The Western news., 1903-07-15
A Matter of
Discipline
BY DAVID H. TALr1ADGE
(Copyrishs BY Authors syndiease.)

certain town in q certain state of
the middle west. The time is inmate
rial. The occasion was the regular an
nual encampnlent of the-th regiment
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 officers--will learn
the requirements Of successful disci-
pline, which is an important matter
among other important matters.
deny nothing, nor do l firm. 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 commonwea alth
from it's foes, naturally lacks its most
saliant feature when there are no foes
in condition of warfare. 1t is quite
unable to shake off in one week the
civil atmosphere by which it is sur
rounded during 81 weeks. Conse-
quently it is amusing, as verything is
when it is out of its element.
Private O'Malley, who, 1t must be con-
fessed, looked we'll in uniform, ad-
dressed the colonel as Bill" at those
times when they chanced to meet; and
tho on]nnp1 XUhO
chap from whom O'Malley rented his
blacksmith shop at home, was utterly
unable to restrain a 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'Malley,
as good q 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 re egiment,
and he is under oath to address his su-
perior officers as BELTS their rank; but,
by thunder, sir, don't see how I'm to
punish him. Suppose l go to him and
tell him kindly that he's making a mis-
take. What will happen? know well
enough; he'll flash up like q 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 l say
nothing, the chances are that he'll buy
the property within year at my own
figure"
What does your oath require of
your asked the major, softly.
The colonel frowned. I'm perfectly
we'll aware what l should do," he said,
with sudden stiffness, for his temper
was easy on the trigger; "but what
must do is horse of another color"
Eyes, yes" The major drained his
glass and arose to depart. "If were
you, Silsby," he said, turning at the
door, "Pd enforce my authority at
whatever cost, or'-his lip curled rath-
er unplea tly-"Pd resign"
Whereupon he was gone, and the
colonel was striding back and forth
across the tent floor splitting ana
thema-, Cor he and the major had been
rivals for the colonelcy, and were now
in rivalry for the love of girl. He re-
covered himself presently, and sat
down, laughing.
'Bomley's sore as corn" he
thought, because I'm more popular
well, Pm sorry we happened to be to-
gether when we met O'Malley. 1t will
afford him an opportunity to make
bit of capital against me-poor disci-
plinarian, hasn't the proper respect of
the men, and all that sort of thing. 1t
may be true, but I don't believe it.
Discipline doesn't consist altogether in
the exaction of titles. O'Malley hasn't
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'Malley
and preserved relations of distinct
frigidity towards the major.
On the third day there was q aham
battle.
The regiment was divided into two
parties, one commanded by the
colonel the other by the major. The
colonel's party intrenched itself on
hill perhaps mile from the camp, and
defied the party of the major to take
the position. Whereat the party of the
major, in which was included the local
company, stretched portion of itself
into long line and ambled leisurely to
attack, popping off it's rifles now and
then, and retreating at each volley
from the hilltop, into the thick woods
at the base.
In the meantime the other portion of
the party, including the local company,
the captain of which was an intimate
friend of the major and no friend at
all of the colonel, was engaged in ex-
ecuting a movement which was expect