Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-25
BY Major B. w. Atkinson. u. S. A.
WHY does a soldier,
w when saluting a

WTeu SetluIlllS
superior, raise his hand
to his head covering? The beginning dates
back to the time of the Borgias, if not to an
earlier date. In those days ASSASSINATION was
in vogue, and, in order that an Inferior might
not have a superior at advantage, the in
ferior was compelled, when coming into his
superior's presence, to raise his right hand,
palm to the front, to show that no dagger
was concealed there From this oldt;me GUS
tom our hand salute has come down
The salute with the sword was not done
that way in the beginning without any rea-
son. When Knights of the Crusades re-
ceived their orders it was the custom for
them to call upon God to witness their as
sumption of the orders given. To do this
the sword was raised to the front SO that the
hilt reached the lips, when the cross formed
by hilt and blade could be kissed and an
oath registered to carry out the orders faith
fully The dropping of the sword, point to
the front, indicates submission.
The Military Funeral
W. tons on the left breast and not on the
right? These gallant Knights of the Crusades
placed their medals and insignias on the left
breast because it was the shield side and also
because the heart that beat in honor and
fealty to its King was on that side under the
badge of honor.
Why, in the funeral cortege of mounted
officer or soldier, is the horse, saddled and
equipped with the boots of the late rider
placed heels to the front in the stirrupS, led to
the place of burial? To show by reversal of
the boots that the owners march has ended.
We must 60 back to the days of the Ro-
mans for the reason why in the service three
volleys are fired over the open grave cf
comrade. Among the Romans the burial
consisted of the throwing of earth three times
OH the coffiD Three times was the dead man
called by nam, which ended the ceremony,
al. as the friends and relatives departed
eacl said "VIle!" three times So, as fare
well c, Our lead comrades we fire three vol
leys over the grave; then the service call
taps is sounded, this closing the ceremony.
Why should the call taps be sounded in
preference to any other? Because taps is the
call for Lights OUT and the lights of life
are out in the comrade who has 'joined the
silent bivouac of the dead" This ending of
a service funeral dates back to the early 40's;
but did not become fixed custom till late in
the Civil War
There was a reason for causing all wit
nesses before military court to remove the
glove from the right hand before taking the
oath The raising of the hands and eyes
toward heaven when taking an oath is of
great antiquity. When the Bible was
printed, the bare hand was laid on the book,
which was afterward kissed. But the Bible
was not always at hand when needed; so the
custom of raising the right hand and uncov-
ering the head has grown into general prac-
tice. In olden days the criminal was branded
il the palm of the right hand, and for this
reason the custom of requiring the removal
of the glove came into vogue, in order that
the hand might be inspected.
Odd Sartorial Customs
THE colored silk sash long worn by officers
l of our army, which for many years has
ceased to form part of the uniform, except for
general officers, was not adopted simply be-
cause it looked pretty. 1t was originally in
tended that this sash, which was very strong
woven, of silk, and could be stretched out to
over a yard in width, should be used as a
hammock in which wounded officers could
be carried off the battlefield.
And likewise the gaudy colored horsehair
plume that flowed from the helmet was not
placed there because it looked SO well. The
original hair plume hung down on the Shout
ders of the wearer, and it was intended that
it should be safeguard against saber cut
aimed at the back of the neck; for the long
La;r WOULD f,,r,, ba b1ou, o,,J xyo 40