The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-24
BOSTON'S SCHOOL REGIMENT.
1t Is Up in Military Tactics and Turns
Out 1,6OO Strong.


One of the features, to the boys, at least
the greatest feature in the public schools
of Boston each year-iS the street parade,
maneuvering, dress parade and inspection
of the Boston school regiment. The resi-
ment, which for thirty years has consti-
| tuted a part of the curriculum of Boston's
high and Latin schools, is an organization
distinctly an adjunct of Boston's school
| system No other city in the country has
regiment of school boys, and few have
| military drill in their public schools.
Each year a day is set in the month Of
May by the school committee for the pa
rade of the regiment. This year the day
named was May Is Parade day is one Of
| great interest to Bostonians Even those
whose residence in the city has been but a
few years seem to catch the spirit of pa
ternal pride in all things pertaining to the
young "schoolboy soldiers No regiment
Of State militia can claim SO much atten-
ton as these sixteen hundred uniformed
and well-drlleds boys.
The regiment usually forms in Montgom-
| cry square, in front of the English High
| School, and the march over the route be-
| gins about 1880 in the morning. The last
street on the route is aristocratic old Bea-
con street, and up this street, past the
| Statehouse at the top of the hill, they
march to the wide gates at the lower end
| of the Common, and out upon the parade
ground Here they perform the evolut;ons
that are concluded with the dress parade
The parade ground is separated from out
siders by two lines of rope on the hill
| overlooking it. The inner rope keeps from
| the parade ground all who have no bus
mess with the regiment. From this rope
! for about two hundred yards up the hill
there is reserved space for the friends
and relatives of the boys, and then anoth-
| er rope, carefully guarded by policemen
| shuts out the thousands of indirectly inter-
ested spectators. Admission to the reserved
| space is by tickets, which are issued by
| the school committee, and are given to the
| boys for distribution.
The introduction of military drill into the
| public schools of Boston was the outgrowth
| of the martial spirit engendered by the war
| of the rebellion. In 1861 Amos Lawrence,
| Martin Brimmer, Rev. DR.. Edward Everett
| Hale and several other distinguished citi-
| Zens established the Massachusetts Rifle
| Club, the object of which was to instruct
| and fit men to be officers in the volunteer
| regiments then organizing in the State Ho-
| bart Moore, an officer of the militia, was
| engaged as drill-master. In 1894 the men
who had organized the rife club petitioned
| the School Board TO permit the introduction
| of military drill into the public schools
| They agreed to pay for an instructor and
| rent hall for one year as an experiment
| The years work demonstrated the expert
| ment to be wise one 1t was decided to
| the Latin and the high schools throughout
| the city. Gen. Hobart Moore was appointed
| instructor, and held that position until his
| death I'm the later part of last month. He
| was brigadier general of the Massachusetts
| militia for seven years. and a thorough tao
| tician.
There are at present eight high schools
| in Boston, in which there are about LOO
| boys, The military classes are divided into
hot fyyn n "a nd
! one battalion of ten companies. The two
| are the English high and the Latin school
| the pupils directly for Harvard College.
| From these two schools are chosen by cleo
ton each year the colonel and lieutenant
| colonel Of the regiment, one furnishing the
| colonel, the other the lieutenant colonel,
| and the choice of each alternating between
| the schools, so that the highest officer is
year. The other officers are elected every
| year by the boys from the various schools
| in which the battalionS or companies may
be located
| Before the boys reach the high schools
they have received preliminary military in
structfon, which fits them for carrying the
musket and wearing the sword. The tactics
! are substantially those used in the regular
compulsory. though of course the feelings
| of the parents are given due respect, and
exceptions made in some cases. The arms
| and equipments consist of 1.500 breech-load-
| ing muskets, which were sent to the fac
| tory and cut down to the required lengths
| Tor CADETS. lnere are TWO lengths, dQdpteQ
to the different ages of the boys. The cadets
/ wear the belt and bayonet scabbard. The
| officers wear a douDle-breasted sack coat
| of dark blue cloth, standing collar. The
| colonel, lieutenant colonel and majors
| wear two rows of buttons, nine in each row,
| for the captains and first and second lieu
tenants there are only seven buttons in
| each row. The three higher officers wear
three double strips OF one-quarter inch gold
| braid running the length OF the cuff. with a
small button in the angle of each strip. A
collar clasp of crossed swords is on each Of
/ ficer's coat. The trousers are of the same
material as the coats, with one-quarter inch
/ gold braid on the seams. The noncommis-
| stoned officers wear silver cord on the trou-
Sers.
The colonel of the regiment this year
was elected from the English High School,
| H. II. Hill. from one of the advanced
| classes. The lieutenant colonel is w. II.
| Rand IT., Latin school senior. The
| school regiment has no band OF Its own,
| nut there is always a weil-equipped and
| thoroughly trained drum corps On parade
DAYS special bands are hired. About ten
| days af.er the annual street parade there
! are prize drills OF the battalions in Me-
/ chanics' Hall for four days each battalion
! drilling from 10 o'clock Of the four aft
| ternoons When these drills mill
4 tarv work for the year Is practically over.
and not until the caAvassing for officers