Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-01-25
A Faculty For Detail
toriMnal.l


Colonel Mark Murdock prided him
self on his attention to detail Atten-
ton to detail is certainly a good trait
in a commander, but where he permits
his attentions to ~inte4fere with system
and tile good vork of his, subordinates
he makes trouble for them and him
self. Colonel Murdock antagonized
them. If his quarsermaster bought a
lot of blankets he was sure to learn
sooner or later that his commander
knew more about blankets than the
manufacturer. If the commissary
bought coffee the colonel would drink
n cup of it and was .sure to find some.
thing the matter with ii. Besides, no
one could tell when he would inspect
the mems mess and, tasting the food,
condemn every article on the table.
One day while Theodore Drake, cap
tain and commissary, was quietly
smoking his after dinner cigar the
coloners orderly appeared with a per-
emptory order for him to report in
person Immediately at the mess of the
enlisted men.
whats he got on to now?' NUT
tered Drake, snatching up his sword
and buckling it on as he hurried away
to the mess. Il wish TO heaven he'd
buy something himself and get sold on
spoiled meat"
The commissary found his colonel in
a high state of military severity.
Captain Drake, what do you mean
by feeding my men such stuff as this?'
He held a plate of pudding in his
hand, which he was tasting and smell.
ing and grinding in his fingers.
Its made of as good meal as l
could find, colonel replied the captain,
biting his lip to prevent adding. you
old fool!''
meal! Do you mean to tell me that
buildings made of meal? More likely
from the refuse of SOME distilicry.
Why don't you give 'em an india rub
Der pudding and. be done with til"
Perhaps the cook'
1.-The cooks ali right. I've eaten his
cooking at my own mess often. It's
the material. I'll prove what / say by
sending him a barrel of meal Of my
w selection. Have a pudding made
Of it for tolnorrow's dinner. I'll be
here to inspect 1t. .s,s
With that the colonel turned on his
heel and went away, congratulating
himself that he had won the hearts of
his men by showing zeal in their in
terest. The unmilitary part he had
played in bringing discredit on an Off
Ger did not especially trouble him.
The next day he allowed thirty min
utes after dinner call. then strutted
across the parade to the mems mess.
Drake was there. The pudding vas
being served. Those who had their
pudding before them sal silent, but
with a frown on each face. Those who
were being served tasted the dish, took
but one mouthful. which they elected
ON their plates, then sat in an ominous
silence like the others. Soon after
their commander entered each and
every man sat with a plate of pudding
before him, which he left untouched.
The colonel was, astonished.
"Give me n plate of it," he ordered.
A plate of pudding was handed him.
He took a large spoonful and, like the
men, Immediately elected it.
''What's this?" he cried to Drake.
"Pudding made of the material you
sent the cook, colonel" replied the COM
missary respectfully.
material I sent the cook?' inquired
the astonished commander.
eyes, sir. A barrel of meal was sent
by your order to the cook this morning.
He sent to me to know what it had
been sent him for. 1 replied that you
had ordered that a pudding be made
of 1t for the mems mess today. He
sent word back that he didn't think it
would do for pudding, to which I re-
piled that in the army orders were to
be obeyed without question as well by
cooks as any n else"
The colonel stood with the plate In
his hand and a puzzled expression OH
his face.
"Who brought the barrel?" be asked.
1.-THE post teamster."
"Send for him"
An orderly went for the teamster,
who reported hurriedly.
"Did you haul the barrel you were
told to take from the shed in the real
| of my quarters to the cook?' asked the
colonel.
eyes, sir"
(which shed?"
"The one in which the bricks are
piled, SIR"
The faces Of the men sitting at the
table were turned with interest to their
commander. The commissary stood
looking at him with IN imperturbable
expression he had certainly not worn
t~wenty-four hours before. A color sui
fused the colonels face, deepening as
the truth dawned upon him. Then turn
ing contemptuously TO the teamster.
before whom rose a vision Of real ana
imaginary military punishment, he
snapped:
"You stupid ass! You took a barrel
Of cement.
Turning quickly OF his heel. he got