The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-23

THEY met on the sters of the Army
and Navy Building-the young
civilian in his modest citizen S
dress, and the young officer in the
uniform of the regulars. He had the
swinging stride and the square carriage
that told of years OF West Point training.
The young civilian. bent on sightseeing.
was going up the broad steps; the young
West Pointer was coming down. Some
where in the distance a military band
was approaching. and there was glim-
mer of n flag The West Pointer instinc-
lively Quickened his steps and the civilian
turned to see what the excitement was
about.
Undoubtedly the fault OF the collision
was the civilians. for what West Pointer,
only a year out of the Academy, could
be expected to heed any such obstacle in
his path when a military band and the
banner of the Union hove in sight? Had
they not both been his daily diet for fouE
years? Were they not both part and
parcel of himself?
81 beg your pardon said the West
Pointer, stiffly.
Il beg yours said the young civilian,
humbly, evidently impressed by the reg
ular's uniform and shoulder straps.
Below them a crowd began TO gather
on the curbstone. Teams and carriages
drew to one side. Small boys with sturdy
legs that kept creditable time to the near
ing patriotic strains marched up the
cleared street.-the inevitable vanguard TO
a procession.
The two men on the steps OF the De-
partment building paused curiously.
It's some kind of a parade said the
young civilian.
His eyes were flashing. Involuntarily
his hand went to his hat brim, but he
withdrew it quickly with a flush as he
noted his companions amused look.
so it seems" said the young West
Pointer bit patronizingly: II hadn't
heard of anything of the kind taking place
today. All, they're volunteers-that's
why"
1t was probably only the young officer
who analysed the whole so closely and
with that mathematical nicely that had
long ago become second nature to him.
When a man on the end of a column
got out of step which he vainly tried to
recover before it should become discern
ible, the West Pointer smiled in a SUI
perior way.
Zone would almost suppose they were
regulars returning after years of service.
he remarked, instead of volunteers fresh
from camp about to be mustered out
without having even put foot in Cuba.
'T imagine it is not because they did
not want to- said the civilian, slowly.
Heaven knows every man who enlisted
tried TO get into a fighting regiment
The West Pointer carefully ficked a
speck of dust from lis immaculate cuff.
True, but wasn't it rather foolish of
many to expect it?" he asked.
81 don't catch your point"
Probably not" remarked the young
officer still, can't you see that the
Government wouldn't be likely to send
men to the front who couldn't possibly
know anything about military tactics
half of whom spent their lives porting over
commercial ledgers and have had only
few weeks of camp training?"
The young fellow paused an instant, and
then went On hUrriedly. as ne warmed to
his subject, do you suppose the Gov
eminent is going to place an important
position in the hands of lot of volun-
teers. rather than with the regulars, who
have been educated Oh military niceties?"
The civilian smiled family.
Certainly not. The Government knows
its business in employing officers and
men trained to the work. was only de-
Tending those who lacked your oppor-
tunity. ! never said anything against the
regulars. / have the profoundest respect
for them.
He made a grave little bow to the West
Pointer. The latter laughed.
81 was a bit hot. wasn't /? But it's
a point on which all regulars have pretty
decided notions. The volunteers imagine
they know ii all: and-well-what's the
use of talking? Opportunities. yes. But
we've had TO work to utilize them" He
glanced significantly at his uniform.
There isn't man in the Union who
hasn't the chance of West Point train
Ing"
Not quite said the civilian slowly.
81 know one man who passed all the oral
and written examinations and failed on