The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-20

but not prouder When England was with-
out standing army the Ancient and Hon
ourables we're formed for its protection.
The same condition of affairs existed in this
country when the Massachusetts company
was born The strongest ties Of friendship
exist between the two organizations. a1d
when the Boston Honorables reach London
on the 18th Of July they viii be feted in mag
nihcent style Their whole stay in England
will BE- a continual festivity, as the pro-
grammc arranged for their enterL2l emf
surpssses anything Of the kind ever pre-
pared by the Enghshmen for their Ameri-
can cousins.
FOUNDER Of THE ANCIENTs.
IN the sumner of 1897 when the village
of Boston was such a small place that hands
of Indians often camped within a mile o.
the main street Robert Keayne petitiOned
Governor Winthrop for a charter for a mill
tary company. AIr. Keayne had just q little
time before arrived from London where he
had been a member of the Ancient and
Honourables there He was well up in
military matters. although q tailor by trade
and one Of the first things that impressed
him on his arrival in the new country was
the exposed and insecure condition Of Bos-
ton should the Indians make concerted at
tack upon it. There was no military com
Danv 1t that time men. women and chill
dren shifting for themselves.
Mr.. Keayne had succeeded IN inducing
twenty-five other colonists to put their
signatures to his petition TO the Governor.
and although the latter favored the plan.
he doubted his authority TO grant the re-
quest Subsequently be changed his mind
and on March IT. 1888 he granted the
charter to the company. 1t was formed
under the same name it bears to-day, one
part Of the charter. where it refers to the
purposes of the company reading: "Out Of
their care Of the public veal and safety
by he advancement Of the military art and
exercise in arms, that such privileges be
granted them as the court should think
meet To- their better ENCOURAGEMENT and
furtherance In so useful an employment"
The company was to have 1000 acres OF
land according 20 the charter, but this part
ably At that time court matters seemed
TO lag dreadfully, just as they do now K
vas not until 1871 that the court appointed
q commission to lay out the land. and there
was another lapse until 1857 when it was
ordered that 800 acres near unto the Con
cord River, Were it comes near Shawsheen
River etc be given to the company, and
out There was some more trouble after
this. but On Oct Is, 1873. GOO acres were
finally settled upon where Nashua, N H..
is now located. It took thirty-five years to
settle upon 900 acres of land, which could
then have been bought for the equivalent
of $50.
SOME GORGEOUS UNIFORMs.
Much Of a humorous character has been
written by the Boston sits about the unl-
form Of the Ancients- The records show
that the changes were many. Every year
the company must have blossOmed out in
fresh regalia and az times It must have
been gorgeous. That worn at the beginning
Of the present century, for instance, was
described as follows in the Official order sent
to the members. "Chapeau de bras, orna-
mented with fantaiI cockade. silver loop
and button and a fun black plume. eighteen
inches long: coat deep blue CLOTH with red
facinzs and white Innings; blue shoulder