The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-08-04
rig susALTERp.s Stat.



IN Indln.
The subaltern's tat il doubtless nm
known 10 o99 people our. Of . thousand.
To the small minority ne IS rememoer-
ed us tic useful and faithful animal
who has made II possible for officers 70
perform their daily duties when sta
toned in India Tat is the Hindus-
tancc for pony and the subaltern's tat"
comes into existence as apon as reE1-
ment marches into its casntonmcnt, no
matter in what city they may be- The
tat" is tho common property OF the
licutenants 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 Mt the first COM
ing in OF a new corps is really most use
full. for he knows a good deal more
about the geography OF thcfantonmcnt
and where the scntrics are posted than
the newly arrived officers. Though
having many masters. the tat has
by no means a bad life OF It. lie has
his own ''sycc" or groom. his grass-cnt-
ter and as much gram" us is gooti for
him. At o'clock in the morning he is
to be seen near the mcss-housc, safdlcd
and waiting for the officer. who is i'm
side having his morning coffee. per-
chance "B. and $.
As Que Jumps into the, saddle there is
no need To guide The animal, who knows
his rounds thoroughly. but it is as well
of sugar 1t is a kindly thought any
way and the pony perhaps starts with a
quicker gait for the quartcrmastcr's
stores, where the orderly officer has TO
examine the meat and see that each
company gets its proper weight of RAJ
tions. The tat" always gets crust or.
two of bread, but otherwise takes little
interest IN the proceedings. At - q. N.
the tat" takes his daily master round
the barracks and learns whether the
breakfasts are all correct. At o'clock
he attends guard-mounting parade; and
looks on with q critical eye. for he
knows that the clcanest- bcstdrcsscd
man will be selected for orderly, and
will have charge of him during certain
parts of the day. After guard-mount-
ing the tat goes back to his stable
and gets his morning meal. and by p.
NJ. when he is wanted TO carry his
master around TO inspect the dinners.
he looks slickcr and better groomed
than he did in the morning. After it
has been learned that the men have no
complaints about that meal, the tat
as a rule visits the guards and scntrics.
The sharp inquiry of Haiti Who
goes thcrc?" with the answer: Visiting
Rounds" and the permission. Advance
visiting rounds and all's we'll" with the
,lattcr OF arms as tho men come to the
shoulder" or post" has no effect upon
him. He appears, however, 10 put on a
supreme look OF surprise when some re-
cruit breaks down IN giving the orricr
of his post. and cocks his ears incrcdul-
|ously at the mans stammcring. -
The afternoon. as n rule, Is time OF
rest for tho tat" and it is only when
the quarter buglc for tattoo" has
sounded that the officer, grudgingly
leaving the mess table. jumps on his
back and makes the small "gcc" rattle
over the grounds 10 the barracks Tat
too" parade is at nincsp. m, anda quar-
ter Of an hour later alh lights are out
and the tat" returns to his stable, to
remain there till some hour after mid
night when it suits the sweet will of his
master to make the nightly visit TO the
guard and scntries. md to be s,ne that
'tall's wcll."-N. Y. Tribune.