Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-10
Troop barracks.

OF craftsmanship equal and superior to
tEose seen at the Tattersall and Wild West
SHOWS at Chicago could not be witnessed
without the charge of admission fees At
Fort Myer, for example, seats are arranged
in the upper galleries of the riding hall for
the accommodation of lookerS-on and it
is no uncommon experience there for white
ana colored troopers to ride bareback stand
ing on their shoulders or heads. or with
cavalry booted feet on the slick bare backs
OF thelr horses, according as the license of
the occasion warrants; and, in fact, to cut
up all sorts of monkey capers which the
officers good-naturedly allow, if only to
show how easy are the circus tricks of
horsemen and riders
Aside, however, from whatever speciaI
feature of merit may be claimed for the
cavalry at Fort Myer and elsewhere il
certainly affords righteous pride to the
community in general way. Crown heads
in the foreign world gather around them
household dragon guards of inherited pres
tige. saudily equipped in all the fanta sizes
OF colored cloth and dazzling bullion but
here at Washington is d battalion of vet
Grams who came straight from western
plains or mountains without pretep sion
ana whether the bugle sounds "stables''
or signals parade in full dress, each trooper
IS as quickly in place at Myer d he was out
west, when the troop was winning spurs
that would prick their horses along Penn
sylvania avenue en- route to the cavalry
man modern goal of merit-Fort Ayer
Magnificent as they appear ON gala parade
Ing down our streets in dashy gold and
yeilo"-trimmed uniforms, they can quickly
change from the city soldier into the cam
Paigner again. Indeed, if an understood
signal We're given from the dome of the
Capitol, Col. Fenry's troopers at Nyer
could within fifty minutes after notice
vas received, be sadifed and mounted
and drawn up in line in front of the White
House ready to receive orders either for.
parade or action. They are not mere show
soldiers put experienced men under veteran
commanders. who come 10 Washington for
a well-earned four years rest that will
live in memory forever afterward as the
one green spot in their whole field of cav
airy service
Its Social Attractions.
from a social standpoint the post of Fort
Myer, like the navy yard and WASHINGTON
barracks, forms u very attractive adjunct
to Washington society. The barracks of
course, are right in town and seem nearer
but the greatly improved condition of the
streets and bridge and excellent roads On
the Virginia side of the river make Fort
Myer as accessible as either the arsenal or
navy yard and the society folks of the city
are fast finding this out.
on Thursday morning. as described in
The Star, quite a large number of
ladies and gentlemen prominent in So
cial life drove over to the post to witness
the special drill. The visitors occupied seat
in the gallery of the immense riding hall.
whose earthen arena was the scene of vari-
Gus specimens of agility which not even
B2rnums or Forepaugh's proudest stars
could excel, and when it came to horseman-
ship, either pure and simple or fancy and
SNOWY, not one of Buffalo Bits much-ad-
vertised toughest riders in the world -
whether he be Cossack, Arab Frenchman.
Dutchman or Britisher, could outdo
There now thirteen officers stationed
at the post four of whom are bachelors,
with the prospect of another bachelor he
ing assigned soon. The other officers I'll
have ladies of their families with them. In
formal dinners, luncheons, &c,are the order
of the day at Fort Myer, but it is under
stood plans are in progress for dancing re-
ceptions, the principal one Of which will be
given Immediately after the Lenten season.
in honor of the wife of the Secretary of
War.