Waterbury Democrat., 1902-02-06
A Fl alter of
 Discipline
By DAVID H. TALr1ADGE
(Copyright by Authors syndicate.)

certain town in a certain state of the middle west. The time is inmate rial. The occasion was the legular an- nual encampment of the --th re giment of the certain states national guard.
 Encampments of citizen soldiery are odd things conceived by wise government on the general theory that men who sleep in tents one week dur ing each year will be better prepared, in case they are called upon for actual service in the field, toendure the expos ure and other incidentals thereto; also that the officers-more particular ly the regimental of6cers-will learn the requirements of successful o1scl- pline, which is an important matter among other important matters.
 I deny nothing, nor do affirm. But am free to state that regimental en- campment is one of the most entertain ing of functions. Citizen soldiery, be- ing nothing more than an organized purpose to protect the commonwealth from it's foes, naturally lacks it's most sa.iant feature when there are no foes in condition of warfare. It is quite unable to shake off in one week the civil atmosphere by which it is sur rounded during 51 weeks. Conse- quent.y it is amusing, as everything is when it is out of it's element.
 Private O'Mal.ey, who, it must be con- fessed, looked well in uniform, ad- dressed the colonel as "BilF' at those times when they chanced to meet: and the colonel, who was a good-natured chap from whom O'MaIey rented his blacksmith shop at home, was utterly unable to restrain smile, which, of course, precluded all possibility of reprimand.
 "What's a man to do?'' The colonel appealed to the major. They were in the coloneps quarters with bottle between them, and they had encoun- tered O'Malley in coming down the company street. Here's O'Afa.ley, as good soldier as ever drew breath"
 ''Or double rations," growled the major.
 Meets me in the company street and calls me Bill. It's contrary to regula- tions. I'm the colonel of his regime nt, and he is under oath to address his su- perior officers as befits their rank; but, by thunder, sir, don't see how I'm to punish him. Suppose go to him and tell him kindly that he's making mis- take. What will happen? 1 know well enough; he'll flash up like a can of powder, and I'll be forced to the ne- cessity of finding another renter for that building of mine, which isn't an easy thing to do; whereas, if 1 say nothing, the chances are that he'll buy the property within year at my own figure"
 What does your oath require of you?" asked the major, softly.
 The colonel drowned. '1'm perfectly we'll aware what should do,'' he said, with sudden stiffness, for his temper was easy on the trigger; "but what I must do is a horse of another color" :"
 'Yes, yes" The major drained his you, Silsby," he said, turning at the door, "I'd enforce my authority at whatever cost, or''-his lip curled rath CT unpleasantly-'Id resign" Whereupon he was gone, and the colonel was striding back and forth across the tent floor splitting ana themas, for he and the major had been riva1s for the colonelcy, and were now in riva.ry for the love of girl. He re- covered himself presently, and sat down, laughing.
 thought, ssbecause I'm more popular among the men than he is, and because well, I'm sorry we happened to be to- gether when we met O'Malley. It will afford him an opportunity to make a bit of capital against me-poor disci- plinarian, hasn't the proper respect of 1 the men, and all that sort of thing. It may be true, but I don't believe it. Discipline doesn't consist altogeth gin the exaction of tit.es. O'Malley hash I the slightest notion of being insubordi- nate. If he had he wouldn't call me Bill, and he'd refuse to salute. I'll do nothing about it."
 And he did nothing about it for two days, during which he avoided O'MaIley ' and preserved relations of distinct frigidity towards the major.
 On the third day there was sham battle.
 The regiment was divided into two parties, one commanded by the i colonel, the other by the major. The colonePs party intrenched itself on 8 hill perhaps mile from the camp, and defed the party of the major to take the position. Whereat the party of the major, in which was included the loca. company, stretched portion of itself into long line and ambled leisurely te attack, popping off it's rifles now and then, and retreating at each vol.ey l from the hilltop, into the thick woods at the base.
 In the meantime the other portion oi the party. inciudlng the local company the captain of which was an intimate friend of the major and no friend al 1 all of the colonel, was enga ged in ex ecuting a movement which was expect. ed to crown the majors brow witl laurel. They were scurrying over a route, characterized by many trees and a deep railway cutting, to the rear o1 the position occupied by the colonel party.
 The movement was nearly success. frl. To Private O'Ma11ey, who was not in either party, owing to illness, was ] due it's failure.
 The hospital tent chaDced to be with. in comfortable earshot where the ma.
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