The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-05-17
MIKES GREAT SCHEME.
How He Planned 70 Secure Easy Pleas.
ure When Freed from Army
Discipline.

" " I" ."L -"# ".EH H-"
az home. They would never, 80 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 rhey 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 an the rest Of their lives.
Michael Higgins, Of our company.
went further than this. He knew
what he would do when be got home.
He would buy a farm I'm the rolling
country and build him a hne house
with beds OF lounges 10 every blessed
room. He would sleep whenever he
wanted 70. He would hire a bugler
and a drummer 70 come under his
window every morning 10 play reveille.
Just as they would get a fair start
he would get out of bed. open the win
dow. and say 20 their faces: " To the
diyil wild ye. ye blatherin' spalpeens.
Stop yer noise and get out OF this
AaANas AaA hAA vi AAaAAAHNA 44A AAN
bugler would sneak away and Nike
would go back 70 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 ia the army. He
would take solid comfort in being
walked up that he might order the
bugiers and drummers 10 get out We
had a lieutenant who was almost es
bad as Mike. lie declared time and
again that be would buy an island far
out in the Pacific, where he could
never by any chance see a soldier or a
gun or hear a shot fred He entered
the regular army in 1866. worked his
way TO the rank Of major, and RAJ
wounded on san Juan hill in 1888.
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
yersity or college. and cschew poll
tics and military affairs. But he was
elected governor Of hiss state before
he left the army. was appointed a
member OF Grants first cabinet. was
later appointed president and receiver
OF q great railroad. wal elected 10 SON
Erses. and did not become president OF
a law college until many years had
passed.
Most OF the men who swors they
never would Join any organization be-
came members OF the G.. A. r. and
kept alive their old comrBdship. Many
OF the men who declared they never
would march a mile or carry a KNAPP
sack e afOot 90 Iowa. Kansas and
Nebraska with ~kuapsacks on their
backs. IN 1865 ! met scores OF them
travelling across the country sleeping
out of doors as they did ia the army.
and toe often f0raRing OF the country
as they did In war times. When /
took the stage IN iowa ] found four
weil-dressed. quiet fellows in the
I choice seats. They apparently were
-unacquainted with each other. and had
little 70 say, rhey impressed me as
successful business men well up In the
ways o. the world
The second night cut we learned
that the hotel where We expected to
spend the night had been burned down.
and that the only other hotel In The
small town was more than fun. When
we asked Tor accommodations, the wor-
ried landlord said ne had from tour
90 eight people in every bedroom. that
ne had given up the diuinE-room 10
four ladies. hat hts parlor was Ia
possession 90 poople sleeping on the
floor, and there wasn't a place for as.
Tbereupon uuc 90 my travelling friends
said what about che Office noor hero7
HAS anyone rented thatg' The land
lord said u was az our service. % We
could sleep pa the bare floor.
FIRST one and then another and an
other OF the travellers said as he had
spent four years in the army ne could
sleep anywhere. The fourth man said
The same here, and ] fell In with; 4
am Just out OF che service Then.
much 60 the surprise OF the landlord.
the quintet OF soldiers spread news
papers on the floor. took blankets
out OF their packs. and were soon
settled comfortably Tor the night Th1
next morning each one declared ina,
ho had sworn that he would never
do such a thing as he had done that
night. and that he had cut away from
an army associations and habits Zach
felt that be had had enough OF rough
ing &C. but in the next two weeks Nd
did as much roushing IL to the square
inch rs We ever did In the army.
zone night an old farmer said We
might sleep IN his barn Il we wouldn',
smoke, l said az once that I had had
the honor OF sleeping In Col ReedyN.
barn down az Reedyvillo, Tenn. and
the farmer. holding u his hand. SAID.
"By hockey. 90 did / but nay barn Is
better than Reedys was az that time
because % is cleaner and has more
hay ia q. aud D. won't be necessary 81
sleep on your rifles Looking 40 thg