The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-30
HIsfoaIC s0Xo
Illustrating tie Indsn.tahio Spirit ofSol-
d.r, DnrIpx IN EPldsmis-PrsSsnt
4 enfu Recall Il.


Illustrating tie lndom.tahiS Spirit ofHoi'
d''r, Dnrlpx IN Epidsmio-pFsSoni
4 snts Recall 1t.
To the Editor OF tho Intelligehcer.
sIR:-About half century ago, the
British arm Yin India met with great
ioss caused by an epidemic that ragged
VITA extreme violence in that country.
The plague decimRtcd the ranks Of the
army. ard produced greater mortality
than was Incurred In ans OF the active
campaigns Incident To the occupation OF
India by the British sOldiery.
While the epidemic was az Is height,
ar officer OF the army composed a
drinking tong, which ~ that time at
tracted much attereion as illustrating
the iECoipltable sp!rlt OF the English
Doiifer IL times of deadly peril. The
words Of the song are beautiful, and
whn sang in chorus produce an efrect
exactly opposite 10 what one would sup
pose TO result from song portraying
the reVtlry OF the dying.
II, 1867. when an epidemic OF cholera
nL3 yeHcw fever was raging at Vicks-
burg MiEs., which carried on 10 per
c6II. Of the entire command, the officers
OF the 18th linked States infantry then
gSsaGt solder. GeueTal n. A. VI, Dud-
ley, used to assemble az the Post Ira
der's store ard Sing this song, and there
is every reason to believe that byindulg-
ing IN such hilar!ty, and cuttivatiEg a
sgiT. OF Indifference 10 the dread sur
rouEa.pgs, gle health and lives OF some
OF them were preserved The situation
At Santiago Is somewhat similar at this
time, aEI although the song Is old, the
sentiment Is ever new and fresh. and to
the young soldiers now exposed 10 the
ravages OF Yellow Jack down on Gu
ba'S miasinatic shores, II may prove In
ttrcsting, though fear the opportunity
to guam real wine will be sadly want
Eng amid the desolatlon Of their sur
rourdirgs. and the active opposition Of
modern temperance societies.
THE SONG.
We meet meath tho sounding rafter,
And the walls around are bare;
As they shout TO our peals Of laughter,
II seems that the dead are there.
But stand 10 your glasses, steadyl
We drink to our comrades eyes;
QuHff cup to the dead already
And hurrah for the next that dlesi-
Not here are the goblets glowing,
Not her IS the vintRge sweet;
'TiR cold as our hearts are growing,
And dark as the doom We meet.
But stand to your glasses, steadyl
And soon shall our pulses rise;
a cup to the dead already
Hurrah for the next that dies!
Not n sigh for the lot that darkles,
Not tear for the friends that sink,
Well fall. midst the wlne-cup'B sparkles,
As mute as tho wine we drink.
So stand to your glasses, steadyl
IT'S this that the respite buys;
One cup TO the dead already
Hurrah for the next that diesl
Time was when we frowned at others.
We thought We were wiser then;
Ha! Ha! let those think OF their mothers,
Who hope to'See them again.
No! stand TO your glasses, steady!
The thoughtless arc here tho wise;
A cup to the dead already
HurrRh for tho next that dies!
There's many land that is shaking,
There's many a cheek that's sunk:
But soon. though our hearts are breaking,
They'll burn with the wine we've drunk.
So stand TO your glasses, steady!
IT'S here the revival lies;
A cup to the dead already
Hurrah for the next that dieSl
There's a mist on the glass conEealing,
'Tis the hurricanes fiery breath;
And thus does the warmth Of feeling,
IuFu ice IN tue ktAsp OIL DeAAu
Ho! stand to your glasses, steady!
For n moment the Ynpor hieS
A cup to the dead alrendy-
Hurrah for the next that dies!
Who breads to the dust returning?
Who shrinks from the sable shore,
Where the high and naughty yearnin6
OF the soul shall sting no more!
Ho! stand to your glasses, steady!
Tho world Is a world OF lies;
A cup TO the dead already
Hurrah for the next that diesl
Cut on from the land that bore US,
Betrayed by the land we find.
Where the brightest have gone before US,
And the dulleSt remain behind
Stand, stand to your glasses, steady!
IT'S all We have left to priZe'
A cup to the dead already
And hurrah for the next that dies
T. H. n.
Wheeling. W. Va, July %, 1885.