The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-24


In the Twenty third Regiment Of Brooklyn,
thus relieving myself of the possibility
Of serving week every year on the Jury
! calculate that II live to the ripe old age
Of 3s4 years ! will have made by the opera
ton When joined. however, did not
look at it in this cold. cynical way.
1t was in the chill summer Of 1874 that I
enlisted The temperature that July. as
indicated by the mercury, was above the
normal, but, nevertheless, 1t proved to be
cold summer for me
was in the first flush OF early youth
then-about the only flush ever drew to
and caught-and had not yet reached the
age OF CONSENT 80 my parents consented
for me- Often afterward | wished they
had been less anxious to crafty my bud
ding military yearnings. for my proud.
naughty acknowledgements spirit soon
chafed under the privations and hardshps
OF soldiers lie.
l enlisted under a misconception.
was given to understand that, In the first
place. l would acquire a military carriage.
A carriage was something l had always
wanted.
When got into the awkward squad and
was started in on the setting up drill
in order to acquire my carriage, l began
TO lose my enthusiasm right away. Touch
ing my feet with the tips OF my fingers
without bending my knees was not only
CALLING to my pride and severe on my sus-
penders, hut proved to be physical i'm
possibility. owing to my peculiarly lofty
freproof construction. My feet were too
far away.
1t did not comport either with my pre-
viously conceived notions OF military
career had expected to begin at once
prancing about behind a band playing
martial strains had an idea, too. that
when arrayed in uniform I would be
dream OF martial pomp and splendor. and
that beautiful young ladies would strew
flowers In my pathway.
This proved to be erroneous. When
arrayed in uniform was a sight. and beau
tiful young ladies' hed swiftly at my ap-
proach
will not pain you with a recital Of the
sickening details Of my squad experience.
nor the barbarities to which l was SUBJ
jected. At last l was graduated and with
fear and trembling fell in with the COM
pany
was received with that sweet courtesy
and grace with which a new squad or detail
b always greeted. and as ! attempted to
fall in among the men OF my own height
was shouldered down the line until finally
landed at the sawed-ot1 end, from whence
] was ignominously dragged by the ser
geant and placed behind tall corporal
In whose grateful shade luxuriated for
seven years
Never once did get into the front rank
In all that time. The amount Of profanity
| extracted from that corporal during my
career. however. was partial recompense
II was a habit Of mine when marching or
drilling to fall into brown studies. and
when my corporal. who would be serenely
bowling along would suddenly discover
himself in advance OF the short-legged
end OF the company. he would naturally
pause, and being Immediately behind.
would proceed to meander up his person.
to his great physical Inconvenience He
would then make remarks Of nature
calculated to pain the refined
1t was on rainy and muddy days. however.
that made things particularly interesting
for him BY reason Of our height We always
marched N the gutter, and my corporals
white trousers. when l got through with
him. were sight calculated to wiring tears
from the stoutest washwoman
don't know how it is now but in my
time it was the favorte practice OF the
commanding officer to bring us 10 the posi-
tion Of carr arms" and then go OF and
quite forget Ia until his attention was
brought back Ly the thud Ct some debiltated
warrior falling dead on The floor Garry
arms" was never a favorite position Of mine,
owing possibly to my physique weighing
less thar the gun and being only about
half as thick Support arms could not
enjoy either because the hammer resting
on my forearm used quickly to bore its way
into my vitals.
Order arms" was my favorite There
was something restful and soothing about
that nan9uvre which always appealed to
me
Joined in 1870 40 | could go to the Gen.
tennial with tho regiment. went down
and got 30 -het UP" that haven't got quite
cooled of vet Perhaps you remember
that Philadelphia was quite sultry that
year
We marched from the armory in heavy
marching order Each man carried If
recoIlect Alright. provisions for six months.
a complete set OF bedroom furniture a
rarior organ and Herring safe At least
that's the way felt
By the time we reached the ferry we were
m cutie a glow We camped In Paramount
Park a lovely spot replete with verdure
and mosquitoes We enjoyed the former
and The latter enjoyed us
Quelling riots was my speciality. however
A. 2 riot cueller my reputation was OK
cellsnt especially in my immediate family
Perhaps my warlike and ferocious appear
Ance had much TO do with my success
was rot as feshy then rs i am now,
end when arrayed In my shad-bellied coat
and my inverted flower pot hat with a
blue sausage pompon | was sight calcu.
l.tsd ,o iites- VI e blood NV figure was
such that ncar-sighted rioters had difficulty
II telling which was me and which was
the gun
Once when was queling a riot up the
State rude burly rioters came and gazed at
me when ! was on guard, and as they gazed
they came to realize that grin-visagod war
with all its horrors Was in their midst.
and that we're they to attempt To monkey
with me ! was liable at any moment 10
CIV havoc and -let slip the dogs Of war.
but ! never did