Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-07
What tho Cavalry Troopers at Fort
Myer Can Do.
SOME SPLEEN DID HORNEMANOHIP
Horses and Men Have a Perfect
Understanding.
N ONE CAN BEAT THEM

establishment of that sympathy between
rider and animal which makes each a part
Of the other and blends brain with instinct
by the medium Of touch and voice. the Cos
sack of the steppes and the cowboy Of the
plains have been popularity regarded as the
masters Of the world. The cavalryman of
the United States army Is the superior of
either. This may, and doubtless WILL be
considered a broad assertion. but the truth
Of it may be established to the satisfaction
of the veriest disbeliever who will take time
some Friday morning to go over to Fort
Myer in Virginia and witness the drill of
the four troops of cavalry now stationed
there, The lesson that may be learned by
such a visit Is manifold, and will prove to
be a valuable portion Of a liberal education.
1t Is too long to be more than hastily out
lined here. The spectator will see the mar
velous training by which dumb animals
have been brought to perfection Of un-
Outstanding scarcely less than human: he
will see how the same methods steadily
pursued day after day have made gymnasts
and athletes out Of the enlisted men in the
United States army until platoons move
with the precision Of a single soldier; troops
with the unerring regularity of a pendulum
and an entire battalion or regiment with tho
accurate evenness Of Hfe-sized automatons
inspired by single touch. There is nothing
automatic about 1t. however. Men and
horses are alive, very much alive. Di5ci-
pline and drill intelligently understood and
faithfully observed; self-conidence of men
and animals alike and an utter disregard Of
consequences due to ignorance of fear have
made 1t possible for such exhibitions to be
given as that which amazed and delighted
a large and distinguished gathering yester-
day morning.
The Drill House.
The drin house In which the maneuvers
were conducted Is a large, oblong, brick
building. At its northern end Is a gallery
hanging over a platform that reaches to
the wide main entrance Of the structure.
The rest of the immense interior Is devoted
to drilling purposes, and the many thous-
and square feet of floor surface Is covered
with closely packed tan bark. The entrance
to the gallery and platform Is through a
doorway in the northeast corner of the
building, and here. on yesterday, Col.
Henry. the commandant of the post. cor
daily greeted the gay throngs Of visitors
who passed through 1t, and sought coigns
Of vantage whence they could see the
equestrian wonders that were to follow.
The platform was crowded with officers.
masculine visitors, who were unaccom-
panied by ladies. drivers and grooms Of the
equipages that brought the crowds. Col.
Henry himself and the Star reporter. all
mingled together with proper democratic
disregard OF rank or station, while, perched
on the extension of the platform railing in
an easy posture. was Frederic Remington,
the famous artist, his ruddy, round face
beaming with pleasure as fretting troops
of his dearly beloved subjects swept by in
swinging trot or lively galop. OF course,
he was armed with his sketch book.
An Artist at His Work.
The average reader who Is familiar with
pictures Of artists supposed to be sketching
are familiar with the big easel, the high,
broad canvas. the dozens of brushes or
pencils, as the case may be, and the in
evitable PREDETERMINED hat, with long hair
falling beneath 1t, to rest on narrow,
knock all such preconceived ideas into a
cooked hat. He is more than stout, he is
fat and his beardless face Is almost juyen-
lie In Its chubbiness. His complexion is as
rudy as boys. too. and his blue eyes
have a frolicsome light when not keenly |
observing what he desires to preserve for
the edihcation and delight Of his legions
or admirers. His working implements are
the most simple things imaginable. A long
narrow note book, looking for all the world !
Ike an extra large check book, and con- |
tanning leaves of straw-colored paper and |
a olsreputable looking stub OF a pencil, fire.
quently moistened with the tongue are the |
means adopted by Mr.. Reming ton for trans
ferrtng to permanent places in American
art the things he sees. He sketches with
almost lightning rapidity, and uses few
strokes to reproduce an object, but simple |
as they are, they create an almost photo |
graphic picture Of the strong points he |
desires to emphasize.
When troop F of the seventh cavalry
dashed into the drill hall yesterday morn !
ing, with clatter Of hoofs over the stone
entrance, that was quickly silenced in the
park, SO pre- fusely kicked up. M. Reming-
.on caught the sergeant and his horse, as
they paused moment in a particularly
graceful posture and in almost less time
tnan IL takes to tell 1t had put them in
his book. 40
II put down what I see." he said. s,nn,v
when asked about his methods of working
know horse as well as any one can
l can SKIN one and stand him on his ear"
ne continued with characteristic confidence,
oy way OF illustration. II know a man
700, and can put him In any position. but
can draw woman. Now there's Dana
Gloson He can go into a parlor and ses
q n, woman ana go home and draw her to
me- He knows women lust as krow |
horses and men. Some artists can male
men and can't make a mill wheel 70 go |
their lives My only method of work "a to
draw it, >Hen ~
Troop F's EXECUTIONS.
As he deity drew the fis,ures b.,or. ~.
mat most pleased his fancy, Can't. Bell mt
troop F through Its PAGES The Representa-
i've OF Inc Star was not a tacticIan and the
technical portion Of what was going on be-
rore went away over his head. He did not
understand the orders. but he saw what
was accomplished by the obedience to them
OF those who did and that sufficed for his
purpose After entering the troop divided
INTO Two platoons and went at a lively trot
around the hall, every horse keeping step
with the other like soldiers at a prize drill
Inen the two met together in the center
and In and out they moved among each
otner' continual change of places occur
ring without disturbing the symmetry OF
me column, Trot, canter. lope and gallon
quickly followed each other in these eyolu
uons' out the change In gait did not disturb
tne steady riders. who sat merely upon
blankets upon their horses backs without
signs OF saddles or stirrups. Suddenly six
teen or the men rode their animals in The
corner and diSmounted, and at a word from
Capt Bell nimbly ran to the sides of their
companions. who remained mounted and in
a twinkling had vaulted into place behind
them Each horse had two riders and tba
minds of many of the uninitiated spectators
reverted to their boyhood days, when II was
their delight to get up behind'' their coun-
Try uncles when they visited them in The
summer. 1t was very interesting to see one
little horse carrying two big men and run
ming like the wind. 1t was exciting when
loot soldiers rushed out and set I'D hurdles
over which the double-burdened animals
leaped easily; but a greater surprise was in
store. Capt Bell shouted something untn-
tell1gible to the novices Instantly the sixteen
soldiers who were riding behind A." whirled
around and sat facing the horses tails!