The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1892-01-29

We have osen on the march during IT,,
Nfsst three months. We have ret
marched sax long spells without u rest.
We shall march again tomorrow anl
tlen perhaps we shall take Il days rest.
My men arc in perfect training. Now
will leave yo,,. nses,lames. In TN hour
will come to take you to dinner"
AT the appointed time the officer came,
and all the tourists followed him across
the plateau, admiring the splendid pan.
Drama spread ont before them. From
the summit of the Aution e, ,O6O meters,
they saw at their feet. like q gigantic
ditch. the valley of the Mimiera joining
the Rova at the cas- near San Dalmazzo,
and commanded by Az Italian fort, the
most advanced Of the works shat defend
the Col de Tende. Eayond the depth cf
the Mifsisra rose the last chain of the
Alpas A!sltiints. throwing mp heaven
's''..i tan ridge !'el Diatto c. ,Ga: meters,
All ~. .'e;i.; i.f.his,io t!!.?;;5 metcrs), IN
eaol7Nn.s na.s. Win lis snowy covering
'in5aa .'csa by The SITTING sun-a grind
ain' striking spectacle. especially when
scf:a f:,.M The ii4;ast oi Il biv0uac. itself
always so curious an,! SO attractive.
Tie seiitineis watch as they page to
AID sro. The mules browse tile scaut
but tasty grass Of the high platcaus.
Seated on old trec trunks tho officers
iinisi. their Itineraries, complete their
notes, draw UP reports Gu the country
they have tr'tversed, make sketches Of
the distant mountain silhouettes. The
soldiers sing as they clean their arms,
shout, run and amuse themselves with
games. To see their movements unl
their activity you would never think
that they had marched twenty-five
miles an.l accomplished maneuvcr
amid all the obstacles OF mountainous
ground. The italians have reason to ba
proud OF their Alpine companies. Our
s,hasseurs de montague are not one Whit
inferior to them i'll teslacity and entlnr-
a!ice.
Night closes in. Di,,ner is served on
table formed of wattled branches Gov
cred with tlowery turf. Old pine trunks.
cut down in time of former wars, ser@e
as seats. A big fire and torches formed
of pine branches light the guests at this
original and rustic feast. At such an
altitude frugality is obligatory. never
theless the fare squite respectable. The
chief dishes are red partridyes and ciyet
de chanois. pine mushrooms. an ice
made with ewes milk and snow, while
Strawberries ;,rbutus berries and wild
forest fruits. served in nests of moss,
formed the dessert. The tourists are de-
lighted. and thank the officers by drink
ing their health. and soon all retire to
rest.
AT s!aybrcak the battalion resumes its
march along the ridge, alternately
through woods an.! across meager pas.
tnrages. The solitude is absolute except
for some pastorello guarding his goats.
which seem literally to cling to the i.,oun-
tain side. The view is marvellous when
the distance appears through a rent in
tho opal!Me morning mist.
The road gets worse and becomes alb
solutely eNecrable al the point where
tie grand descent begins. and where til.
tract. is scarcely marked ont of the
sinunsities oi the rocks. Al one point
great blocks oYelllang: at another sharp
projections have to lie turnetl: almost
all The way the roa'! follows the edge of
a pIecipice.
One caii;ao. imagine how the mules
will pass with their burdens, or how
they can even get footing in this danger
cS' pass. The battalion passes without
wini:iny. as if it We're the simplest
thing in the world. and the mountain
battery follows i'll its turn. But not the
tourists; they tind the danger too iMami-
neat fnd dismount. preferring to trust
to tiei teat. Meanwhile they wait till
the path is ';es. sitting OH IL granite
promcntory. al !w..taliny the whole bat
terry daIlle along this track. which seems
immactiaabie even for the goats them
selves 1t is q work Of strength and pl-
tie:ice and requires us much skill as it
does coolness.
The soldiers hold up the mules and
even their burdens by means of ropes.
Thus relieved. the animals glide along
rather than walk. stiifening their fore
legs and almost touching the ground
with their hind quarters. A few acci-
dents happen. but. thanks to the mani
fold precautions and to the care of the
drivers. they are rarely serious: the
mules that fall are soon put On their
feet again. At las, this long and perilous
pass is cleared; the .alievy and the
ambulance reiu;n the battalion. and,
after :, short hal: tAc ii.arch is resumed
and Il Ho!'a::e is .aaonci.
!i.e tnpri:.s i,:;,lev i..t> the hotel, de-
'ig.t. II, nal t.ien. n.sci. .es onva more l..
:. { II i!-t; nlsce. ii 20 10 ;.D'e to rest
10. tew' hours. i az co,,iau. however,
continued is fnascl. Later on the
tourists started fos M:ce III Il carriage.
I.waits ;he "!;! OF t'la day they over
roos t!sa iEds f:,tis;i:his chassaurs. who
Were still marching along. although
mere r!iaa twelve hour: had passed since
they had begun tileir days wor!; .-Fronl
THE French Army" by General Lewal.
i'll Harpar's Magazine.
Significant Puppies.
1t is said that the late Admiral Porter
had the yard and stables of his house on
II street full of dogs. acquired in this