Daily camera., 1898-10-22
THE KISSING RECORD.
It Is Made by a Prominent Society
Lady of St. Louis.
Gives One Hundred Soldier Boys &
kiss Each in the Space Of
Two Hours -"M0theF
of the .Regiment."

A St. Louis woman has had the thrill
ing and unique experience of kissing
100 men in as many minutes.
There is no doubt that this is the
worlds record, firmly established.
If it were question simply of kiss
ing 100 men the record would still hold;
but add to that the fact that the men
were all kissed within two hours, and
YOU have a record with which there is
no comparison in all history.
This fearless and delightful record
maker is Mrs. C. C. Rainwater, one OF
St. Louis prominent society women
The 100 men who were factors in
the record making are the soldier boys
of company E, First Missouri volun-
teers.
Every man and officer of the com
pany was given farewell kiss and a
godspeed by Mrs. Rainwater as the
company lined up for inspection at
their Chickamauga camp. In the days
of peace, when a military company's
chief duties were TO appear on dress
parade and give hops, Mrs. Rainwater
was the guardian angel of company
f and a leader in all its social doings.
She was a sort of mother of the regi-
ment. She fairly owned every mans
heart that beat beneath a uniform
in that particular company. She was
always the top line" patroness of the
company's balls and the amateur
thestricals. When in camp Mrs. Rain
water was always the guest of honor.
Her love for the company was no less
than the company's love for her. When
the war broke out and company E
volunteered for the First regiment of
Missouri infantry, Mrs. Rainwater
felt as though every man who signed
the rolls was her son. The war came
very near to her, though she had no
boys of her own to send out at her
country's call.
Company E was ordered to Camp
Thomas, at Chickamauga, before Mrs.
Rainwater had an opportunity to give
the men her blessing,
Here was the greatest event in the
life of the company becoming part
of history without Mrs. Rainwater's
cooperation. 1t would never do, ac-
cording to her views of matters, to al
low all this to happen without taking
hand in it herself. She. had been
FIRST in peace" she would also be
''first in war" She was sure she was
''irst in the hearts of the men at all
times.
Determined that the company
should not get into the actual battles
of war without her blessing, Mrs. Rain
water went to Chichamauga to visit
them.
When she arrived there was great
stir in the company's street. The men
turned from their washing or what
ever employed them at the time and
turned out to greet the dear old gray
haired lady-their mother of the
regiment"
1t was a gala day for company E.
Every thing that couldpossibly be done
to make Mrs. Rainwater's visit pleas
ant was done. She was shown about
the camp by squads of willing soldier
boys. At dinner time she ate at mess
with them.
Later in the day the company was
ordered to fall in line in the company
street. An unexpected inspection had
been ordered. The boys passed
through the ordeal with flying col
nrs, and were then put at company
rest"
Some few words of introduction
were spoken by one of the officers, and
then Mrs. Rainwater, all smiles and
walked down the line from
one man to another, and gave each
a resounding motherly kiss and a
"God bless YOU"
1t was most picturesque scene.
Some of the hoys put an arm around
the dear old lady as they bent down
to kiss her; others merely pressed her
hand as she kissed them. and some
awkardly bent to the task as though
they were on fatigue duty.
When the last and one hundredth
man had received and given the gooC
old salutation, there was rousing
cheer and tiger for the little woman
that would make your blood boil.
Everybody seemed thoroughly hap
py, and especially Mrs. Rainwater.
She had performed the most novel
feat, and set mark for kissing that
will stand undoubtedly for years to
Inter Ocean.