartcrmastcr'S
stores, where the orderly officer has to
the meat and sec that each
toh'Pahy gets IT'S proper weight Of ri-
tlohs' me tat always gets crust or
TWO OF bread, but otherwise takes little
interest IN the proceedings. Alta IN.
nc tat takes his daily master round
ne barracks and learns whether the
breakfasts are all correct. At o'clock
le attends gnard.mouuting parade; and
ooNS on with n critical eye, for he
that the clcaneSt. best dressed
IAN Will be selected for orderly, and
'ltl nave charge Of him during certain
arts OF the day. After gnard.mount, :
l@ the tat gees back to his stable I
gets his morning meal, and by IN {
"hcn he is wanted to carry his
around TO Inspect the dinners, l
e looks "lIckcr and better groomcd {
he dhd III the morning Aftcrit :
as beer learned that the men have no i
'ihplalntS about that meal, the "tat' @
a rule visits the guards and s%rntrics o
he sharp inquiry Of ~"IIaltl Who It
'cS there" with the answer "Visiling 8
ounds' and the permission, "Advancc u
SItng rounds and all's we'll" with the !"
otter OF arms as the men come TO the
or post hns no effect won -,
IN. tie appears, however, to put on NJ
.Pr'me . Of surprise when some re. m
u'l breaks down in giving the order W
ms post. aud cocks his ears incrcduI. 81
IsIy at the mans stammcring. tn
ne afternoon, as a rule, is a time of re
for the tat aud it is only when u
c quarter huglc for tattoo" ha. a.
onded that the officer, grudgingly mr.
'v'ng the mess table. jumps on his .
and makes the small gee" rattle tn
or the grounds to the barracks Fat |
parade is at nine p, m, and a QUAR-. Hi
OF an hour latrr all lights are ont ca
"a the tai" returns to his stable, TO Az
main there till some hour after mid. III,
gnu when 1t suits the sweet will of his nh
'ster to make the nightly visit to the ia,
ara and scntrics, and to be sure that nsi
wcll."-N. Y. Tribune. pic