The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-30
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To the Editor OF the IHtelligencer.
sIR:-About half century ago, the
BEtiah arm yin India met with great
loss caused by an epidemic that ragged
vita extreme violence In that country.
The plague declmatcd the ranks Of the
army, ard produced greater mortality
than was Incurred In ans OF the active
campaigns Incident to the occupation OF
Irdia by the British soidlery.
Wh!le the epidemic was az Is height,
ar officer Of the army compostd q
drinking tong, which Rt that time at
tractcd much atteEeion as illustrating
the iECoirltable' spirit Of the English
solder In times OF deadly peril. The
words CT the e3lg are beautiful, and
whin sang in chorus produce an eifect
exactly opposite 10 what one would sup
pose to result from a song portraying
the reveiry Of the dying.
II 1861. when an epidemic OF cholera
ari yellow fever was raging at Vlcles-
burg Mics, which carried of 10 per
ceEis OF the entire command, the officers
OF the 18th Unl.tG' States infantry then
ELallbEtQ LUEIEt uAuEE GQ4IlllldEu VI Allhk
giant solder, Central n. A. VI. Dud-
ley used to assemble az the Post Tra-
der'E store ard sing this song. and there
* every reason 10 believe that byindulg-
Ing in such hilarity, and cuftivatiEg a
sriT- Of Indifference TO the dread sur
rouI.N.ngs, .ie health and lives OF some
OF them were preserved. The situation
at Sa1l.lago is somewhat similar at this
time, ani although the song is old. the
sentiment Is ever new and fresh. and to
the young soldiers row exposed TO the
ravages OF yellow Jack down on Gu
bn's miasInaHc shores, II may prove I'M
ttrestlng, though fear the opportunity
to guam real wine will be sadly want
!ng amid the desolation Of their sur
roureings, 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 peais Of laughter,
II seems that the dead are there.
But stand TO your glasses, BteadyI
We drink to our comrades eyes;
Quuft a cup to the dead already
And hurrah for the next that dlesl
Not here are the goblets glowing,
Not her Is the vintage sweet;
IT'S cold as our hearts are growing,
anu QilTk hh LUb uUOlu NO meet
But stand TO your glasses, steadyI
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 darkies,
Not a tear for the friends that sink,
Wen fall, midst the wlne-cup's sparkles,
As mute as the wine we drink.
So stand to your glasses, steady!
Ills this that the respite buys
One cup to the dead already
Hurrah for the next that dies!
Time was when we frowned at others.
We thought we were wiser then;
Eia! HG! let those think OF their mothers,
Who hope to'See them again.
MOI stand TO your glnBses, steady!
The thoughtless are hero the wise;
A cup to the dead already
Hurrah for the next that dies!
There's many a 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 tho dead already
Hurrah for the next that dlesI
There's O. mist on the glass congealing,
''Tis tho hurricanes fiery BREATH
And thus does the warmth OF feeling,
| Turn Ice In the grasp OF Death
Hol stand to your glasses, STEADY!
For moment the vnpor files
A cup to the dead already
Hurrah for the next that diesI
Who breads 10 the dust returning?
Who shrinks from the sable shore,
Where the high and naughty yearninb
OF the soul shall sting no morei
Ho! stand to your glasses, steadyI
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 glRsses, steady!
IT'S NIL We have left to prize;
A cup to the dead already
And hurrah for the next that dies!
Wheeling. W. Va, July 20, 1888.