davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15
First Uniforms Of GRAY.

Gen. Robert E. Lee was the first
man who discovered that all armies
were improperly uniformed" observ-
ed a we'll known army officer, "and he
was so strongly convinced that he
was right that he abolished the blue
uniform worn by the cadets at West
Point, and substituted the gray
which has been worn ever since in its
place.
Gen. Lee was in command of the
military academy at West Point some
years before the civil war, and 1t
was there he put his ideas and re
forms into operation He was. accord.
ing to the records, the first officer
In any army who favored inconspicu-
gus uniforms. The khakis, drab and
blue. which are universally used by
the armies of the world today as
campaign uniforms, are the direct
result of his original thought and con
sideration. Other officers may have
thought along the same lines with
him, but he was the first to start the
reform. OF course, he met with VIC
lent opposition. for soldier people. as
a rule, are in favor of as much dis.
play as possible, but he never let m
The first organization that adont.
ed his suggestion was the lannon's
Seventh regiment of New York citv
and which has worn gray since. fol.
lowed soon by the equally famous
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

not the first decent thing to wear to
| such place"
Tut TUT" said Battersleipb
mere speaks the coxcombry of
youth. You're able to pull out your
blue uniform, ! know, an b'gad! the
uniform Of an officer is full dress the
world overt"
FRANKLIN grinned amiably. Thank
you for the suggestion about the uni
form, at least" he said. Now. II we
can fix you up as we'll"
BatteTsleigh came and stood before
Rim, waving long forefnger.
Listen to me, Ned" he began, IAN
III ray down to We few of the finn
damental rules of conduct and ap-
par1.
"A gintleman never lies: a gintla-
man never uses unseemly haste; a
glntleman Is always ready for love
and ready for WARRIOR, Ned. nv how
without love and war we'd miss fine
only two joys of life. Thereto. a gin.
tleman must shoot, fence, ride. dance
and do amy of 'em like a gintIeman
But If We found yeself bit low in Kit
as Batty is this day, what would We
say, Ned, me boy. was the first salient
what is the first essential in the
dress of a gintleman. me boy?"
Linen" said Franklin, "or is n
gloves9'
Ned" said Battersleigh, solemnly.
laying hand upon his shoulder
white, white, me boy, is the first
color of a gintlemanl White, to show
the integrity of his honor and the
claneness of his merit roll. A touch
OF white at neck and wrist amy gin.
ueman must show who presints him.
self at ball"
But now, howl"
Grasping his companion by the
arm. Battersleigh stepped outside the
house, and strobe off with long stems
across the prairie. Come" he said
Franklin followed for a quarter of a
mile. Then, bending his gaze in the
direction of the march, he saw afar
huttering like a signal of distress in
the engulfng sea about. a little whin.
ping flag of white, which was upheld
by the gaunt hand of a ragged sage
bush. This, as he drew near. he dis
covered to be portion of an old flour
sack, washed clean and left bleaching
In the sun and wind
Battersleigh made dramatic an
proaeh. "There!" said he, pointing
with triumphant dignity to the flu ter.
ing rag.
Yes, see" said Franklin. "but
what do you want OF this piece OF
sack?"
Sack" cried Battersleigh, Offend
ed. Sack say you, but I sav
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Fifth regiment of Baltimore. Mary.
land, national guard Others soon
fell into line. Only recently, in study.
ing over the reports on this subject
ON file in the war department at
Washington | ran across the reports
of the then Major Lee. His only
fault in the matter. like those of all
pioneers, AS that he was fifty years
ahead OF i' times, which always had
been, an | presume, always will be,
an unparIonahle sin.
I'm these reports Major Lee not
only urged the abolition of conspicu.
GUS uniforms for campaigns, but he
went even further in recommending
that arms, accoutrements, cannon and
all the thir-ss used in the business
of war shol-d be without polish or
glisten. His idea has also been uni,
versally adopted by all the armies OF
the world, and to-day 1t would be a
violation of all rules for soldier in
a campaign to have anything about
MIN, even to button on his cloth
Ing, which has even the slightest pol,
ish or even susceptible of polish.
For play soldiers and dress par
AIDES fancy colors. polish and glisten
VIII do well enough, but for cam,
paigns it is a thing of the past. Had
the armies of Europe discovered this
years before they did their lists of
killed and wounded would have been
considerably less than what they
were.
"Nine-tenths of the people of the
north and south think that gray had
some connection with the south on it's
own account, never dreaming that
gray was first worn in the north by
the cadets of West Point, where 1t
Is still used as a dress uniform, and
by the leading military organizations
OF the north, notably in New York
and Boston. General Lee, when
called upon to organize the army of
the south, put into practical operation
the ideas he had formed long before
he had even dreamed of the civil
war.
This explains also the reason why
he was less strict in having the sol
diers of the confederate army wear
their pretty clothes during the war.
He had found out by his study and
observation that the less show and
display meant the less casualties, and
he sought the latter. The campaign
uniform of to-day the world over was
his ideal, and he did all he could to
carry it into effect" New Orleans
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15
CHAPTER plI.-contInued.

