Evening star., 1896-03-09
A TINGE OF ROMANCE
Why Lieutenant Lang Desires to Be Re
tired From the Army.
Married the Daughter of an Enlisted
Man and He Has Since Been
Socially Ostracfsed.

There is a strong tinge Of romance IN
the case of Second Lieutenant Chas. E.
| Lang, second artillery, now undergoing ex-
animation by an army retiring board at
Governors Island. This is the second time
he has applied for retirement. His first
application was made a few months after
his graduation at the Military Academy, In
June, 1894. His request was granted and
he was duly examined. The board report
ed nm perfectly able to do active duty, and
he was ordered to join his regiment. Last
1all he was granted six months leave of
absence, al the expiration Of which time
ne again applied for retirement The pres
ent examination is to determine the natur.
and extent of the supposed physical disa-
nllitles which make him incapable of ac-
tive service.
Lieut. Lang's desire to get out OF active
service is said TO be mainly due to a per-
sistent social boycott, to which he is said
70 nave been subjected ever since his mar
rage TO the daughter of an enlisted man
just after his graduation.
Result of Romantic Marriage.
THE persistent efforts of Young Lang 10
get on the retired list says an intimate
friend, who knew him as cadet at West
Point, rs the result Of his romantic mar
rSge to the daughter of an enlisted man.
He has sacrificed a promising career in the
army, and has estranged himself from the
ties OF comradeship so characteristic of
army and navy life. Lang was one of the
brightest men in his class at West Point
Tie graduated among the first ten men,
During his last year at the academy he
met Miss Mamie Kinkle. the daughter of
Commissary Sergeant Kinkle Lang is a
Very devout Catholic. While a cadet he
was superintendent of the Sunday school in
the soldiers Catholic chapel. Miss kinkle
"a n i-f.
bright, Vivacous, and unusually attractive
young woman, possessed of consi,lera BILE
tact. Their Sunday school acquaintance led
TO more friendly relations, and few week :
Eelore graduation 1t was rumored that the
young cadet Sunday school superintenient
was hetfo.hed to his preposessing assistant,
'he commlssary sergeant's daughter.
West Point social circles were dunn
founded. Lang was warned by the officers
that an alliance with the soldiers daughter
would forever blight his career as an Off
Ger. The Rev. Father O'keefe, the Catholic
priest at w est Point, was asked TO use his
priestly influence to prevent the marriage
Father Okeefe, who knew Miss Kinkle
tHo ought her unwise to marry outside her
e1' own circle, but his advice was unheeded
lEeh IL was lntimat ted to Sergeant kink!e
that he had better prevent the marriage
but nelther of1cer, priest, nor parent could
prevent it.
Socially Ostracfsed.
Immediately after getting his diploma
Lang met Miss knkle, they We're driven to
Highland Falls, and married in the Catholic
Church there. Since that day Lang and
bis wife have been socially ostracised
Lang's best man was Hospital Steward
Lally. few weeks after the maria se
Lally was dismissed from the armv His
discharge was attributed by his friends to
the part he took in the Lang affair." Ser
geant kinkle then found it agreeable to
leave West Point He wanted to get sta
tened in the east, as to be near Mrs
Lang. who is his only child, but he was
sent to Texas.
When Lang got back to Fort Warren
again after the Glenham experience, it was
painfully apparent that Mrs. Lang's exist
ence would not be pleasant. 1t is this
anxiety 10 begin life in a sphere where Mrs
Lang Will not be constantly reminded that
she Is the daughter Of a private that has
caISHl ILal a Scal. ..oti..