The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-20

always heard-first of the Injuns, after
ward of the Johnny Rebs and the
me-it's like what you'd fancy the
Ganges to be in COLOR
"A fine old creek, the Potomac 1
SAID wasn't in hurry, and there
was something sort o. drawing about
this chap, and so stood there idly
talking with him. "A lot has happened
along its banks-not a prosaic stream,
at ALL
Il wondered where I'd seen the mans
race, and L finally concluded that he
looked like one of the enlisted men in
my battery. He pulled out a queer
looking cigar case and handed it to me-
Wen, not with my belt on, you
KNOW said, taking one of the cigars,
but later. when get off in a corner I'll
Just then one of the light batteries
wheeled on to the parade ground for
morning drill. The man 1 was talking
with watched the battery's movements
with interest through his half closed
eyes.
" Fine work, that he said, referring
to a rather cleverly done on right into
the line that the battery executed with
rattle don't know where you're
going to find light artillery to beat the
American flying batteries
That's about right 1 said. That's
the name we've got. 1 haven't seen any
of the foreign batteries, but I've met
some English officers that told me our
light battery soldering can't be beat.
Now, the English Royal Horse artil-
lery-
"'Crack outfit. the Royal Horse in
terrupted the man, but more ponder
Gus, more fancy, than your light bat
teries. Not so alert, nor so snappy,
quick, as yours, ether
Seen the Royal Horse, then, eh?" I
inquired.
g Wen, few of the batteries he re-
piled. In India
Well. became a bit expansive then
and told him a deal about soldering in
general. He asked a lot of questions
about the American service, and 1 was
really garrulous-told him ever so many
things about the life of the soldier, you
know, and how he lives and eats and
drinks and smokes, and has his being
and all that. He listened quietly, only
asking a Question occasionally. Then
we started together toward the gate
he to go his way and / to make my
visit to the guard. A reporter for one
of the Washington papers, on his way
to the adjutant's office to get some de-
tails of big court martial case that
was about to begin at the arsenal, pass
ed US as we were about making our
parting. Good day sa1utations, and he
looked at us curiously. The man had
been talking with took up a quick stride
and was soon outside the gate. Then
the reporter knew him quite we'll
walked up to me.
"D'je get some good talk out of
him?' he asked me.
"'Out of who?' I inquired.
"'Man you were talking with as
passed you few moments ago., he re-
piled.
g oh, that chap I said. Rather an
interesting fellow. that. Englishman, 1
guess. Good talker in way
well, you don't say SOL said the
reporter, and he grinned in my teeth.
Startling, if true! Dye know who he
tsp
Nope I said, though, come to
think of it, his mug reminded me of
somebody's. Why, is he anybody
"'Oh, he'll do said the reporter, still
grinning. Not a dead one altogether,
y'know. He's talked to you good
deal in type, I dare say-as he talks IN
type to all soldiers. He knows his book
about soldering as we'll as the next
civilian, too, I guess. Rudyard Kipling,
you know"