The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-10-14
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was airing his views on the subject OF
consolidation, reorganization and puri-
fication as practiced at the war depart
ment, topic which the others consid-
cred inexcusable not so much from the
fact that it must be most unpalatable to
Captain Barclay, a beneficiary of tho
business, as it turned out, as because
Follansbee had worn them all out with
it weeks before.
And, to everybody's surprise, so far
from seeming annoyed or embarrassed
or bored, Barclay led him on from point
to point and, even after coffee was serv-
ed. sat an apparently absorbed listener,
for by that time Follansbee had absorb
ed most of the claret and was dilating
on the matter with especial reference to
the case of Colonel Lawrence. Later
that evening Barclay spent an hour at
the Blythes', and two days after he aud
Brayton dined there
1t was O'Clock dinner The doctor
and his wife, Major and Mrs. Brooks
Miss Frazier and Miss Amanda Frazier,
were the other guests Those were the
days when officers of all grades wore
epaulets when in full uniform, but, ex-
dress was not considered requisite for
either dinner or hops. The men wore
the uniform frock coat with shoulder
straps. Some few privileged characters
even dared to appear in sack coat with
white tie. Such a thing as the evening
dress of civil life was unknown at
military post and unowned in the
fighting force of the army. outside per-
haps of the artillery. The doctor was
privileged character, a man who said
what he thought and did what ho
thought right, and when Mrs. BLYTHE,
glancing out Of her parlor window, saw
their favored friend and medical adviser
coming along the walk, his hands deep
in his trousers pockets and himself in a
while the partner of his joys and sor-
rows chatted briskly with the Frazier
girls, Mrs. Blythe called up stairs to
her massive liege lord, "Wear your
blouse, dear; the doctor has on his,
whereupon Blythe slipped out of tho
uniform coat of formal cut and into tho
easy sack, and came trotting down the
creaking stair in time to welcome his
guests. Brooks, Barclay and Erayion,
who came later, were in the prescribed
regulation dress, whereat DIR. c. Hal! We
exclaimed: Hello! Now, IT,. !. lat
ought to have done, if ] \ nd as
much regard for convention y rs
have for health. Gentlemen, d., you
know you simply invite an apnpl,ctic
seizure by sitting down to dinncr i'll II
tightly buttoned uniform coat: 1t is
ton against it.
It was observed that while the doctor
included all three of the cavalrymen in
| his remarks he looked at and apparent
| ly addressed only one. Captain Barclay,
whose uniform coat was brand new,
very handsomely cut, its buttons and
shoulder straps of the finest make and
| finish, whereas the doctors were tar
nished, if not actually shabby. Brooks
frowned, and Brayton looked embar-
raised lest Barclay should take it amiss,
but that officer remained smilingly in
terested and in nowise troubled
The Frazier girls giggled, and Miss
Amanda was prompt to assert that for
her part she loved to see the officers
wear the proper uniform, and she WASH I
alarmed about apoplexy, whereupon
Collabone smiled benignly and said,
"What did tell you about the danger
Of tight lacing?" Amanda couldn't bear
the doctor. Her elder and primmer sis
ter only half liked him. Many of the
women thought him brusque and rude,
bat officers and men and mothers OF
families swore by him and children
adored him. A childless man himself,
he seemed to keep open house for the
offspring of his comrades. They swarm
ed about his quarters at all hours Of the
day. They invaded his parlor, overflow.
ed his dining room and ruled his kitch.
\ en-.
A kindly and placid soul was Mrs.
Collabone, a woman who had few cares
or perpleNities, and these she promptly
turned over to her broad minded, broad
shouldered liege for final disposition
as serenely confident of their speedy dis
sipation as she was of the prompt con
queSU Ol any ana All lne uanlIOlu Ills
to which childish flesh is heir by thai
practitioner's infallible remedies. Chill
dren ran loose in those days in Texas,
and SO they ought to, said Collabone
"Savage races are the only scientific
rearers," he maintained. "Boys OF
girls, they should be burdened with bu
single garment, or less, from the time
they're born until they're 8 or 10, anG
meantime they should be made to eat
sleep and live outdoors" He preached
for children regularity in matters O
diet, prescribed four light meals day
practiced heterodoxy and distributed
bread and milk, bread and sirup, breat
and jam, cookies, corn dodgers and mo
lasses candy morning, noon and night
Aunt Purlina, the fat and jocund god
dess of the Collabones' kitchen, hat
standing orders on such subjects, ane
many time had the post surgeon tt
wait for his own refreshments becaus'
ssthe kidsn had posseSsion of the nrem