The times., 1899-06-19
ORDERS THAT WERE IGNORED.
A National Guard Parable With
Much Meaning.


Much Meaning
Now in the days when peace was and
the Filipinos edited newspapers. there was
in the District called Columbia certain
legion of guards. And these were called
the District Guard. And the guards were
versed in the handling OF arms and in
preparing for battle, and they did much OF
marching and were garbed in the dress OF
warriors.
And a certain centurion, one who was
said TO have much pull, was at the head
of the guard, and led the guard. And his
commands were many and men ran to do
his bidding, for he was centurion. Verify.
he was one OF much say and his dress was
like unto that of Caesar, who ruled all CEN
turicns. And he had of much pride and
men were at his side to do all manner of
things. So when he spake and said, Go,
thou, and wipe blood from my sword, ="
SO was the blood gone; and when he said,
'Ho! cease thy breathing" no man breath
ed
And it came to pass that the centurion
called together his chief warriors and said:
Behold. we will travel and we viii dwell
in camp. and We shall startle the natives
with much warfare. Therefore, leave all
and follow me-" And the chief warriors
heard and departed. ard gathered together
the guards and they followed the CEN
turion to where camp was.
And the centurion wore much OF steel
and fine metals and the sun was proud
TO shine upon him. And he grew TO a
great stature, and his head was many
cubits in size. And the tribes which in
hablted the regions round about the camp
spake one to another. saying: Verify, he
! is it. He is the largest of which we
have and no man dare play in his yard"
And they hit their pipes ard were much
comforted and exceeding awed.
And the centurion called unto the guards
and said: Hip" And behold they hip
ped. And he spake again, saying "Hepl"
And, 10, and behold, they hepped. And
the people were astounded and said: Yer
lily, ne is the Ice Man" And they reiolc ed
that they should have witnessed these
things.
Now there was OF the chief warriors one
who led large body. And being of high
rank. he had certain rights and might
| breathe when he so desired and might
partake OF locusts and honey without first
| bowling TO the centurion. And the chief
! warrior was an unbelieyer and said unto
| himself: Verify, the centurion is a Win
! chester. but he is not it all. for have | not
witnessed 13-inch guns and torpedoes2'
| Now the chief warrior being athirst de-
! parted 10 the place of a husbandman,
which was in the camp and sat down 10
the wine which was there. And the CEN
turion called unto one of his serving men
and said, Behold, what is this and who
am ~" And the serving man answered
and said. Verify, thou art the main drag,
oh, centurion" But the centurion was
wroth and said. Where is the chief war
rior who is now sitting in the canteen ?''
And the serving man answered and said,
Verify, he is in the canteen. on wise ga
zaboo!'
Whereupon the centurion seized sword
and blood and addressed a certain manu-.
script to the chief warrior and sealed il
with his great seal. And certain bearer
was mounted upon a fleet horse and des-
patched unto the chief warrior.
And the bearer made haste and came Il
where the chief warrior sat at wine. AnC
the bearer spake unto those who were
about, saying. Hear ye. bear unto tbs
chief warrior the tidings that I am withou
and bear manuscript from the centurion
And they spake unto the chief warrior
and bore the tidings. And the chief war.
rior answered and said: Am l a horst
that | shouldst run to him. Bid him beal
his junk hence and | Will read it," Ant
they informed the bearer of what wa
said and the bearer was wroth. saying
Il will not do it. l represent the lord hlgl
dingbat, which is the centurion, and
will not disturb the creasing of my tog.
by dismounting." And the chief warrio
spake and said: Young man, thy tire
are inflated with liquefsd air I am chic
warrior, and thou must come to me or g
whence thou camest." And the beare
went hence.
And the centurion had much rage An,
the camp was filed with the gnashing o
typewriters and the wailing of orders. Anr
rations OF sackcloth and ashes were serve
for supper. And the centurion sent wore
to the chief warrior saying: Come t
me that l may behead thee" And the chic
warrior answered saying: sit on tn!
valve, on centurion, for thou art but
sorry military man. and the guards L,
laugh in their togas at thee"
Whereupon the centurion spake, saying
Leave my camp this day. and depart int
the wilderness" And the chief warrio
departed and the camp was rent asunde
and the guards returned to the Distric
called Columbia. And the people who ha
acquaintance with the centurion and wit
the chief warrior wondered at the stsang
happenings.
The wise men spake and said; "Thi
i is indeed a mighty centurion that h
| should condemn the chief warrior becaus
that he did not leave all and run to nee
bearer. Verify, this is indeed funny. an,
we must grin And the warriors who ha'
fought in real war smiled and said; 'Th
way of the tin soldiers leads to the melting
pot"
But the centurion saw not the point ent
continued saying: Verify. l have be
headed the chief warrior and he is dead.
And the chief warrior said nothing. bu
held him in derision.
These things came to pass in the sixth
month of the third year of the Trusts
Selah.