Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-04-06
CHAPTER Mi.

can War yet too recent for its heroes TO
be much spoken of as veterans" except
for oratorical effect; and q vaguely pleas
ing impression pervadcd the country that
the American citizen should stand. meta
phorically. with chip OH his shoulder.
inviting some cffete monarchy to knock
II off and get licked" Martial spirit and
patriotic pride stimulated general inter-
est in keeping alive military organizn.
tons. or course. the best volunteer"
forces must see much service before they
attain the stcadincss and discipline OF
REGULARS" and our best military cstab
lishment attainablc then was very far
below such perfection as the severely cf-
fcctive school of civil war has since
taught MS in the adaptation of our mill
tia forces for ready mobilization as a
"National Guard" But our militia was
larger then. in proportion to the popula-
ton. than it is now. and perhaps was in
fused with more spontaneity Of patriotic
enthusiasm than has been observable IN
later days. particularly since its main ON.
ploymcnt has been in the overawing and
crushing of labor demonstrations. Then.
every man capable of bearing arms was,
not merely nominally and theoretically.
but practically member of 1t, suppose
bly, ready and eager to rush forth, ut any
moment. armed with his own gun. sup.
piled with his own ammunition. clad nc.
cor,ling TO his own means and fancy, and
at least mcasurably provided with his
own rations. to extcrminate foreign foes,
wholesale or in job lots, rs they might see
fit to present themselves. To be an
American and to have n gun were the
only real essentials. in popular estima-
ton. The man who could not be depend.
ed upon to do good fighting ION his own
hook" independent Of how anybody else
might be getting on in the melee Of a
battlefield. would not have been consid-
cred Of much account.
Few were prepared to affirm that there
was no, a desirable quality Of style about
company and even regimental evolutions
In time Of war, but n popular feeling ex'
listed that rehearsal OF such things dur
ing profound peace was little better than
thresbing chat and winnowing the east
wind. Should they ever be necessary,
Americans could pick them up In a few
days. Hence. Training Day." though
everywhere observed as an occasion for
enthusiastic demonstration Of patriotic
and martial spirit. involving not Il little
noisy jubilation and license, was seri-
ously lacking In the educational chnrac.
ter contemplated by the law.
Very early in the forenoon the popula.
tion Of the whole country side seemed to
be nocking on masse into the little town
OF Washington, the county seat, and Its
streets were soon thronged with eques-
TRANS and slcighs Of all sorts and sizes,
from the dainty "cuttcr" to the ponder.
Gus farm wagon body temporarily
mounted upon bob.slcd runners. Not only
the defenders Of the republic came 10
town on draining Day." but their moth
ers, wives. sisters and sweethcarts us
well: for there was both a gallant show
20 see and shopping. long deferred for
this occasion. to be done. Women packed
each Of the general stores, where dry
goods, plows, crockcry, school books, mo-
lasses. timothy seed and thousand other
things were sold and all farm produce
bought; men crowded the particular
stores that dealt exclusively In wet goods
for in those days the prohibition move
ment had not yet even Clipped Its shell
and nobody thought harm Of taking "a
drop to keep the cold out" Or, mayhap
"anothcr for sociability's sake"
The inn yards were filed with family
slcighs, and around three sides Of the
court house saddle horses were tied to the
hitching rails rs closely as they would
stand without fighting. The keen, still
air was full OF the creaking Of sleigh run
ners on the snow, the jingllng Of silver,
sounding bells, ncighing of horses ant
shouts Of salutation between acIuaint
ances.
Presently the shrill sounds Of fife ant
the clatter Of drum awOke the echOe,
with new sort Of disturbance, and tn,
musicians. followed by all the boys il
town, marched the length of the mali
street and back again, to the common,
or great open square near the cour
house, where the drilling was to TAX,
place. There. by the flag pole, In all hi
awful dignity of cooked hat, crimson sasl
and sword, fat Captain Ramsey stood
lists In hand, awaiting his citizen sol
dery. From all directions they cam,
flocking, In hot haste; and a motley look
ing mob they were, SO far rs clothing
went, no two seeming to be dressed alike
Tall and stalwart men they We're, will
1.-the, vigorous frames, clear, daring eye
and firm tread men who looked as IL III
tigue and fear would be alike strange L
them. Hoe and there an old man, reall
exempt by age from military duty, ye
scOrnful Of such release, bore a shotgun
but, with those few exceptions, the arm
in the hands of all We're the long, heavy
muzzlc-l loading squirrel rifle, small-boI
ed weapon, but one that would carry IN
and with splendid precision. Almost ever
man of Captain Ramsey's one hundre
and seventeen would have been able, wit
his own gun, 10 hit button on Il sol
dier's breast as far as he could see
clearly, particularly IL that button shout
happen to be on a red coat.
All around the Common" the big fan
lily sleighs were drawn up, and In then
comfortably wrapped In their robes an
furs, the ladies sat, looking on and thrill
cd by that ineXplicable fascination whic
military evolutions always seem to hay
for women. With them, to hold tn
horses when the martial music mad
them shivcr and dance, sat the old mel
whose weight OF years forbade their AZ
tive service on the training ground, an
who, invOluntarily resenting that fac
were unsparing in sarcastic criticism
upon their cnvied juniors in the rank
1t gave them relief to say things lii
these:
Turn your toes out, Sam! You wal
like a pigeon"
"will some lady please admire Mr. NJ
Pherson?"
"Step out there, Dave! You stutt'
with both feetw
To such bantering salutations the me
addressed made lively responses in kin
and Ganto min Ramsay In vain made hin