Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
SOLDIER WOOS PEACE
Veteran Gen. Drum Lives in
Rural Quiet.
FOUGHT IN MANY WARS
At 83 Years of Age Seek Happiness
Ill Nature.
BEGAN CAREER Is 4 PRIVATE
Bravery in Mexican War Brought
Advancement-TaIk Of Cam
paigns and Country Life.

ST / had but one PRAYER that might
reach the ear OF the Almighty and find ia
vor in His heart it would be that there
might be no more war.
This sentiment was uttered by Gen.
Richard Coulter Drum, who n 1889 re-
tired from life OF great activity as ad-
jutant general OF the United States Army
after a wonderful and honorable career
OF fo-ty-three years TO the peaceful Sc
renity of his country home in Montgom-
cry county. Md, five miles from the Ma
tiohal capital on the Washington and
Electric railway There, surrounded by
three generations of those who love him
best on earth. he will enjoy his eighty
third birthday Thursday May - 1908
NO man." continued Gen. Drum. who
has seen real war wants any more of it.
Yet. l suppose. if my country wanted me,
old as am, l would cheerfulIy go to the
front to defend her honor.
But love peace. Here. in this blessed
country. among the growing grass. the
trees and the flowers | am learning the
lesson of life as I never knew i before.
! am learning how tc be good neighbor,
4 find. too, that the closer enc gets to
old Mother Nature the better and happier
man he is.
Ap6u " 3II1Or uTuS aTIn6I.
About three years before his retire
ment Gen. Drum purchased his present
country home OF about H.. acres, for a
health-giviag homo FOR my little ones, :
he said. referring % his grandchildren.
Il didn't know 4 thing about farming,
he declared, but have picked up great
deal"
After telling Of various experiences he
had "a 10
how an officer ne had sent. when he was
adjutant general. 10 lntiin t. witness the
military maneuvcrs, had brought him
back unique present cons sting OF box
of seeds Of plants and trees Indigenous to
that country. From some Of the seeds
grew tree which is still ii existence as
the result of a sprout from the roots
after the parent stem had been cut down
That tree has Afforded me much in
terest." he said When 1t had grown
10 some size and the foliage quite
abundant II suddenly brcame filled with
caterpilars of a kind that have never
seen before, long. fat, beautifully marked
insects. With my little grandchildren
used 10 go out ana knock them off with
a stick
One day saw another insect. a great
peculiar looking thing with long legs !
was a bout 10 kill i; too. when one Of the
ht.le ones who has a habit Of compar-
ing insects 10 animals III a mcnagerie.
said. No, no, grandpa. rot that; he
Our LippopotamGS And s0.' aGded the
general, Il did not Kill il.
But judge my surprise when tie next
morning | found this iasecl or beast
whatever ii was had completely freed
the tree Ct tine caterrillars. The tree
ras af'erwasd cut down. but sprouted
again from tie root. | am watching il
closely - Sc if this peculiar breed of
catcrpillars appears again Not another
tree nay place had one like H.
Thus. you see. - coHt'aUcd Il am
learning, too. That tErre are good insects
and bad ones II is wonderful 10 study
insect life.
81
= o"e ne1oe1 VI history.
The general goes TO bed with the
chickens ana i i'm u,,r .h 49,, -
go ~ !; -
- 'iet-D mapping
OUT lot !.-Hsei' every "lHte' a course of
reading Biography aid history are his
favorite subjects
..E,.ar,. .,,sr;c., c.,.t. 49,, -,
-, -. ''.e
.'is ies .-e 80 se' - 'Ee roman
republic SAID tho general He will
see in it the likeness Of our own history.