Sunday morning globe., 1901-12-15

side my quarters IN order 10 get tnc He9"
air and 10 obtain a better idea OF my sur
roundiugs I was almost instantly seized,
and in fear perhaps, that had not been
made to feel sufficiently at home, certain
unconventional amenities were offered me -
even forced upon me Ny rank was not al
lowed TO interfere with the conviyial hospi-
tality, in short, was incoutinently tossed
in a blanket by the privates OF my own com
pany. Invent skyward until the men we're
tired. nor did a single officer appear to in
terrupt the harmony Of the occasion, When
I was near swooniug they let me go, and !
returned giddy and faint to my tent simply
remarkiug You are having your fun now;
my turn may come later on
Presently tattoo sounded, and had just
about concluded that would try to sleep,
when there came scratch on my tent
said come in" Immediately the flaps
parted and a head was thrust in with the
inquiry Is this Lieutenant Dayis''
Iauswrrcd in the Affirmative.
Officer of the guard tomorrow, was the
reply
There /, was again. Another violation Of
the Regulations" and another act Of pcrsc-
cutiou
"Are you the adiu,anu' I asked.
W am.
Whose order is thi-'"
The colonel S. sir"
s. thousand angry thoughts flashed
through uiy mind but. resolved that my
prosecutors should not have the least pre-.
text on which 60 excuse me of shrSing
duty said. Very well SIR and the adiu-
ant departed
Sow gulrd.mounuug is about as difficult
and particular a duty as an officer has TO
perform Positions are reduced to PAGES
and PAGES almost Co inches aud saiutes and
orders must come exactly certain times, SO
that person not well posted 100 the manual
is almost certain 90 bluuder. All this the
colonel had no doubt thought of, and he
was probably Chuckliug at that very moo
ment IN anticipation of my failure and con-
scqueut disgrace on the morrow; for if did
fail he would be sure to have me tried for
iucompeteucy
no. you won't thought l. and making
another trip 10 the suffers, I soon returned
with half a dozen candles and a box Of
matches Out came next the Regulations
and a COPY Of the tactics and TO work /
went ! broke the matches into men,
/ platoous. and officers. and put them re.
/ peatedly through the entire mauocuvre,
until when daylight came il found me in.
nocent of a wink Of sleep but with the
whole order of guard-mouutiug and guard
duty az my finger ends This acquisition
was made easier by the fact that on the
/ Christmas during my connection with the
] 18th the colonel had for that day turned
over the regiment TO officers elected from
among the privatcs aud 'uou.Coms,' and
had been chosen officer of the guard
got nay breakfast what little ate as
had got MY supper and uervously awaited
the guard-mounting call, due at hali.pasl
eight When the time came was belted
gl0vcd and on the ground where also the
entire regiment from the colonel down
were gathered ITO see the little upstar'
bilgc as they expressed it
Desperation had made me perfectly calm
TO an outward appearances, and ] went
through the various eyolutious and marched
my men Off TO the guard-hOuse, without d
bIuuder There further formaliies were &c
I De gone through between the old and tn,
uew guard and tbither accordingly, do,
crowd now pressed
! marched my new guard past the old, anC
dressed them up on a line with the latter
As did so I heard "a murmur go round, fol
lowed by laughter and iecrs and imme
diately the crowd began to disperse witt
expressions of satisfaction which SCENE,
90 say: We've got him now. This threw
ME into a cold perspiration Icou,d not Sc,
the mistake. and dared not hesitate Witt
my heart IN my boots aligned the men
and went forward lo meet and salute the oil,
officer of the guard and receive from hin
the standing orders. These be rep ated q
me as he had received them, and ended b,
taking from his belt and handing over thre
or four pairs Of handouts Feiguing as
constituent T asked what the things wer
for and was told that [ would find out fas
enough before the day was over Wit
tlat the old guard marched past. receiver
tts proper salute and departed
Here though, T. ISL a chance 20 -cor
"a point These meu have evidently bee
treated more like beasts than human icing.
and 10 I can awaken "a spark of manhood d
them, If they have auy pride left can uo'
turn it TO MY account So with the brac,
lets still boo hand, ] stepped 20 the iron
of the guard and addressed them as follow.
Men for year I have been like your
selves. a private have carried a gun an
suapsacE ] have gone through my duue
100 camp and ou the march but never did
They are for ielon-. NOT fol honest soldier
and ! see uo one here who looks as ii
deserved dauythiug of the kind a con
phment which involved severe strain
the truth. You can and I am sure so
will discharge your duty without then
and I shall take great pleasure in doiu
what / can 90 Tighten that duty make u
threat as 10 what win happen 1T you fail, f,
p am sure you vii, not We are an her
not from choice. but TO serve our countr
r and we have equal rights and interests.
is, of course. necessary for every organic
& ton TO have lbs officers. The government
feeling that { deserve a commission, 10
. given me one, aud shall do all in n
power 20 honor 10 The mere fact OF n
e having -houderstaps Is not proof that
D. am better than you but BOO this case. e.,
.r deuce of longer service and Z trust you w
e not follow the example of some Of yo
" superiors and coudemnme before trial b
d rather wait and Judge for yourselves.
e ever ] ask you TO go where I will not lea
# then ceusure me. ann sure that when II
+. tour of duty is over we shall be bett
, friends