One morning Batterslelgh was at
work at his little table, engaged, as
he later explained, upon the compost
ton of letter to the London Times.
descriptive of the agrarian situation
In the United States of America.
when he was interrupted by a knock
at his door
Come in, come in, Ned, my boy"
ne exclaimed as he threw open the
door and recognized his visitor.
What's the news this mornin?''
"News?" said Franklin gaily. hold
ing his hands behind his back. "Ive
news that you can't guess-good
news"
He held up small bag before Bat
tersleigh's face.
Its not potatoes, Ned?" said Bat
tersleigh in an awed tone of voice.
Franklin laughed.
mo better than that" he said.
Battersleigh approached his face to
the bag and snuffed at ii once. twice.
thrice, as though his senses needed
confirmation. He Strengthened up and
looked Franklin in the face.
Ned" said he, his voice sinking
almost to a whisper, 'its-it's ap-
ples!"
Right" said Franklin. And isn't
that news?"
THE best that could be. and the
hardest to believe" said Battersleigh.
"Where'd you get them, and how"
Never mind that" answered Frank
lin. Tell me. do you know how to
make pier"
Ned" said Battersleigh, looking az
him with an injured air, do you sup
pose I've campaigned all my life and
not learned the simplest form of
cookin'? Pie, indeed, is it?"
We'll" said Franklin, you take
some risks, but Wen chance 1t. Go
ahead"
Battersleigh busted himself about
the little box which made his cup
board and soon had out what he called
his "ingraydeyints."
"Of course, we've to take little
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

-FOUR" he said, that's for the osseous
structure, 30 to speak. Ye've to add
little grease of some sort, lard or
butter, an we've .nayther; the bacon
fatll do, methinks. OF course there's
the bakin' powder. And, lastly, max
In, as | may say, the roundin' out of
the muscular and adipose tissue of
the crayture, as the sowl OF the pie
we must have the apples. Now, thin,
over the top of the whole l sprid this
thin blanket of dough, thus. And now
| dint in the shircumference with me
thumb, the same as July Trelawney
did in the Ould Tinth. And there ye
are, done, me pie, an may God have
mercy on your sowl!-Ned, build up
the fire."
They sat at the side of the little
stove somewhat anxiously waiting for
the result of Battersleigh's labors.
Every once in a while Battersleigh
opened the oven door and peered in.
AS they sat for moment silent
there came the sound of approaching
hoof-beats, and presently the cracking
and popping of the feet of galloping
horse fell into a duller crunch on
the hard ground before the door, and
a loud voiDe called out, "Whoa-hope,
Bronchl Hello, in the housed"
Come IN, Curly" cried Batter
sleigh. come in. We've business of
Importance this mornin'."
Curly sat down on the edge OF the
bed, under whose blanket the newspa-
pers ratified to the touch Seems
like you all mighty busy this morn
in >" said he.
Yes" said Franklin You cant
guess what we're cooking"
No; what?"
pie"
Go longl"
Yes, sir, pie" said Franklin firmly.
Curly leaned back on the bed upon
his elbow, respectful but very incred-
ulous. Was you sayin' I'm in on this
here pie?"
Certainly you are. You wait. tn
be done now pretty soon," said Frank
lin.
IF ye can poke a straw into thin,
they're done" said Battersieigh orac-
ularly Curly, hand me the broom"
Curly passed over the broom, and
the two, with anxiety not unmixed
with cynicism, watched Battersligh
as he made several Intellectual at
tempts 10 penetrate the armor of the
pie
Stop iookin' at me like a brace of
evil-minded hyenias," protested Bat
terslsigh. "Yed make the devil him-
self nervous, a-regardin' one so like
object O suspicion Mind va, I'm
soin' to take it out"
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

