The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-05
MILITARY TITLES.
An Old Soldier Complains that the Times
Is Too Liberal with Them

Editor Of The Times:
Sir.-Pray tell us, If you please MT hu-
itor where your factory for the manu-
facture of military titles is located. The
process must be interesting, and some oil
us might, perhaps, with your leave wish
10 visit. and see it in operation. More
fortunate than the Alchymists ana the
Rosicrucians Of he olden time, you nave
at last found the philosophers stone
which for long years they sought In VEN.
"In vain, though by their powefiui AT
they bind volatile Hermes,
And call I'D unbound, in various Shapes
old Proteus from the sea.
II Won have not recovered the lost art
of Transmitting the baser metals into
gold YOU have made the more impor-
tant dlscovery-hOw TO convert PLAIN CIV
ilians into high-sOunding military heroes.
The Times within the last week mas
contained several striking examples or
illustrations of this magical art-or
science. If it be a science, and has maze
us acquainted with a number oil SOL
diers hitherto unknown To fame.
You remember with what delight some
years ago we received the stripes OF a
corporal or sergeant-and when we were
decorated with the bars OF a lieutenant
or captain our pride was unbounded, and
we thought ourselves equal 10 any oc-
casion. and would not have shrunk from
the command Of an army corps.
BEING OF an amiable and benevolent
disposition. as witness the columns OF
The Times. you desire TO add to the
happiness OF your friends, and have
adopted this practice as one OF the
modes Of accomplishing that purpose
Unfortunately you cannot enjoy this
distinction alone-you can claim 1t only
I'm common with the other papers OF
this city. and Of the whole State. so far
as 1 know-and this fact would seem 10
argue a universal, or at least wide
spread benevolence and good nature-or
IL may be that YOU have been studying
the proceedings and methods OF our con-
federate camps (of one of which am
proud TO say j am member. They are
the most liberal people | know OF IN the
distribution of military honors, WHOM
they scatter around with a prodiGaliiy
which is bewildcring-if not cornmenda-
ble-but they limit these favors TO vet
eran soldiers q dislike that little word
Ex-I prefer to think Of us as living
soldiers. on furlough. as 1t were-ready at
short notice to take the field again,
either for Cuba or Venezuela, but Csery
much fear that I'm neither event oud
we have the powerful aid OF The Tt nes).
In this view OF the matter you so
the camps zone better and decorate civ
ilians wherever they can be found OF
sufficient merit with these distinf 1iished
titles:
mo pent-up Utica confines our powers
But the whole boundless continent Is
ours"
Consequently, we have generals and
colonies innumerablc. thick as leaves in
NallambroSa.
Serenely. though. this practice may be
tolerated and possibly excused In pa
pers OF the now issue. that is TO say,
under the management of civilians OF
the present generation, who knew not
the Confederate army, but surely we
would not expect to see II followed by a
paper controlled by a veteran soldier.
with an enviable record. ,sho is familiar
with military usases md regulations.
which under certain Limitations may
with propriety be obyerved in times OF
peace. 4B. NJ. PARHAM.
Richmond. Va, April 2, 1896.