The National tribune., 1901-07-18

fed the glorious spirit which animated the
mothers of Limerick. when their valor
hurled back the legions of Prince William,
as he Yainly strOve to destroy the dearly
priced liberty Of its people.
1t is a proud reflection of the irishman
of this generation that, when the fidelity
of his people was tested, their allegiance
was as good as guarantee as birth and
native blood to the Nation which had
trusted in and protected them.
We cannot revert to the delightful re-
unions of that island camp, the introduc-
tory step to the glory which has since
crowned our arms, without feelings Of
deep regret-regret that its companion
ships and pleasures, its meetings and its
partings, may never again be renewed !;
that we may never again hear the fervent
utterings of love from the fond mother
and sister; from the cherished wife, and
the dear girl whose life was in her love;
from the stern father, who feared he
would never again grasp the hand of his
son; from the brother, undemonstrative
in his affection, but with a great wealth
of feeling in his heart-such earnest love
is only expressed once in a lifetime, and
Is born Of the peculiar circumstances by
which the loved ones are surrounded.
This brief sketch of our island camp
may be sufficient to revive in the minds Of
those who visited it, many of the pleas
ant scenes which transpired there, and the
associations connected Herewith. Many
brave man has bid it farewell foreverI
To the bereayed ones we would say, for
their consolation, Faithful to the cause
they joined, they fell; your honor they
nobly defended; the country's cause and
liberty they valiantly asserted, and died
true men and soldiers!
SOCIAL PARTIES.
Shade of Bacchus, what conviYial times
we hadi Deep into the night and often
times to the Silly morn, when the feast
of reason and the flow of soul brought for
getfulness of petty cares, and gradually
indoctrinated us into the creed of the sol
dier, that to live. we must live today, for
soldier dies tomorrow!
And right willingly we believed in this
creed, the truth of which we have seen
eXemplified on many bloody field, where
the living Of yesterday were among the
dead of today.
In one of our old wall tents the officers
would often assemble, and, with a zest
that would rival the Irish soldier Of the
olden time, vent their genial witticisms,
perpetrate their jokes, and unwind ever
lasting yarns, which, if without point.
would be certainly brimful of genuine
Irish humOr. These parties would be. in
spirit and feeling, seen all over the camp,
and friendships were made and connections
formed which will only terminate with
life.
Many ludicrous incident occurred at
Long Island during our sojourn l re-
member well, one evening, that q party of
officers sailed out on what we appro-
priately termed a tour of inspection, osten-
sibly to visit the guard, but really to pass
them, If possible, and visit the camp OF
another regiment, quartered at the south
end of the island The night was dark.
and as we approached ths sentinel we
could hear his measured pace: a little
nearer, and we heard him pause upon his
beat; another moment and the liquid
brogue Of the sentinel rang out upon the
air
Halt! Who goes thereT'
A friend. with the countersign," was
the reply. The sentinel paused, seemingly
in meditation; at last bright idea seemed
to strike him, and he cried out
Hold ON; ye can't pass here till ye say
We listened with smothered laughter,
and then advanced, said "Schouler" and
the innocent fellow allowed us to pass.
That was at Long Island, and the soldier
was recruit
Woe to the man that pressed an ad-
vance on the same soldier on the PENN
sula; failure to give the proper counter
sign would be replied to by an ounce of
lead. Then the soldier was veteran. At
another time, as l was passing from the
camp to the boats to take a trip to the
city, l espied a stout, heavy fellow, of
ponderous proportions, in the full dress
of a First Lieutenant. He carried a valise
in his hand, and the perspiration ran in
rlyulets down the creases of his fat ply
siognomy, and he seemed laboring under
serious afiiiction. He was comical-look-
ing gentleman, and / paused to survey
him more narrowly, when a soldier. who
happened to be standing near. irreyerently
bawled out, "Hollo. Toni yer off, The
solid gentleman laid his valise upon the