The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-12-16

to the Time Of the Boreias and the
Latter to the knights Of the Cru
sades-FuneraI voIieys and Taps.
Why does soldier when salutinr A
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 assassina-
ton was in vogue and in order that
All inferior might not have superior
at advantage the inferior was com
PEELED when coming into his superior )
presence to raise his right hand, palm
TO the front. to show that no dagger
was concealed there. From this old
custom our hand Salute has come down
The salute with the sword was not
done that way in the beginning with
out any reason. When knights of the
crusades received their orders it was
the custom for them to call upon God
to witness their assumption 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 the hilt and blade could be
kissed and an oath registered to carry
out the orders faithfully. The drop
ping Of the sword. point to the front,
Indicates submission.
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 the owners march has ended.
| We must go back to the days of the
Romans for the reason why in the
service three volleys are fred over the
open grave of comrade. Among the
Romans the burial consisted Of the
| throwing Of earth three times on the
coffin. Three times was the dead man
| called by name. which ended the cere-
mony, and as the friends and relatives
departed each said 'Valer' three
times. So as a farewell to our dead
comrades we fire three volleys over
the grave Then the service called 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 COM
rade who has Joined the silent
bivouac of the dead" This ending of
service funeral dates back to the
early .forties, but did not become 4
fixed custom till late in the civil war.
There was a reason for causing all
witnesses 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 an
tiquity. 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 uncovering the head
has grown into general practice In
olden days the criminal was branded
In 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.
The cOlored silk sash long worn by |
officers Of our army. which for many
years has ceased to form part of the
uniform. except for general officers.
was not adopted simply because it
looked pretty. It was originally in
tended that this sash. which was very
strong, woven Of silk and could DO |
out to over a yard in width. /
should be used as hammock in which L
wounded officers could be carried of
the battlefield
And likewise the guady colored
hOrsehair plume that flowed from the
helmet was not placed there because it
looked so we'll. The original hair plume
hung down on the shoulders Of the II
wearer. and it was intended that it II
should be safeguard against a saber
cut aimed at the back of the neck, for
the long thick hair would turn the
blow and save decapitation or an ugly
Today the little hair tuft seen
On the headdress Of mounted soldiers
IL the result
There is reason why the flag at
half staff. as an indication Of sorrow,
must always be hoisted to the top OF
he staff before being lowered. The
Tag is saluted when raised and low
ered only when it is at the peak of
he staff. So when it is necessary to |
display it at half mast it must be rails
ID to the top before being finally low
,red. for at this time the gun fires its
salute. and either the band or the
rumpeters are sounding appropriate
music or call
Twenty-one guns. the number fred
n the international salute, were not
elected at random. The number was
hosen by our government because it
vas the number long used by the Brit.
sh for their international salute. Why ,
he British used twenty-o one guns was
10 doubt due TO an early custom which
lad for warship salute seven guns.
\ fort was allowed to fire three times
8 many guns as warship. because
q those days it was difficult to keen
'owder in good condition at sea- 1t
ould be kept in good condition on laud
nd consequently the shore battery was
flowed larger number. or twenty one !
When the time arrived that better
owder was made and it could be car
led at sea without deterioration the
rarship was allowed the same num-
er Of guns as the shore battery. and
~ ~