The others watched him eagerly as
be removed the hot tin from the oven
and set 1t upon the bare table. Curly
drew his clasp knife from his pocket
and cut into the portion assigned 10
him. Franklin was reserved, but Cur
ly attained enthusiasm at the second
bite
"Rile Irish," said he, I'm not so
sure you're such hi of military
man. but as cook you're a burnin
success. You kin sign with our outfit
to-morrer If you want to-"
The PIE, startling as it was In some
regards, did not long survive the de-
termined assault made upon it. Curly
wiped his knife on the leg OF his
chaps" and his mouth on the back
of his hands.
But say, fellers," he said, Il plumb
forgot what / come over here for.
They'se goin to be dance over to
town, an come to tell you about it.
O. course you'll come"
What sort of dance can n be,
man?7 said Battersleigh.
Why. plumb dandy dance; reg
lar high steppin' outfit; mucha baille;
best thing ever was in this settle
ment."
I'm curious to know where the
ladies' win come FROM" said Frank
lin.
Don't you worry" rejoined Curly.
"They's plenty o. women-folks."
And when does this all happen,
Curly, boy?" asked Battersleigh.
Why. night after to-morrer night,
to the big stone hotel. They're going
to cleap out the dinin' room for us.
Three Miggers, two fddlers, an a
'cordion-oh wen have music all
right! You'll be over, of course?"
THAT we will, me boy" responded
Battersisigh. Man, Wen be the
first"
Nov, as TO a ball, Battersleigh,"
We'll then, so long. fellers," said
Curly. II got to be movin' along
little. See you ct the dance, sure"
said Franklin, argumentatively, when
they were alone, how can go? I've
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15
Wall OF THE PESsIMIsT.
Change Of Belief Result of Visit to ths
Dentist


BAIL" snorted my friend the Optim.
list, what's love but the imbecfIe de.
sire OF some lunatic to spend So on a
girl Tor every dollar he spends on
himself? Don't talk to me OF such
ioiocy!
And, friendship. too" he growled.
What's 1t but man scheming to
have some place where he can borrow
money without paying interest on the
lean? This talk about friendship
gives me a severe shock.
And truth and itegrity," he went on.
growing more excited. There's loads
and loads of truth and integrity scat.
tered asound, amt there? Read the
papers, look at our courts, observe the
legislatures, glance at congress din
business with any man, and figure up
now much truth and integrity you've
hunted into.
And honor" continued the onti.
mist, sneering until his nose looked
IKE section OF copper sheathlng-
Honor? What is it? Wherein Won
ind it? Have you ever seen a sneci.
men OF II in man, woman or child? Go
tax metaphysics to an ass, but don't
talk about honor to me-"
had always found the Optimist's
cheerful outlook upon things in gem
eral SO hopeful and rosy that I was
aghast at these morbid sentiments
SO looked imploringly at his wife for
some explanation.
oh, you mustn't mind John TO-
nlgnt' she responded. THE dentist
put wedge between two of his teeth
today philadelphia Ledger
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Recollections sometimes go by con-
trasts.
Christmas being a season of abund-
ance and good cheer, of happy greet
ings and the exchange of tokens of
affection, | am reminded of the
Christmas of 1S63-of a cherries,
anxious Christmas of bareback, beans
and coffee.
The shelter was a tent, the weather
was bitter cold, the place Chattanoo-
ga, the winter headquarters of the
Union army. l was a second lieuten-
ant in command of a company. Our
army was being reorganized prepare
tory to an advance upon Atlanta.
We had about recovered from
Chickamauga, Lookout mountain and
Missionary ridge, and had driven
Bragg back. j. c. Johnson had taken
command. Grant had been trans
ferred to the army of the Potomac.
Supplies were scarce and it was a
period of great anxiety to all who
took broad view of the military sit
uation.
| remember Christmas day. don't
know why the rest of the Christmases
of the war period are not impressed
on my recollection; perhaps it was
because of the unusual absence of ak
that goes to make the day and season
one of joy and of thanksgiving. There
was no deviation from the routine TO
mark the day. The rations were the
same old beans, the same hard tack
and pork, and | don't remember that
anybody got or gave a present. It
was a dark gray Christmas-an excel
lent background for more CHEEKY ones
which were to follow Senator For.
aker of Ohio.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

