The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-07
A GIRLS SOLDIER COMPANY.
TEE TRUE BIS1oRT or THE BLoop.
FIELD BRIGADE or BEAUTY

II ever in need OF valiant defenders ss.ln,,
an lnvadirn force. the town OF Bloomfield N
j.. will call upon its girls to repuse the enemy.
For the spirit OF war has let fall his msntl.
over the fair maids Of that vicinity. and for
this winter Mars will occupy the place in their
hearts form erly given to Terpslchore. Already
they have secured a competent drillmaster.
and are deep in the practice OF marehe,
counter marches. obliaues. and other evolu-
lions In time they will have uniforms and
guns-not real guns that 60 OF when they'r.
not supposed to be loaded. but nice. innocent
wooden Euns whose capacity for manning Is
proportionate to the physical strength Of the
gunner. Thus armed and equipped the
Bloomfield Brigade Of Beauty will go forth to
war. a glorious prize to gain, for they will
challenge the boys cadet company to a COM
petitive drill before the eyes Of the assembled
populacs at 30 cents per capita. the proceeds
to 60 to some charitable institution. Such 10
the program me as now laid out
rhe scheme OF getting up such q com any
was evolved from the brain OF Miss Agnes
we're getting tame. and that something more
novel must be Invented to make life In Bloom.
neld worth living. She went to her bosom
friends. Miss Sutpheu and Miss Nash, who
exhausted their vocabulary Of endearipg adj
jectives upon the plan.
Now. girls" said Miss Clark. who 10 an en-.
inently practical young lady we can't do II
all at once. The first thing 10 to get the girls
to Join. We can see about the other things
afterward."
oh. yes. and we'll learn all the fancy drill
steps." cried the others in breath. And
learn to do wheels" " And march in crosses'
And shoulder bayonets." And tentlon,
eomp'ny." And we'll have real uniforms"
Real uniforms1 Good Ersciousi you dont
suppose we'd wear"
No; Of course not. you goose" interrupted
Miss Clark. Not uniforms like the boz.
Long blue serge dresses, or something like
that. with shoulder things and little cap"
"Oh. It'll be lust too lovslyi All the girls
will be wild to join"
And all the girls had chance before the
plan was day older. for the three originstors
talked all their friends into fever OF eager
ness over the scheme. There was big m eet-
ing to start the thing. and thon came the ques-
ton Of drill master. which proved to be the
rock upon which they split. One faction want
cd Col Baker. instructor in the Montclair
Military Academy. while the other aud larger
faction were set upon getting Howard Thomas
OF Glen Ridge. a graduate OF the acads M OF
one years standing.
There was hot fight between tho opposing
parties. the Baker faction urging that the
Colonel should BIO selected because OF his long
experience. while their opponents insisted
that young Thomas would have more time to
devote to them. Besides. they added. forcibly II
danced beautifully. Whether for these or for
other reasons, Mr.. Thomas was elected drill
master by big majority, whereupon hall u
dozen 81 tho leaders on the Baker side prompt
" left the meeting and said they wouldn't be-
long, and they thought the thing was going to
After that they lay awake nights trying to
W WeTs SPREAD that The company's Uniform woaIi
consist in low-cut dresses. hiRh-cut skirts. and
scarlet stockings. and that the soldier maidsns
would parade the streets clad in this GARD.
When the company got up pink tea to raisS
money for necessary expenses. the opposition
their rivals. Then the warriors gave q candy
sale. and the anti-mi litary party got up an
tenss we're e' unayaIinr or the com psng rsh
cred strength and the youth and beauty Of
Bloomfield flocked to its standard,
month in skaEg's Pavilion. which name ha;
since b"sn into the mere
twenty Jour picked soliieresses faced Capt.
Thomas The young officer made a short sd-
OF the corps depended solely upon the Spirit
manifested BY The y9Sng lsd,e lee ss he had no
they would be as orderly as possible; and they
assured him chorally that they would. Then
from what the members OF the corps said
Afterward it was learned that matters pro-
out In the middle OF the door and cried Fall
Hail Of the girls who thought that they
the centre of the room. while the rest looked
around In surprise and said politely and in.
" Fall in p repeated Captain Thomas, getting
red 10 the face: Come out and toe this line"
They toad it so carefully so very carefully
and with such mathematical exactituds that
u s9q rights Mo Them tho Capain esled Attention. S
and some girl who knew announced that he
meant then to stand IN straight and look right
what she considered coming to attention
was, some stifTened up like ramrods. Others
ward. 4 forward droop from the waist down
ward ana q reflex droop from the waist up was
inc ssttnSe ASSUMED d Sy ie Mo- one looked a!
them Mt their neghbors. Some toed IN AMI
ssome toed OUT and some toed both in and out.
placiily folded their hands in front Of them.
mi nded. folded hers behind her.
Then they couldn't understand why dark
muttsred few words in sepulchral tones,
Finally he got them arranged on tho line aud
g+Es '6 6s ord 9rasr ifS.wsTd march
mander ,capersd OF .ollluely. lifting their
walking in snow while the other half starelat
each other and gigGlsd. The Captain tried
again and again and finally got them all start
ed together. Then for two mortal hours a
lingering line Of giggllng girls won't wavering
up and down the hoOr in a manner that was
truly heartrending.
Al the expiration OF the two hours tn. girls
ASSURED Capt. Thomas that they weren't a ~
tired; In fact, they mad lust begun TO get ths
hang nj il. But Capt. Thomas said that hs
really must catch the next train Tor Glen
Ridge, and that the dTlll on the following RI
daY night would he only AN hour long There
aiter mere was arm every week AMI when
tho nTst dlnculliss were overcome the milf
tary maidens mastered the eyolutions in
manner that filled their Captains SOU with
pride. Thsn the girls elected officers AS fol-
lows: CAPTAIN, Charlotte sutphen; First Ser
giant Agnes Clark; Second Sergeant. Miss
Morgan; bird Sergeant. Miss Nash SoiaTars
they advance now that on a recent occasion
when Mr. Thomas was absent from dTllI Cart
Sntphen Tut the corps through the whole
school ot company sharply and smRTtlI. As
yet They haven't theiT uniform or guns. hnt
they - On Will have them, aud will begin on
the manual OF arms with DHyonet exercise
preparatory 10 their competitive drill with the
hoy cadets. who have Teen drilling for two
years; Observation-Disclosures this, be!s arc even.
cant Thomas SAYS Of his girl soldiers;
At fret IL was haTl work with them. Tut