Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-24
in Washington. It used to be fashionable
for the boys to sing out:
Bully marine, stuffed with clover,
When he dies he dies all over,

But 1t isn't fashionable now: look at the
recent wars. There was a time: when sail
ors' aboard ships called the small detach-
ments or marines 'sogers,' and so they are
soldiers. every one T. m up in the history
of American marines. I can see them dur
ing the war with Mexico. They always did
officers In the old days from Annapolis or
West Point, and at the time speak OF had
little knowledge of army evolution. or
course, though, as we are all very OLD, we
must not forget that there was time IN
the war of 1914 when a mere company of
marines repulsed three times the redcoats
of the British trying to get Into Washing
ton, and were forced to retire only by over
whelming numbers. Why, / can remember
the time when bills were presented In Con-
gress to abolish the corps. 1t wouldn't do
now" remarked the old fellow, VINO was
getting warmer as he delivered his en-
comium. There ought to be monument
here In this city, of the marine standing
on a big pedestal, and that's my opinion,
he declared.
A Boyish Prank Recalled.
Any little contention on this point was
averted by the general applause aided by a
humorous story told by the aged man who
plumes himself on having served as a
major in Shelby's cavalry during the war.
when I was boy, about half century
ago." he said, there was meetin' house
for colored folks near where lived in Ala
Methodists and on the following Sunday
by the Baptists, and it was a good-sized
edifice The Methodist parson, vigorous
old man named Ben Parker, was In the
habit in his sermons of pouring hot shot
into the sinners in the tabernacle. He
held over them constantly the dangers OF
Satan's sudden appearance among them,
horns, hide, tail and all. Stand from under
there, you Sinners he would shout at them,
and picture so vehemently the dangers con-
fronting the congregation that half the
time they were all, men, women and chill
dren, half scared to death One day two
boys with myself, all of us too big to be
guilty of such doings, agreed to produce
scare greater than the preacher had, so
we hid ourselves In a loft of the church
armed with tin dippersEin which we had
some powder well moistened with water
and one with a lot of powdered sulphur.
On that evening the preacher was wilder
than ever, He haN theEsinners fairly con-
vulsed with terrok Clare yer skirts. We
sinful wretches,' Re sh6ated in his stem
eyeballs is rolliR and his pitchfork is
ready to gather you all in. Sing your
songs or yer gone. he yelled. I kin smell
sulphur and birthstone now and just then
one of US young -rascafs touched off the
powder and started the. sulphur burning.
You can imagine the result.
Many of the poor folks fell on their
knees and shouted for mercy, but old Ben
Parker didn't turn hair. He had the sand
of a general in his craw. Stan back from
dar, Satan, you old brack sinner he
shouted. Go for him, brethren he Shrek
ed, and thus sfterka while he Gained his
sinners. and three devils, in the person of
three boys who deserved whipping, were
discovered and ousted. The only result was
that the incident somewhat broke UP the
confidence of the congregation in the
preacher when thereafter he predicted the
dangers of 4 visit from his satanic mai
esty."
'aThat reminds me-" said Monsieur Gieger,
formerly of the confederate army.
No. Gieger, 1t doesn't remind you of a
thing" said the storekeeper. You're put
ting in your oar too late" and he glanced
at the ancient timepiece on the wall. Tus-
carora awoke from his nap, also looked at
the horclogue and picked up the shutters.
Soon the seance for that evening was
ended.