s.
IN the long, long nights of winter.
When the frost H. al the door
When the wind cries round the easement.
Summer comes no more
Memory smiling. brings us treasure
From her store.
When the lonely storm, grown wilder,
Shrieks its rune OF death and fate
When misfortune's footsteps hnger
Near the close barr ed gate
Hope, beside the hearths one nestled
Whispers. Wait"
over road and doorway drifted
Heaps the star dust of the snow,
Yet we reck not--since beside US,
In the firelight,s glow,
Leaps the deep-eyed Love that all men
Fain would know
Elizabeth Roberts Macdonald in New
Orleans Times Democrat.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15
CHAPTER Kill.



The wife of the section boss sat In
conscious dignity, as became leader
of society. Below her in order of
station came Nora, the head waiter,
and the red-headed waiter girl, and
the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of
the new grocery man. These sat
silent and unhappy at one part of the
long row of chairs that lined the side
of the hall. Opposite to them, equally
silent and equally unhappy, sat lit
tie row of men.
1t was the beginning OF the ball.
These were the first arrivals. At
the head of the hall, far off, sat three
musicians, negroes alleged to play
violins and an accordion, and by that
After vast hiatus the door at the
main entrance was pulled cautiously
open, little at a time. Evidently
some one was looking in. AT length
the door opened and two figures en-
tered affrightedly, those of Hank Pc
tersop, neighboring rancher, and
his wife. Hank, having forthwith de-
coyed to the row of men sitting silent
against the wall, he duly reached that
harbor and sank down, wiping his
face and passing his hand across his
mouth uncertainty
The door opened again and yet
again. Two or three engineers, a rod
man, leveler and an axeman came in,
near behind them more cattlemen.
From among the guests of the hotel
several came, and presently the clerk
of the hotel himself. The line of men
grew steadily, but the body upon the
opposite side of the room remained
constant, immobile, and unchanged
Say. Curly" whispered Del Hick-
man hoarsely to his neighbor, "ef
somethin' don't turn loose right soon
I'm due to die right here. I'm thirsti-
er'n If this here floor was the Staked
Plains"
Same here" ss&a Curly in a NUT
tered undertone. But | reckon we're
here till the round-up's made When
she do set loose, you watch me rope
that littlest waiter girl. She taken
my eye, fer shore"
sam, the driver was sitting rapts
staring mutely across the great gulf
fixed between him and Nora, the head
waiter. AS she sat, the light glinting
upon her glasses, her chin well up.
held. her whole attitude austere and
commanding, Sam felt his courage
sink lower and lower, until he be.
came abject and abased Fascinated
wnone the less, he gazed, until Curly
poked him sharply and remarked
Which 'un you goin' to make a
break fer, SAM"
II d-d-don't know" said Sam,
startled and disturbed.
Reckon you'd like to mingle some
with Nory, hey?"
"W-w-w-well---" began Sam. de.
fensively.
But she don't see 1t that way.
Not In a hundred. Why, she'll be
dancih with Cap Franklin, or Batty,
er some folks that's more In her line,
you see Why in hi don't you pick
out somebody more In yer own bunch,
lfke?" Curly was meaning to be only
judicial, but he was cruel. Sam col.
iapsed and sat speechless. He hrf
long felt that hts ambition was pre-
sumption.
Ito be continued \
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

whitel' A strip CT this al ne neck
and at me wrist: me hat, an me
saber and me ridin' whip-I r-ride up
to the dure. | dismount. | throw me
rein to the man. inter the hall and
place me hat and gloves in order as
they should be. | appear--Batter-
sleigh, gintleman, appears. standin'
In the dure, the eyes of all upon him.
bow, salutin', standsn' there, alone.
short on allowance. but nate and
with me own silfrespect. Batters-
leigh, bit low In kit and in allow
ance, with white at neck and wrist,
bows, and ne says, Ladies and gin
tlemen, Bfttersleigh is here!'"
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15
Lunatic's Biq Pension

