The Van Buren press., 1898-10-22
ONE HUNDRED KIssrs
The Unique Record Made by . 3.
Louis Lady Who Loves Her
Soldier Boys.

A ST. Louis woman has had the tbriu
ing and unique experience of ltiss,4
100 men in as many minutes.
There is no doubt that this Is i.
worlds record, firmly established A'
If it were "a question simply of kis.
ing 100 men the record would stilI bo1S'
but add to that the fact that the ' ,nsl
were all kissed within two hours ass
you have record with which tberei
no comparison in all history
This fearless and delightful record
maker is Mrs. c. c. Rainwater. one -
st. Louis prominent society women
The 100 men who were factors j.
the record making are the soldier hove
os company E, First Missouri yolw
teers.
Every man and officer of the cam
pany was given farewell kiss and
godspeed by Mrs. Rainwater as ta
company lined up for inspection .,
their Chickamauga camp. In the dav.
of peace, when a military companv,s
chief duties were to appear on dres,
parade and give hops, Mrs Rainwate,
was the guardian angel of compapv
+ and a leader in all its social doings
She was a sort of mother of the regi.
ment. She fairly owned every man,s
heart that beat beneath a uniform
in that particular company. She was
always the top line" patroness of tbs
companys balls and the amateu,
tkeatricals. 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
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 f was ordered to Camp
Thomas, at Chickamauga, before Mrs
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.
eording 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
first 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 Chickamauga 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.
Exefytlsng that could possibly be done
to nralre Mrs. Ra1nwater'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.
ors, and were then put at company
rest"
Some few words of introduction
ware spoken by one of the officers, and
then Mrs. Rainwater, all smiles and
happiness, walked down the line from
one man to another, and gave each
resounding motherly kiss and a
God bless you"
1t was most picturesque scene
Some Of the boys 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 good
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 a mark for kissing that
will stand undoubtedly for years to
come.-Chicago Inter Ocean,