Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-10

and exclusive set. will ask for reduction.
to the ranks.
After Trumpeters Sidney Cluxton.
Orange and Kelly had rendered that IA
ml!ar ballad entitled Assembly" the
non-com missoned officers formed in single
rank and entered upon a competitive drill
After many anxious moments SeFgt. NC
Dermott was declared the winner. he
was presented with a blue label. One of
the unsuccessful contestants who had be
come tangled up in the intricacies of left
face and right face suggested that the
competition be repeated again sarge
McDermott won. hotly pressed by Sergt
Richmond. Corp. NJ. R Smith, Corp. Bon
net and Private Friel. Mac" was out of
breath when he won. A drill book quiz
was held and the class dwindled until all
but McDermott had fed.
!: =
After the exercises, Capt. Char.es j. Fox
addressed the battery He said:
Men, because of the indiscretion of one
of the enlisted men of this command, great
publicity has been given to fraternal
and beneficial organization in the battery
called the Society of the Silver Pitcher.
Some of the temperance commands of
the National Guard have drawn from
these reports the-inference that this com
mand Is not battery of field artillery, but
a union of glass-blowers We know that
there Is not another command in the
District Guard so abstemious-so proof
against the allurements of liquid At
this point the address was interrupted by
calls for the ambulance to remove several
batterymen who had fallen in a faint.
Continuing, the captain said:
'"To prove to you that this command
can resist with heroic fOrtitudc those
temptations that beset the soldier VIII
tell you that ever since last camp there
have been at the Sign of the S lVer
Pitcher three kegs of refreshments that
have not been tdpDeU
The captain remarks were cut short
here, 1t is declared, by Sergt Grant Long S
hurried efforts to lock the door and shut
the windows. Three men were captured
while descending the fire-escape.
The next thing on the prog am was
saber drill by the officers. Lieuts. Nevi 8,
Clark and Lands formed in line before
Capt. Fox. At the command Draw
Saber," Capt. Fox directed Quartermaster
Sergt. Brandon to make a requisition for
nine new gas globes to replace those that
had fallen from the chandelier. The saher
drill was q beautiful spectacle and not
many persons were injured.
The drill of the officers was the leading
topic discussed at a meeting of the en-
listed mems club of the battery.
At the afternoon drill Friday, Hugh
Everett beat V.eet three games of
checkers. 49,, - -
The staff officers of the I'd Regiment
gave a smoker to the officers Of that or
ganizatfon last Friday evening. Adjt.
Gen Brett was made an honorary member
Of the officers association Of the I'd regl-
ment and responded with a speech point
ing out the disadvantages under which Of
ficers of the National Guard work and the
credit which is due them for the success
they have attained. He mentioned the
fact that the National Guard is the back
bone of the army. and to neglect it is to
bring about an unprepared state Of things
in time of war.
Maj. Simms spoke OF the officers asso-
citation and advised the attendance of all
officers at the meetings.
Lieut. Col. O'Brien suggested that off,
GERS be compelled to join the association
Immediately after being commissioned.