An accrued pension of s9.34S in n
lump sum, together with payments of
$50 month, has just been awarded
by Pension Commissioner Warner TO
an old soldier of the civil war. who
is a patient in the government hos.
pital for the insane here, SAYS the
New York Tribune 1t is the largest
pension claim settled by the new com
missioner since he has been in office
The sum has been accommodating for
many years, the soldier himself. on
account Of his unbalanced mental
condition, not being aware that he
was entitled to a pension. 1t was
brought to the attention of the pen-
sion authorities by the superintend-
ent of the insane asylum.
The pension was allowed on the
ground that the soldier, who fought
in the Twenty-first United States in.
fantry, contracted insanity in the ser.
vices of the United States. The I'M
usual thing about this pension case is
that the money allowed for the claim
is simply transferred by one depart
ment of the government to another
The pensioner gets no special bene-
fit out Of his new-found fortune, as It
goes to pay the expenses for his main.
tenance ever since he lost his mind
The additional fund. which is being
paid in monthly installments, how.
ever, will be sufficient to give him add
ed comforts. The unfortunate mans
is such that he will not be
able to realize the sudden good for
tune that has been thrust on him.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Instead of blaming Mrs Jack Gardi-
ner for exporting the Giorgione paint
ing Italy should be thankful that the
sprightly lady did not think to take
away the Coliseum or the leaning tow.
er Of Pisa.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Mr.. Carnegie, it is said, will write
the story of his life. 1t ought to con-
tain mighty interesting reading, and
it will be the book of the century
If it win only tell how he got it and
make the directions clear
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Children are disappearing from the
stage, says the Illinois State factory
inspector; and not only the humani-
tartan but the plain theater goer will
heave a sigh of relief.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

At a young women's home in Phila-
delphia it has been decided that girls
who have passed the age of S5 are not
eligible for admission. This will not,
however, be likely to upset the old
theory that woman is as young as
she looks.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Sir Purdon Clarke declares that
the works of the foremost artists
should be kept together and not scat
cred, as some requests make neces-
sary. Remember this when you come
to make your will.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Secretary Taft is getting down to
fighting weight, having reduced from
three hundred odd to two hundred and
something. But the powers have
been officially notified that this has
no reference to the Moroccan situa-
ton.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

IN Philadelphia, according to DR..
Charlotte Abbey, they own to so
ciety women" and those of the mid
die class" Still. geographically. Phil
adelphia is part of the republic
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

A Pittsburg doctor has tasted for
thirty-five days, and he expects to go
twenty-five more without food. He
must be in need of more elastic
currency.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

A Canadian critic says that Mr..
Henry James, who has been finding
fault with American common speech,
is dogmatist. That's kinder than
calling him curmudgeon.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Prof Chamberlain at Clark univer.
sity figures out that women have
more ability than men. But why fig
ure? The wise man has always taken
that for granted.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

For sale or to rent; A large stock
OF New Years resolutions in good con-
dition, hardly used at all. Reason for
selling, present owner has no further
need of them. Apply almost any
where.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Miss Grigsby has not as yet declar-
ed her intention of going on the stage.
Isn't she entitled to a vote of con-
fidence or something?
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Santo Domingo lost five generals in
one battle. This would cripple an
ordinary country, but down there
every man is born general.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15
Commerce OF United kiroa,,,

The United Kingdom has inc,eagss
It's export trade about IA per cent
since 1877 It's population has in
creased go per cent in the same time
i exported to the United state ana
Germany s58o,OOO,OO0 worth a goods
IN 1872 and only 1866 100000 In isOs
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Rojestvensky is explaining, but he
has not thus far been able to make
it appear that Japan won on tech
nicahty.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

international complications are to
be regretted, but they are invaluable
in giving regulations to towns like
Portsmouth and Algeciras.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Congressman Longworth plays the
violin. but as he never does 1t In pub
lie this should not be laid up against
him.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

President Castro didn't invite the
French minister to his party, and the
minister declares Castro is biting his
thumbs at France. Bring on a war;
ship.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

1t is easy enough to attain national
prominence nowadays. All that you
have to do is to swear by the nine
gods of war, or something similar.
The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-03-15

Before aerial navigation becomes
one of the popular amusements of the
day it will be necessary for somebody
to come to the front with an accident
less airship.