Evening star., 1898-08-06

enlisted men-whose estimate of an officer
is, after all, perhaps the most to be re-
hed upon-hgure out the merits or demerits
of their superiors.
The passing generation of regular army
soldiers still tell of how Lawton once had
his regimental band spend a day playing
high-2raGe music for the delectation of the
regimental mules in the corral. 80
Lawton was in command of one of the
far-western regimental posts. 1t was a
post that was very much visited by the
society people of an adjoining city, and
post hops were given on two or three
nights a week. The regimental band fur
nished the music for these hops. The band
was under the direction of a foreign band
master, who possessed considerable con-
tempt for enlisted men, although his
knucklirg affection for the man with the
shoulder straps was notorious. In the
army man possessed of these character
istics is called dog robber.'' General
LaWton had a deteStation for a dog rob-
ber. He endured his bandmaster, but he
never gave him any of the best of it over
any of the members of the band The
bandmaster was obsequious in his attend
ance upon the musical demands of the
DC It's officers
One day the enlisted men of the post de-
cided to give hop themselves. A COM
mittee Of the soldiers approached the
bandmaster to ascertain If he would be
willing to furnish the music. The band
master at first declined TO listen to any
sort of a proposition, but finally consented
d
nights dancing for the sum of $40.
That's whole lot O. money, my wind
jamming friend said the soldier who was
at the head of the music committee. II
am free II say that / think you could take
a heap of a reef in that figure. What's
your idea, anyhow, in soaking it to us fell
lows so hard, when you play all night for
the officers couple O. times II week for
nothing"
But you ain'd officers, alretty,' replied
the bandmaster. You are noting but
buck Priyates, ain'd it? Yell ;, sharges you
"All right, bunkie," replied the soldier,
'if you think you can make hit in this
layout by putting it onto us this way, it's
the forty, because We've got to, seein' that
there's no juniper (cvilian) band around
this camp. But l think you're maxim a
bad break, all the same"
"Fordy tollarS, answered the bandmas-
ter, and that was the end of it. He had the
bulge, and he worked it.
The soldier who had done the interview
ing with the bandmaster was an old-time
non-commissioned officer, who had SOL
diered alongside Lawton on a number of
critical occasions. He went up to Lawton's
quarters to have word with "the beak,'
otherwise the "old man." about this music
business.
''The boss wind jammer," said the soldier
to Lawton, surely is rubbin' 1t In onto us
some" and he told the commanding officer
of the only terms the bandmaster would
accept.
Does he want 1t in advance?' inquired
Lawton, rubbing his chin refectively.
Hes got 1t in his pants pocket now,' re-
piled the soldier. 1--WE had to give up on
the spot + 1;a,t.. s.,5 1awton 1e+ e. 90 ,+
that
The old non-com left Lawton's presence
somewhat surprised and aggrieved at the
matter-of-fact fashion with which the
commanding officer took his report on the
smalIness of the bandmaster.
Tho Soldiers, Hon.
The enlisted mems hop came off all right
1t was largely attended by the sweethearts
of the soldiers in the adjoining city, and it
was a bowling success. The bands music
was only fairish, however, and the band
master, from his platform perch, regarded
the uniformed dancers on the floor with
contempt slumbering in his eyes. Along
toward 2 o'clock in the morning Col. Law
ton made his appearance on the floor. He
enjoyed the spectacle of his men having
good time and he told the boys to go ahead
and keep the dance going until revellle If
they wanted to. Then he left the hall.
The hop broke up about half an hour be-
fore reveille, and the soldiers made for
their quarters to get ready to stand the
first roll call of the day. The bandmaster
and his musicians, sleepy, and very ugly
over the prolongation Of the dance, repair
ed to their quarters to turn In for few
hours rest. First call for reveille went in
the gray dawn of the morning, and then
assembly. When the tired soldiers got into
line outside their quarters they were sur
prised to see their commanding officer. who
was ordinarily late sleeper, standing in
the middle OF the parade ground in full
uniform, and that at half after s.
The company officers made their report
to the officer of the day, who wheeled and
reported to the commanding officer
Officer Of the day." ordered Col. Law
ton, quietly, have the trumpeter SOUND
the call ITO arms
The officer Of the day gave the command.
and IN less than minute all of the men
permitted to 'lie in for reveille, INCLUDING
the bandsmen, came running out on the
parade ground, only partially dressed. The
obseQuious bandmaster lopsd up to the