The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-02
Travellers Tales


Look here, Captain Fraser" said
Col. B. u. Heating, OF the governors
staff two or three weeks ago. as he
gave the quasi-military salute that al
most knocked the captains hat from
mis- head, look here, I'm as rusty as the
door nail Of coffin about this military
business and have to ride a horse and
attend the governor on parade. Now,
want you to help me out about carry
ing my sword, etc.
Captain Fraser consented and that is
why one afternoon the two were out in
Colonel Keating's barn, the latter in
full regimentals, with knapsack on his
back and sword strapped to his side
He didn't know, but no colonel is sup
posed to wear a knapsack, and after
this had been removed the colonel adj
vanced to the center of the scene of
action. He wasn't carrying his sword
for 1t was gracefully or otherwise
swinging between his legs. At the first
command the sword and the govern
or's officer became mixed up, at which
Captain Fraser remarked THAT sword
isn't to cut butter with, neither Is to
skin your shins." Es ..,-.
II am your superior officer, Captain
Fraser" said the colonel, with a CLINT
Of steel In his blue or dark gray eyes,
at which the captain grew meek and
placed his two heels together and gave
salute, using two fingers, whereupon
he was corrected and told to use his
whole hand.
Colonel Heating was told how to car
ry his sword; he was shown how to sit
gracefully on horseback while the band
played catchy march airs, Captain
Fraser using a mouth organ TO initiate
said band; he was given some instruc-
tions as to the wearing Of his hat; also
as to the proper salute, and there was
a good deal of raising the right hand
to the front of the hat in true military
precision. In fact, after a couple or
hours hard work Colonel Heating was
able to walk about the barn without
interfering at all with the carrying Of
the sword. Captain Fraser had to
apologize a good many times for his
display of Impotence at his superior
officer but in the end he was proud of
his pupil. The colonel was told not to
pay any attention when anyone asked
him to hunt the key Of the Flagstaff, but
to keep on in the event tenor of his
ways
This will explain why on review day
at the fair grounds Colonel Heating
presented so elegant an appearance.
It is true, of course that he didn't wear
the regulation white gloves. 1t is also
true that once or twice in the sham
battle he had his sword high in the
air in his left hand, and 1t is true that
the governor had to keep out of his
way, but outside Of that he did credit
to the training of Captain Fraser.
Dick Kingman, of Hillsboro, one of
the judges at the horse races
at the fair last week, left
for his home Sunday, and he says it
was one of the best fairs he ever at
| tended here or elsewhere. He has a
farm down at Hillsboro and is quite
successful. He was particularly pleas
ed at the military features of the fair
and said that 1t filed him with patriot.
ism. But" said he, honestly my hair
! got red when saw the officials sitting
on their horses with their hats on when
Old Glory went flying past in the
breeze. 1 don't know devil Of a lot
about the militia, but I'll bet $40 thai
they. are supposed to dof their hats
when the flag passes. Yes, the fail
was a good one ten times as big as
thought it would be considering the
talk of hard times, ETC., and 1t is q
credit to Fargo as we'll as to the entire
state. The militia just set the whole
business off right" .