Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-07

to shell and shraDnel practice as being yiciously extrayagant ''It will all be straightened out when Melville comes, 7 said the gunners, but it wasn't The colonel had never met Melville before, but had had him dinned into his ears every time he talked with an enthusias- tic artilleryman, and, to use his own expression, "it made him tired "Mel- vile is a sort, of demigod@ according to these artillery fellows" said he, but propose to TUB my own post, and no man shall run me.''
 So when Melville arrived and report ed for duty the colonel met him with much solemnity and state. Ordinarily ofhand and impulsive in speech and manner, he now assumed an imposing dignity of mien that filled his adjutant with merriment and did not deceive Melville in the least. That clear sight ed, grave hammered soldier listened with every appearance of courteous in- terest to the colonePs exposition of what he considered the needs of the batteries and the batteries discipline and instruction, but as his own views were neither asked nor desired gave no expression of them. The colonel called upon the new arrival at the quarters of Captain Cannon that even- ing and found dozen red striped .fel- lows there, all clustered about their demigod, and the colonePs manner was if anything more awfully impressive than in the morning. He remained but ten minutes, and the gunners drew a long breath and looked at each other as he left the room and burst into ire pressible laughter as he stalked away from the gate. But Melville came back to their midst with Captain Cannon, they having seen the colonel safely down the steps, and not a line in Mel, Fille's face betrayed the fact that he saw anything comical in the situation. Within the week he was partially set tied in his new quarters and fully en- grossed in his new duties. He found the post commander pottering about the battery stables and gun sheds day after day, giving orders direct to stable Sergeants, farrierS and blackSmiths, but not line of his face or tone of his voice betrayed the faintest irrita- tion or disapproval. Irate captains came to him to protest, and he said, Patience" and nothing the impetuous post commander could say or do ever seemed to throw him off his mental balance for a moment. He was ever grave, exquisitely courteous and en- tirely subordinate. For month the colonel had things all his own way. Then one day, all unannounced, there dropped in an inspector, who gave two days to the batteries and two hours to the rest of the command. The colonel insisted on being with him everywhere. The inspector found fault with the condition of the horses feet and declar- ed them insuficiently shod. He was referred to the order of the post com mander. He said all of the horses look ed too finely drawn, as though they had come in from hard campaign, and was shown the post commanders order cutting off two pounds of grain per diem. He said the gun carriages looked dingy and was informed of the post commanders prohibition of fur ther use of paint. He criticised their neglect of gun practice with service ammunition, and again the post com mander had Ito shoulder the blame He dined with that dignitary, as did Melville and Nathan and two.a aor three eayalrymen that evening, and the colo