The Washington times., 1902-06-12

"Ain't dat shame.
measly shame.
To keep yo' honey out in dat rain!
Open dat door an let me in;
I'm stanin here freezin'-
Wet to de skin!''
so sang more than 10000 young Wash
ingtonians in one grand chorus at the
American League Baseball Park yester-
day afternoon. while the entire High
School Cadet Regiment, under Col. H
Edgar Barnes, stood at attention in 6
furious downpour of rain on the field
then a vast sea OF ankle.deep midland
Commissioner Henry B. F. Mcfarland
pinned the Capt. Allison Nailor gold and
diamond medal upon the breast of Capt
Fred G. Robinette, of Company F, East
ern High School, the winner of the an
nual competitive drill.
Although the rain fell in torrents and
drenched the youthful soldiers to the
skin, and the watered real estate glided
uncertainty about under their feet, the
lads stood the unpleasant ordeal with
out a murmur, while their enormous
army of supporters stood upon their
seats in the grandstand and bleachers
and sang the refrain of the popular
song quoted above. Even the clashing
of the big National Guard Band was ut
terly drowned out in the one great chorus
ly everyone present, and swept out
across the diamond in huge volume of
sound. Never before in the fifteen years
that the annual competitive drills of the
cadets have been held has such a sight
been witnessed at the contest. And new
er as long as they live will those who
were fortunate enough to see it forget
one single detail of that tremendous
spectacle of humanity. both young and
old. engaged in executing war dances
ard giving vent to their pent up feelings
in the most frantic outbursts OF physi-
cal and vocal exertion. 1t was scene to
stir the blood, and make the old young
again.
Drilled in the Rain.
The rain began shortly after Company
C, the last on the field. started on its
program. 1t lasted until the last of the
bedraggled youngsters marched-or ram
er slid-off the grounds, when the srn
came suddenly out bright and clear, and
rested for a single instant upon the
polished gun barrels of the last two or
three men before they disappeared be-
hind the big gate. The field became a
tremendous sea of sticky, slippeEv mud,
in which the feet of the cadets slid up
certainly about, in a very few minutes.
Every minute the downpour lasted it
grew greater. 1t took barely ten min
utes to drench the boys to the marrow.
But they did not appear to mind II in
the slightest evidence OF the fact that
they were not enjoying IL equally as
well as a promenade on a clear day.
Commissioner mcfarland, accompan-
led by Captain Nailor the donor of the
prize medal; DR.. Francis r. Lane, di-
rector of the Washington High Schools;
Mr.. A. T. Stuart. superintendent of the
public schools: Col. Burton r. Ross, the
military instructor of the cadets, and
the board of judges, rolled up their
pants slightly at the bottoms and VEN
tured out upon the movable real estate
amid the hardest of the rain. When
Captain Robinette had brought his com
pany to the front, Colonel Ross present
ed the magnificent silk pennant to the
young commander. Commissioner Mac
farland then walked forward and pinned
the coveted medal upon the breast of
Captain Robinette. After receiving The
brief but hearty congratulations of the
gentlemen present, the company Ie-
manned at attention for a moment to
have their photograph taken by The
Times official photographer
Proudest Boys in Capital.
Then, the proudest boys in the M
tional Capital. they marched back 10
their place in the regiment and quickly
retired from the field.
On the grandstand and bleachers bed
lam reigned. The old and the young
danced about and sang together; the
most sedate pupils dropped gravity from
their shoulders like cloak and howled
at the tops of their voices. and teachers
and parents Joined the frantic horde of
students by adding their voices to the
general din and excitement. Confusion |
reigned supreme. In fact, more than |
20. 0C0 citizens of Washington went tenn
porarily stark staring. raving mad
IN every respect the Grill was the |
finest ever held by the cadet corps. any |
reflected the greatest credit upon all |
who participated in IT. II there is one |
person more than another who deserves |
the credit for the unusually excellent |
made by the boys. that person |
is Colonel Barnes While Colonel Ross 1
has been behind the regiment. pushing |
Il along to perfection by his broad |
and kindly advice, il was Col |
cnel Barnes who spurred the boys to |
their best efforts. and succeeded In |
bringing out the very finest work OF |
which they were capable. Colonel |
Parnes was the life and backbone OF the |
regiment, and did more by his firm but |
kindly manner and complete knowledge |
of the work TO bring about the develop
ment OF the companies than all the |
other persons connected with the regi-
ment put together. Never was there
more popular and manly fellow In the
colonel's Office. In all OF the i've high !
schools he is the idol of every boy ana
girl. and combines with this hero-wor-
ship the admiration and respect OF
teachers and pupils alike.
Colonel Barnes staff also deserves the