The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-14
The Lone Private
and the
Man of Little Faith.

WHY KILL Norfolk, who, by an
THE investigation Oh Spu-
COL.ONELS? rious Titles, have set
themselves the task
of discovering a stray private or two that
fought in the Civil War.
Though the end in view is a worthy one,
it is to be doubted If the means en-
ployed are to be commended. The method
is built on the wrong ground plan. 1t
necessitates killing an elephant to find
mouse. Think of the thousand and one
Generals and "Colonels' now going
over the land, boasting in public speech
and private conversation of the battles
they fought and victories they won in
face of terrible odds, when as matter
of fact many of them never fired gun
or captured Yankee! Would you humil-
late these Marlborough House Colonels
and Dress Parade Generals just to find
a simple private-or mayhaps worse?
What's the gain to uncover dozen pri-
Yates if to do so you must destroy as
many Colonels? Would it not be more
profitable to take lantern, Dogenes like,
and go abroad in the field of Inquiry seek
ing for an honest private who has made
a record for bravery on the field and is
not ashamed of his rank?
Memorys geese are all swans, and
things grow bigger the further back we get
from them The old fellows fought bravely,
most of them, and now If they want to
play with titles, why who shall say them
Nay, Honors came to them scant enough
for the terrible risks they ran, Heaven
knows. and now rude is the hand and
hard is the heart that would puncturc a
single such title, however spurious it may
be.
Let us weigh the man and not the title,
for he is the true nObleman who is a
friend to truth! of soul sincere,
In action faithful and in honor clear;
Who broke no promise, served no private
end,
Who gained no title, and who lost no
friend"
'And then ag'in," remarked the Old
Codger, as we talked the mattN over,
them Norfolk folks
A COMPANY needn't be SO dinged
WITH ONLY certain there's SO
ONE PRIVATE. few officers and so
many privates left
over since that war. nohow.
why SIR and he suddenly waxed en-
phatic in language and gesture, do you
know that one North Carolina company
surrendered in Greensboro that didn't
have in it but one prvate?''
'All the rest killed." suggested the OBJ
server of Men and Affairs.
mo deserted
What company" bravely asked their
Youthful Companion.
Company e, 31st North Carolina regi-
ment," as bravely replied the Old Cod
ger.
Then he went on to tell US how it was.
Company E, he said, was composed of
folk from the southern part of Wake coun-
ty mostly around Auburn and Garner.
And pretty lively scrappers they were
too, for the most part he added. We'll,
they were put aboard the train at Colds
boro and ordered to Greensboro to sur
render with Jchnstons army. Now they
didn't like that surrender business much.
They had never surrendered to Yam
kee, and they swore and be derned il
they were a-goin to do it now that the
tightin' was over and only the formalities
left to go through with. Lee had sur
rendered and it didn't take no mega phone
to tell them the Southern Confederacy
was busted 'biler. So when they go
home. along about Clayton and Auburn
and Garner, why they dropped off the
train like terrapins off a log, and when
Greensboro was reached there were only
three members of Company f. 31st North
Carolina aboard. They were Rufe Pool,
Bill Saunders and Troy Baucom.
Well, boys, said Troy who seemed
to feel that it was incumbent on some
body to make an effort to uphold the
reputation of the organization in this
trying hour-'well boys, sometimes got to
be did. We Amt got no officers and dern
few privates. l spose it's in order for us
to go into the lection of captain, and
a orderly sergeant to call the roll Bein'
as how | amt much used to drillin' an
won't never much of a, warrior nohow,
move you that Rufe Pool be 'lected
captain.
THE motion was carried unanimously.
Bill Saunders was chosen orderly SER
geant in like manner. Rufe gave the or
der to form in line carry arms forward
march, etc. Then Bill called the roll and
Troy stood with his gun and responded to
the roll call, answerin' absent to every
name except his own"
He had soiled copy of Tuesdays News
and Observer in his hand and he came
and lay down on the
WEARY WILLIE grass near me.
AND THE recognized him at
FLY COPS. once, Weary Willie,
whom l always de-
light to meet and whose story never
grows tiresome. l could tell by the holes
in his hat and his uncut whiskers that he
was professional. Likewise the Single
nail that formed the connecting link be-
tween his one suspender and his frayed
excuse for trousers proclaimed him
philosopher. He seemed deeply cngrossed
in the paper, this knight of the highway,
and did not disturb him.
Hot" he said, laying down the paper.
agreed and suggested more rain. He
became communicative.
Say, wot's the good O. dis town nohow.
The perfesh say it's strickly n. c., see.
Yer cops are fly an wen dey pinches ye'
der bloomin' mayer II give yer a vakashun
ter der roads ev'ry time, see. Oh you
folks make me tired.
Say l amt stuck on dis burg noways.
guy amt got no privileges here an de
folks are shy on handouts. An if dey
wusn't we couldn't work de town for desc
dinkey cops what wears brass buttons and
hi1lyc nd thiuLc