Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-01-16
A SHAM BATTLE.
NY y. RMETT ROMAN.

had not smelt gunpowder on u large
scale for quite number OF years, all
my time and energy OF lutte beng ue-
voted 10 commercial pursuits.
But had seen good deal Of 1t some
30 years ago, when | was a slim ana
wildly entnusiastic youth, anu had
marched and Diyouacked and fought III
the west and around the Potomac, ana
even today, when happen to see a
body Of men, well uniformed ana
drilled, march BY, the old ire ana the
pride | had III my crack company, the
color company Of the fine old 2oth'
comes bucA u me like hot wave.
but when man hus reached the
iities, is somewha corpulent and rusty
in the knees, he is not apt to be very
martial in spirits; and he seems to pre-
fer, after his hot days tussle lof dol
lars ind cents against other mems
greed for the same, to prefer quiet
afternoon smoke and chut, or Sunday
o., mental relaxation, to anything like
extra cxcrtion In the way OF unusual
sightseeing.
So when Stapleton sud; Say, Dick,
come on und let's see whit THIS sham
battle is like" naturally demurred.
We were sitting together at the club,
most of the other men having gone on
Oh n trip somewhere, 10 finish up the
hot summer months and to get some
inyIgoratlng air into their lungs, and u
few tonifylng ideas by their soJourn IN
bin cities and crowded summer resorts,
where old prejudices and fashions are
discarded to give place to novel impress
sions and original concerts
"A sham battlel" said, contemp'u-
ously. "rhe idea OF making n puppet
show OF SO desperately earnest lnd
tragic thing as un armed struggle be-
tween men, whose effort Is to defeat
und destroy those opposed to them, No,
thanks. don't think | cure to witness
paltry make-bcleyc fight"
"Oh!" said Stapleton, who is agree
able fellow, acquainted with the amenl-
ties Of life and can distinguish good
from bad wine, and who himself had
had quite an experience with gunpow-
der, shell and shot, US officer in II New
York regiment. you prefer the real
thing. A skirmish line Of shnrpshoot-
ers ranged under cover along the thin
edge Of a wood; u light battery limber-
cd up, to the right, and the infantry
trpIoyed in the open field behind; IN
occasional shell whizzing through the
mir, n sort OF preliminary foretaste OF
The coming engagement, and the heavy
booming oi distant cannon on the
heights, where Wright and Gctlon's
divisions are assanl,iug his conieder-
ute lines.
! sat up in my chair und threw away
my cigar,
"Confound you, Stapleton, get your
hat and come along said. but look
here, man." remarked, ns we went
down the steps and toward the electric
cars. "lsuppose this sham battle won't
be much to look at, But don't you res
urrect any Of your federal army airs
"The old days are past and gone,
with their excitement, herolsm, suffer
ing, defent and triumph. We nre all
out for dollars and cents nowadays
For progress and good living VI
won't, either you or |, bring up any
episode OF those grand old campaign
ing days Of ours, or revert to those
scenes, where you must admit, the gra,
coats made a splendid showing, before
you fellows overpowering numbers
Never were lines better held, old fellow
than those ntwnchments-"
Nov hold up" suid stapleton. as We
got In the car, II thought you said VT
were to avoid reminiscences%
"That's Il fact" acquiesced, I'VE
won't"
Then we sped on and soon reached the
near approaches OF the City park, witt
Its magnificent centenary oaks, whost
overhanging boughs have witnessed
more than one tragedy in the old days
Of easy atfront and Its quick avenge.
"Great Scott" snid Stapleton, wher
we started out for the grounds. 1--WE
have to walk about six blocks before We
can get to see what's going on"
$50 it seems" said, Us we trudget
along the planking Of sidewalk Will
a large crowd Of people, who, like our
selves, were a little late in getting tt
view the sham battle.
"lleliol Sounds like m infantry at
TACK" said Staplcton, when n desultory
firing came to us In the sweet-scented
afternoon air. "lIurry 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-
You'd 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 considerate. But this
reflection only came to me the next day
when found was stiff and sore in the
knee joints, and realized why it was
that felt so knocked up,
The firing, At first light, was now in
crcusing. and we heard the old familiar
puuble Of caissons aud light field pieces
as the Washington artillery was being
brought up.
| We'l. thu b,si think knew stapletor
| und | ,.1sei, 80 7ias', W mich
steps. aud too ANXIOUS to see how
sham battle was conducted 10 wait q
the entrance gate. pitched our ticket
70 the gategceper over the heads OF thu
cruWd waiting round the ticket office
aad we pushed through the gate ant
plunged INTO II short cut across field.
This side, old man" said Stapleton
detecting to the right us he caught
glimpse OF the kepIs Of the artillcrist
moving rapidly round in tnut direction
We somehow got over the space In TN
shape, IN spite Of cockieburx, tanglet