Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-12-21
A SHAM BATTLE.
ny $. RIiErT ROMAN.

my time aud cncrg! Of late being tie
voted 10 commercini pursuits.
Tut had seen II good deal OF 1t some
30 years ago, when was II slim and
wildly enthusiastic youth, and had
marched and bivouackcd and fought IN
the west and around the Potomac, and
even to-day. when happen TO tsc Il
bod, OF men, well uniformed and
drilled. march by, the old fire, and the
pride | had in my crack company. the
color company of the fine old 20th.
comes bnch to me like II hot wave.
Rut when man has reached the
iilti,s. is somewhat corpulent and rusty
~ the knees. lie is not apt TO he very
narii;. in spirits; and he seems to pre-
fer. after his hot days tuss!c Tor dol
lara and cents against other mems
greed for the same. 10 prefer quiet
afternoon smoke and chat, or u Sunday
OF mental relaxation, to anything like
extra exertion in the way Of unusual
sightseeing.
So when Stapleton said: Say, Dick.
come on and let's see what this sham
battle is like" naturally dcmurred.
We were sitting together mt the club,
most of the other men having gone of
on trip somewhere, to finish up the
hot summer months and to get some
invigorating air into their lungs. and II
few tonifying ideas by their sojourn in
big cities and crowded summer resorts.
where old prejudices and fashions are
discarded to give place to novel impress
sions and original concerts.
~ sham battle!" | said, contemptu'
ously. 1.-The idea of making puppet
show OF so desperately earnest and
tragic a thing us an armed struggle be-
tween men. whose effort IL to defeat
md destroy those opposed to'thcm. No.
thanks. don't think care to witness
u paltry make-believe fight"
oh" said Siapleton, who is an agree
able fellow. acquainted with the ameni-
ties Of life and can distinguish good
FROM had wine, and who himself had
had quite an experience with gunpow-
der, shell and shot. as officer in New
York regiment. You prefer tn" real
thing. a sliirmish line OF sharpshoot-
ers ranged under cover along the thin
edge of u wood; light battery Timber
cd M. 10 the right, and the infantry
drployed in the open field behind; an
occasional shell whizzing through the
air. n sort of preliminary foretaste OF
the coming engagement, and the heavy
booming OF distant cannon on the
heights, where Wright and Getton's
divisions are assaulting his confeder-
ate lines"
I sat up in my chair and threw away
my cigar.
"Confound you, Stapleton. get your
hat and come along" said. But look
here, man." / remarked. as we went
down the steps and toward the electric
cars. ~ suppose this sham battle won't
be much TO look at. But don't yon res
urrect any of your federal army airs.
"The old days are past and gone,
with their excitement, heroism. suffer
ing. defeat and triumph. We are all
out for dollars and cents nowadays.
For progress and good living. We
won't, either you or j, bring up any
episode OF those grand old campaign
ing days of ours, Or revert to those
scenes, where you must admit, the gray
coats made a splendid showing, before
you fellows overpowcring Numbers.
Never were lines better held. old fellow.
than those entertainments ="
"Now hold up" said Stapleton, rs we
got in the cur. II thought you said we
were TO avoid "Reminiscences"
THAT'S 1t fact" ! acquiesccd. "We
won't"
Then we sped on and soon reached the
near approaches OF tine City park, with
it's magnificent centenary oaks. whose
oyerhanging boughs have witnessed
more than one tragedy in the old days
of easy afrront and its quick avenge.
"Great Scott" said Stapleton. when
we started out for the grounds. ave
have to walk about six blocks before we
can get to see what's going on"
$50 it seems" said, rs we trudged
along the planking of sidewalk with
n large crowd of people, who, like our
selves, were little late in getting to
view the sham battle.
'IIelio. Sounds like an infantry at
tack" said Stapleton, when dcsultory
firing came to us in the sweet-scented
afternoon air. "Hurry up. old man.
Let's see what the boys are after
To hurry rather stout man who has
not done much walking Of late years be-
yond going round the exchanges, and
who has fallen into the lazy habit oil
driving down to his Office, so as TO avoid
walking. is not considerable. But this
reflection only came TO me the next day,
when found was still and sore In the
knee joints. and realized why It was
that felt SO knocked up.
The firing. ut first light. was now in
creasing, and we heard the old familiar
rumble Of caissons and light field pieces,
as the Washington artillery was being
brought Up.
Well, the first think knew Stapleton
and were swinging along in quick
steps, and too anxious to see how q
sham battle was conducted to wait at
the entrance gate. Ipitched our tickets
to the gategeeper over the heads Of the
crowd waiting round the ticket Office,
nod we pushed through the gate and
plunged into a short cut across field.
This side, old man." said Stapleton,
DETECTING to the right a. he caught a
glimpse Of the kepis Of the artillerists
moving rapidly round in that direction.
we somehow got over the space In fine
shape, in spite Of cockleburs, tangled
weeds and numerous ruts and holes
''Wen get right to the 'front.'" said