The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-12-17
THEY FIGHT IT OUT.
HOW ENGLISH ARMY OFFICERS SET
TIE THEIR DIFFERENCES.
The PIebelan and the Peer How One
Regiment Was Opened to Others Than
Onshoots OF the Peerage- How "Moiiy'
Crushed the Cheeky Noungster.

Crushed the Cheeky Noung-ter.
In view Of the disgraceful duel be-
tween the Duke of Orleans and the
Count Of Turin we publish the follow
ing article which shows the manner i,
which British officers settle disputes:
Officers have their disagreements, Of
course. like other men, and they have
10 be settled. Dueling is forbidden by
law as well as by modern ideas and
common sense. Complaints respecting
infractions on mess etiquette or OF I'M
gentlemanly or unsoldierly conduct may
be- submitted TO the mess committee, tho
punitive powers of which are extremely
farreaching The life of an officer sent
to Coventry" by his fellows is unendura-
ble, and his only chance is 10 exchange
But all this is moral suasion only,
and i'll the end disputes are frequently
settled by resort to first principles
the rule Of fist-while redress Is some
times obtained in ways as drastic as
they are novel
A gentleman joined a crack cavalry
regiment He had no pedigree or fami-
ly 10 recommend him. In fact, his ia
Their was retired brewer. and by the
scions OF nobility among his comrades
he was rather coldly received.
Are you the son of Dash. the brew
err" inquired one of these
Il am y
Then why didn't your father bring
sou up to his trade:'
"Oh. we'll, you're the son Of Lord
Blank. aren' YOU
Yes"
Then why didn't he bring you up a
gentleman"
The upshot of this was rough and
tumble, wherein was demonstrated that
in the army plebeian is the equal Of a
peer-if he can box as well.
Another gentleman from the ranks Of
trade came home one day to find all the
crockery and breakahle articles in his
rooms smashed, the same being intend
ed by the wreckers as delicate hint
that his presence among them was OBJ
jectionable
He was late for dinner that evening
and apologized to the president of the
mess for it. explaining what had hap
pened-that he had been 10 the rooms
Of the three he suspected and returned
the compliment; if he had wronged
any. he would apologize and restore the
articles; if he had hit on the right ones,
they could have satisfaction in the rid
ing school after dinner.
Accordingly. after dinner. two Of
them received satisfaction in full, a Ia
Corbett. i'll drill time, but the third
proved tougher nut 10 crack, and the
big hearted plebeian Cwho, by the bye,
is now generaD, weakened by his ex.
ertions. was getting worsted, SO anoth'
er of the same social status who was
an expert boxer took up the running
He soon finished off the third mar
and oblgingly offered to take on any
one who sympathized with the trio. by
this means-apI ropriate to their pro
fession-these two officers opened the
door in that regiment to others thar
offshoots of the peerage, by whom il
had previously been regarded as pre-
serve.
Among officers exchanging from ON,
regiment to another is common. On,
little man, lieutenant. incurred thu
!, enmity of the men of his troop by con
tinually finding fault and rubbing it il
, by contrasting them unfavorably will
his late corps till they hated the yer,
name Of tbs "Pinks," as we'll cal
them.
Not only the rank and file, but tn
noncommissioned officers, came in fo
! his animadversion till it got unbearable
and at last the troop sergeant majo
told the captain quietly that Their
!, would be a mutiny in the troop befor
: long if it continued.
: Ii so happened that he had also car
. ried his insulting comparisons into tn
, mess. and as he wouldn't take advic
and "drop it" his brother officers tool
: the matter into their own hands, witt
the result that one cold night in Fcbru
airy there was hubbub within the Off
GERS quarters, a window was present.,
opened. and little joey" clad only il
= his nightshirt, was handed out, seized
placed and held down in handbarrow
: wheeled of to the manure heap AM
there shot out, to make his way back t
= bed as best he could He soon after lief
the regiment.
The antIpodes Of this gentleman wa
I an officer III the same regiment, al
: lrishman, q feet 2 and big in proper
ton, but his Ego" was not proportion
= ate To his size He was too big and apa
Z thetic for cavalry captain. In fact
: his nickname. Molly" well describe
" him. One cheeky" youngster appeare
TO think he could take any libertie
with such an easy going mountain O
!, flesh. and IN the billiard room one nigh
: he carried his impotence beyond al
). reason
} MOLLY" said nothing. He simpl
: dropped his cue, picked the offender u
, and sat him violently down on q side Ia
g BILE. ignorant or needless Of the fac
that upon it were standing glasses an
y decanters
= 1t was some time before the surgeon
= picked the last piece Of glass out of tn
u impertinent one and weeks before h
u could appear in the saddle again. 1t