Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-04-16

Ills comraucS-nOJ Del1evlng 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 memory, my dear friendl
His grief-striclSen father when over
fifty years Of age, led fine company of
my old countrymen out to the front un-
der famous general. He took his sons
place in the army. But half his men
never again crossed the Threshold of
home after bidding good-by 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 nsubordinate-man I ever saw
under drill. He rebelled at the dis
cipline of war, not at the war itself, for
he was always ready for the fight 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 dis
cipline. The idea of mastery, or author
ity, is repugnant to the American youth,
who believe in the idea of democratic
| equality. The commands of authority
often came from men who were the so
| cial and intellectual interiors of many
in the ranks or in subordinate positions.
jess Coward was one man who would
never acknowledge superiority in any
position, or in any feature, in any NOR
tai man-save in the commanding gen.
eral of his army. jess would invariably
yield absolute and profound obeisance
and obedience to him-and to him only.
In our camp of instruction the drill
master was an old, 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 fail to consider the
fact that in every other respect the two
were on an absolutely even footing.
Nor did Coward intend to allow mere
military rank to impose any restrictions
on the old-time familiarity between the
two men, and the subordinate resolved
to indulge also in certain liberties in
the presence of his friend, the major.
| One day the drill-master was endeav-
oring to impress upon his squad the
Importance, the essential requirement,
| of skill and attainment in tactics, and
especially in the art of adroitly using
the saber. The major addressed his
remarks particularly to his old friend
Coward who seemed quite disinclined
to learn in military precision; in fact,
the master lectured the fellow quite
severely and urgently. jess relieved
his overburdened contempt and indig-
nation exactly as follows-minus a
whole volume of profanity, interspersed
by way of explanation and emphasis,
i wherever he could manage to get in an
ugly or impiously or emphatic word
in the deliverance:
"What in the - is the use of all this
foolery, major? Here's right moulinet'
(moo-le-nay), left moulinet,' in tierce
point sin cart point front guard,
rear guard and all such - stuff.
And the fellow quoted the military
terms from the French with intensest
scorn and disgust and in unrepeatable
profanity.
"Ah, my FRIEND" said the major, with
the JUNCTION of politeness and authority
in knowledge, ''that is according to
| IluEOcC-dili VIC uOW lGdTu
dee's tactics!'
"Hardee's tactics,' and be git outr'
sublimely returned Coward, in the ex.
tremity of disgust, impatience and pro-
family. "'Hardee's tactics to fight by
If you will just give me good sword
and put me in a crowd of--them other
fellows-and drat if don't show you 9
system of edwards 'tactics""
The fellow had ample opportunity
often afterward to exhibit in fullest
display all he had of "Colvards tao
tics" for during the four years. conflict
he CROSSED sabres" time and again with
the bravest of the brave. But no mar
i am glad to say-ever got the advant
age of him, however skillful the antag
onist was in his attainments in SWORD
drill. jess welded his saber with the
fury of cyclone, and with the dexter
ity of skilled fencing master.-Detroi
Free Press.