The National tribune., 1904-05-12

4 Unique 0rgani1asion In the District Of
oolVm0iA

- O01Q00 O0R80189ea00 In the O1oS1IC6 Oh
Columbia.
TIE recent ovation to Ma. Gen. Psesr
J. Osterhaus By the vsterans Of the Die
hence unique organization in the city OF
Washington. made up OF the veterans resi-
dent at the National Capital. the aim of
which 10 to bring them together for any
desired purpose outside the lines Of their
Posts. the Loyal Legion. or any other reg
ular association. The veterans assemble
az In Committee Of the Whole. and a jolly
good time Is the order of the day. The
motto Of the association IL "Ad Majorem
Americanam Gloriam," and the following
is the explanation given Of the name:
ORIGIN OF THE wHIP-PooR-wTLLs.
In the days Of long ago-in the days
when the now dead and gone 10Th century
was only becoming eligible under Order
Is for a quarter pension for age, and we
were making a business of hunting trou-
bic and Johnnies, among our most constant
companions were the Whip-poor-wills.
1t is true that we had other even more
get rid of except by boiling our clothes,
but we do not mention them now in polite
society. The Whip-poor-will was as GER
tain to come around as reveille and tattoo,
and he had more mouth than q brigade
wagon master. He had heap to say
about everything.
When on picket at midnight we saw
rebels 10 feet high advancing on us with
guns as long as a fence rail, the watchful
Whip-poor- voiced our worst fears
When slipping unobtrusively back to
camp with the pride of some loyal South
erners pig-pen, the Whip-poor-will yelled
at every step what the Colonel would do
to us if he caught us, which he probably
did.
When swapping lies around the camp
fire, the Whip-poor- derisive COM
ments sifted in after each story.
When coming back dejectedly from see
ing the mail sorted at the Chaplain's tent.
with no letter from our best girl the
Whip-poor-will sang in our ears that we
were freckled. and big footed. and not
even in the alsO-ran class with that kind
of a girl.
When the Orderly Sergeant trampled on
our finest feelings, and cried aloud that
We We're not worth the salt in our hard
tack, the Whip-poor-will Knocked us for
leaving a comfortable home. to carry part
of the Springfield arsenal and bag Of con-
demned groceries over muddy roads for
$13 month.
But when, after a fight was won, and
we lay down in proud content on the State
of Virginia for a bedstead, and the star
gemmed sky for a coverlet. the Whip-poor
will cooed that We were the bravest boys
that ever lived, and that our relations
would be mighty proud of us when they
knew all about it.
So the Whip-poor- was everlastingly
butting In. The loud trill of his bazoo was
the certain chorus to everything we said,
and mingled with every thought and emo
ton. His persistent notes chorded alike
with our hopes and our fears. our joys and
our sorrows. He joined in with the fierce
rebel yell of the assault, and the rolling
ut uIn III hpsO
and cheerful when we were happy, dismal
when we were defeated and respondent
He was the last thing heard after taps"
at night; and the first thing before reveille
in the morning. His voice was the same
in Virginia as in Kentucky. 1t changed
not when we marched from Mississippi to
Georgia and the Carolinas.
Besides this long and intimate associa-
ton with the memories Of the days when
we went soldering. there are other rea-
sons for this selection of the Whip-poor-
will as the emblem of our Society.
The Whip-poor-will is strictly nocturnal
bird. He is at his best when the evening
shadows fall. Audubon says that he has
the most mouth of any known bird. His
French name is "Wind-swallower," which
seems to indicate his fitness for consump-
ton of after-dinner speeches. He is so
impartial minded that he beats even the
cunning politicians, and sits lengthwise of
the fence.
Therefore. We who in the period in our
country's history between the firing of the
fateful gun on Fort Sumter and the
memorable meeting under the Appomattox
apple tree, roasted in the same coop with
the Whip-poor-will. and frequently dis
puted with him the possession of the ton
rail. have. so to speak. adopted as our
State flower" THE WHIPPOOR-WILL
The Commander of the Department of the
Potomac a nffipin hn (thiof VyhsD
will. and roosts on the top rail at every
meeting. The recent meeting of the Whip
poor-wills in honor of Gen. Osterhaus was
by universal consent pronounced one of the
most enjoyable ever held in the city OF
Washington. The speeches were all ex-
ceedingly fine, and while the proceedings
were entirely free and easy. with unlimited
fun. everything was on high plane of
dignity. Gen. Chas. HI. GrosvernOr, of
Ohio, made speech full of wit and gen
ulne sOldierly sentiment in extending the
welcome of the Whip-poor-wils to Gen
Osterhaus. Representative Bartholdt, who
was introduced as representing that mag
Capt. Lyons assistance and saved the St
Louis Arsenal and the State of Missouri.
pleased his hearers so much by his speech
that he was by reclamation elected a per-
manent member of the society
The speeches of Representatives Lacey
(lowa), Calderhead (Kan). Gardner
lIich.), Gibson (Tenn). Hon. 7. T..
Dubois, State Department Gen. Cyrus
Bussey, Commissioner Ware, Capt. III. A.
Castle, Judge L. L. Thomas. and Comrade
T. H. Mckee were all bright, Srispy. and
and full of genuine humor.
Every one was limited to five minutes. but
they made those five minutes scintillant
with lofty sentiments and pure fun. Gen.
Osterhaus surprised every ore by his eIo-
quence and high, patriotic feeling.