Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1906-06-22
MIKES GREAT SCHEME.
acw He Planned to Secure Easy Pleas
ure When Freed from Army
Discipline.

| NhlNdSO inter ONtdHt Mtlt AWAY >
talking about what they would do
when the war was over and they were
AZ home they would never, so help
them gracious march a single mile
They would let the other fellows do
the walking and they would ride. They
swOre by the great horn spoon that
they would never wear a uniform of
any sort, and they would never take
orders from any man. They would
| fight shy OF all organization and disci-
| pline and would do as they darned
| please for all the rest Of their lives
Michael Higgins, OF our company
went further than this. He knew
what he would do when he got home
lie would buy farm in the rolling
country and build him fine house
with beds or lounges in every blessed
room. lie would sleep whenever he
wanted to. He would hire bugler
and a drummer to come under his
window every morning TO play reyeille
Just as they would get a fair start
no would get out OF bed. open the win
dow, and say to their faces To the
diyil wild we, we blathern spalpeens.
Stop yer noise and get out OF this
quick. Then the drummer and the
Ougler would sneak away and Mike
would go back to bed and rejoice that
army days were over.
This was Mikes idea Of revenge on
those who had made a business Of
waking him up in the army. He
would take solid comfort in being
walked up that he might order the
| buglers and drummers to get out We
had a lieutenant who was almost as
bad as Mike. He declared time and
again that he would buy an island far
out in the Pacific, where he could
never by any chance see a soldier or Il
gun or hear shot fired He entered
the regular army in 1866, worked his
way to the rank of major. and was
wounded on San Juan hill in 1898.
Even the major general command
ing our division declared that when
peace was declared he would retire to
his old college town. seek the ap-
pointment OF president Of some uni
versity or college, and eschew poll
tics and military affairs But he was
elected governor Of his state before
he lett the army, was appointed a
member OF Grants first cabinet was
later appointed president and receiver
of great railroad, was elected to con
| grses, and did not become president OF
a law college until many years had
passed
Most OF the men who swore they
never would join any organization be-
! came members OF the c. A. K. and
kept alive their old comradship. Many
Of the men who declared they never
would march mile or carry a KNAPP
sack went afoot to Iowa. Kansas and
Nebraska with knapsacks on their
backs, In 1865 met scores Of them
travelling across the country sleeping
out of doors as they did in the army,
and too often foraging OF the country
as they did in war times. When
took the stage in Iowa found four
well-dressed, quiet fellows in the
choice seats, They apparently were
unaCquainted with each other, and had
little to say, rhey impressed me as
successful business men well up in the
ways Of the world,
The second night out We learned
that the hotel where we expected "a
spend the night had been burned down
and that the only other hotel in the
small town was more than full. When
we asked for accommodations the wor.
ried landlord said he had from four
TO eight people in every bedroom, that
he had given up the dining-room tC
four ladies', that his parlor was In
possession OF people sleeping on the
floor, and there wasn't place for us
Thereupon one OF my travelling friend.
said: What about the Office floor here
Has anyone rented that The land
lord said It was at our service, II W,
could sleep on the bare floor
First one and then another and an
other Of the travellers said as he ha,
spent four years in the army he coulc
sleep anywhere The fourth man said
The same here, and fell in with: e.
am just out of The service. Then
much to the surprise Of the landlord
the quintet Of soldiers spread news
papers on the floor, took blankets
out OF their packs, and were soor
settled comfortably for the night. Tn,
next morning each one declared tina
he had sworn that he would neve
do such thing as he had done tina
night, and that he had cut away from
. all army associations and habits. Eacl
felt that he had had enough OF rough
2 ing IT, but in the next two weeks VI
| Aid az much rOughinp ~ IN tho en,,o o.