Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-11
MAS /! A COWARD?
Chambers Journal)

Of my life, when my courage was tried
60 the uttermost. II is necessary 70 the
rlght understanding of my tale TO give a
brief account OF my early days.
During my childhood I was weak and
sickly passing through several severe
illnesses. the consequence OF which was
shat l did not 30 to school till some two
years after the usual age: and all this
time ] had been coddled at home. and
carefully kept from seeing anything OF
tho rough side OF life Perhaps this &C
counts Tor my great weakness, which
vas an absolute horror OF fighting or
rough usago OF any sort-oven an unkind
or harsh word would make me miserable
for a day or two afterwards
With THIS weakness strong upon me-
was sent 70 rough-and-tumble old
fashioned grammar-school, where the
boys had to fight hard and often before
they could command any respect or peace,
and life was hardly endurable for those
poor boys who. like myself. dreaded the
ordeal OF battle. Added TO this. we were
half starved. and all our pocket money
used to so in buying food. chiefly black
puddinrs (resder, DO you know what they
areO 70 satisfy the cravings OF hunger.
With all my fear Of fighting, there was
no fear of danger in other ways IL
there was any daring thing TO be done. In
earring risk 20 limbs or even 20 life, was
among the foremost 10 undertake IL. For
lnstanco we used to be kept carefully
within bounds, and were never allowed
ootside the playground, 50 our only
chance o. procuring any extra food was
b. getting out OF one Of the bedroom win
lows at night. when everybody else had
tone 70 bed. and going up into the town.
SO DO this, We had 10 walk along mar
row shoot, and then with the help OF an
pld vine climb down q descending pipe.
gfis ] could DO without the least fear
lhough a slip at the top meant almost
certain death. But when Il came 20 light
ing, 81 was quite "a different matter!
would 60 everything 1 possibly could to
lvold Il: and when forced 10 fight, as i
ionoumes was. i fought badly, and al
Nays got the worst Of II. in justice to
myself. must cay that I believe my dis
fxe 70 giving punishment was quite as
treqt as my dread OF receiving II. AS
Jesuit my first two years at school were
years Of misery: still. during that rough
time health and strength increased, and
rs became very good at ell games, par
Hcularly cricket and football. 1 lived
soayn tho bad name had got for want
u pluck.
Strange to say, with all my fear Of
nghting. as I grew up my one great de-
sire was 10 become a soldier. I studied
win avidity oil the books which told Of
She great soldiers and sailors Of tne early
rsrt CT the century. wellington Ma =
poleon, Nelson, Napier. Cochrane, and
the Ike were my heroes; and my parents,
liter a time. finding / was bent upon
entering the army. took me away from
he old grammar school. and gave me
military education, ard In due time l
rls gazetted TO an infantry regiment.
IL was the year 1852. Europe and the
world IN general seemed 10 be in state
81 profound peace, and. as far as man
could Judge. war was never farther away
ban il seemed then. Consequently, no
Year Of my ability TO perform well SOL
hers part IN battle marred my Joy at
looming her Majesty's uniform, and !
f.t 10 work hard % learn all the details
rl a soldiers life and even studied tao
lcs and strategy on my own account.
AS there was no fighting 10 be cone,
aad as j was good at nearly everything
r-e. O. fair shot daring rider across
country, and a gOod-tempcred fellow 10
boot 1 soon became popular man III
uy regiment.
had one special chum, Charlie Seton.
T1e was a sub OF about the same standing
es myself, q splendid fellow IN every way
feet IN height. and perfect specl-
men OF manly Saxon beauty-Droad-
shouldered, well-proporuoned, with curry,
auburn hair, and bright, blue e. Is, ana
the brightest, cheeriest. pluckiest fellow
ever had the good fortune TO know
Tho only thing Charlie was not good at
was his drill and in that / was often
able 20 help min, - we were generaly
working near each other, ana !, from
cheer love OF the work had very soon
VNfff OH
INV driu better than he. was quite sure
charlie would lead his men better in
action. in many a hard-fought cricket
match. and IN many hard run, we were
together. and II by any chance either
could do tia other a good turn, 1t was
always done.
T,me went on. and little clouds
proae on tho political horizon and then,
ono day, as we were just going on parade,
cav the ncwsboys IN q state OF great
excitement, and heard one crying, DE
nlaration Of war with Russia! IL mace
my heart jump into MY mouth; and
while other men were rejoicing az TT
prospect Of active service, had hard
syorlc 10 conceal the state Of .nblect fear
vas In. When I came OF duty, and
had a. chance Of looking at the paper !
found IL was only a declaration or war
bv Turkey, IN which we had not joined;
so brea he'd freely again, and my spirits
revived The fact was, RUSSIA haVlhs
pccuuicd the provinces Of Moldayia and
Wauachia, which az that time belonged
10 Turkey, the Turks had no choice but
~ fgbt. or else see their whole country
pverrun by the Russian hordes. Tho
netcnslDle cause OF the Russian advance
syas 10 protect the Greek Christians at
1erusaiern-the real cause was desire
10 ret hold OF one more slice or turkish
territory. The war between Turkey and
tuesia broke out In October lSoS' anu
Tor some time England looked on ana ala
nothing, and my peace OF nina returned,
4 began 20 think that England Woulo
e. the looking on, and nothing else AT
mis- time ] tried with all my might 10
lhake off my terrible weakness, but u
- no use: the more thought about II,
49, more my fears OF fighting and death
Increased. so at last i gave up thinking
lbout It., IS the best thing could 40
Some months passed and then came an
,,eninr- well remember. Mess was just
pver. ana We were lighting our cigars
and those Of us who had been out hulltlnB
obere had been q splendid run that day)
nyere reeountinC our adventures, Whep
grlfn ola sergeant entered, ana, sauuhs,
handed some dispatches TO Our otar oiu
colonel IL was an unusual occurrence
and All eyes were turned on the Old man.
and I noticed that he looked very grave
- ne read; but when ne had finished
rau, a bright smile come over his race
-. ~. ,oee and said: Gentlemen, / regret
a. I'm Won that England and France have
,bi. dav been forced 20 declare war
,gafnst Russia" Something like cneer
nan round the table. In which. 70 save
-, re + could not have Joined; but no
bodv noticed me. Raising his hand ior
silence. the Colonel continued; Yes gen
tlemen, 1 know. Ike good soiolers, you
LA on u