The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-04-16

inside of one for fear his satanic maj
esty might adopt me as his own and
retain me as one of his permanent
bOarders.
At Cumberland, 1 boarded the first
railroad train l had ever seen. The
streams along the line had not been
bridged, and we were aroused at regu-
lar intervals to change to ferryboat
and then to the cars again. When we
reached the relay house [ separated
from my friend Jaquis-he going on
to New York, while l took the train
for Washington City, where, through
the kindness of the congressman by
whom 1 had been appointed, was
permitted to witness MOrses first eX-
periments with his telegraph over the
only line in the United States. the one
between Washington and Baltimore.
On the day following l left for New
York and was soon on board of the
Hudson River packet. When l went
to the office to pay my fare, l was told
that it was six shillings. In Kentucky,
1 knew that six shillings made dollar,
and I supposed that it was the same
everywhere; so 1 laid down dollar
and walked away. The clerk did not
return to me the two shillings over
paid, and he still owes me that amount
with interest covering period exceed
ing fifty-one years and which amounts
to about $500.
l arrived at West Point on June 18th.
l had read in the papers that General
Scott was there, and~I was anxious to
see the old hero Of Lundys Lane. AS
l reached the plain, the band was play
ing in front of the quarters of the
SUPERINTENDENT, while the drum major
exercised himself by whirling his large
baton. His uniform was so gaudy
that 1 supposed he could be no other
than the old, warworn veteran | had
so long desired to see. [ went on to
the hotel intending to remain there
for few days to enable me to take in
the situation, but [ was soon recOg-
nized as candidate for admission and
was hurried off to report to the adju-
tant. He was represented by Timothy
O'Mahar, kind old Irish gentleman
who held his place for more than a
half century. 1t was his duty to take
the names of the new cadets and tC
deprive them of any loose change
which they might have in their pos
session. So he "held me up as il
were, took every cent from me, anC
then sent me under escort to the suit
ler's store, where I was furnished with
complete outfit for juvenile military
housekeeping. This having been done
| was conducted to the cadet barrack:
to report to the cadet officer who haC
charge of the plebes. Here [ hoped tt
receive a friendly greeting, but i'm
agine my surprise when tall, straight
stern looking young man in cadet uni
, form said to me:
GLOW dare you come into an officer
quarters without removing your hat
, Are you from the backwoods ?"
After removing my head-gear, h
: said:
"Place yourself in the position of
: soldier"
| knew no more about the position
| of soldier than l did of strategy o
3 grand tactics. Without giving m
9 time to confess my ignorance, h
l yelled out:
e "Heels on the same line; toes turne
S out to an angle of forty-five degrees
s head erect; chin drawn in; arms hang
t ing naturally at the side, little finger
j resting against the seams of the tror
:, sersW ETC., etc.
l. Just how l got into the position d
D not know, but suppose [ must hav
@ done so; for, from that day to this,
l. have never forgotten the uncomfort;
S BILE position I occupied while confron
7 inc that austere son of Mars. II
1 asked me many questions foreign
n the military profession, such as:
v els your father living or dead? Di
d your mamma come on with you? HI
" YOUR sweetheart red hair and eyes
o Have YOU heard from her since yo