Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-15
Play Dropped for Attention"
When "Star SpangIed Ban
ner" Floats in Air.

1t was afternoon and dress parade
was on at Fort Mcpherson.
A long, unwavering line of rifles
caught the sun. A sharp staccato re-
sounded across the parade ground. A
sonorous crash of melody came from
the post musicians and the glittering
band wheeled from the line and started
its march the length of the column.
Everything al the fort was rigid The
soldiers in line were at parade rest"
the domestics about the place were filed
with sudden martial spirit, Even the
convicts felt the melodic cadence.
The sounds. of it brought the wives
to the front windows in officers row,
and they threw their shoulders back a
triile while their pulses kept time with
the martial beat
Jack Breaks Discipline.
But to Katherine Rankhead and Mar
garet Snyder daughters of Captain
Bankhead and Lieutenant Snyder, it
might have been parade rest" or it
might have been mess CALI for all that
they heard. With a zeal more severe
than was in the manner of any of the
soldiers, they were laboring in an eff
fort to persuade Jack" to sit on his
launches. But Jack being a bulldog
of the most militant sort was difident
nay positively reluctant to perform
while "Semper Fidelis" was being
played.
Come to attention there, Jack" adj
monished Margaret severely, "or you'll
be sent to the guard house"
Jack must have doubted her author
ity, for he continued to sniff about in
disobedience.
Jack" wheedled Katherine, won't
you sit up for us after all the beefsteak
and bread we gave you?"
Children at Salute.
Jack turned a whimsical glance upon
her which as much as said: i've paid
you back many a time and oft for that
little bit of meat-besides, l want to
listen to the music"
Jack" said Margaret, taking her
turn, Il don't believe you know your
manual. l think you will have to be
placed in the green squad until you be-
come a real soldier"
This must have touched Jacks pride,
for he Immediately sprang up on his
hind feet and remained there until a
sharp word from the two children
brought him to ground again.
BY this time the band had completed
its circuit. The sound of open ranks"
was heard, the cannon doomed and
then with slow majesty the first few
notes of the Star Spangled Banner"
fell upon the ears of the playing chill
dren. Whereas before they had been
playing with absolute disregard to
everything that was going on about
them, they now sprang to their feet
drew their heels together, held up their
chins, threw out their chests, braced
their shoulders and brought their right
hands to the salute
Riddles of the Post
At first glance the platoon Of chill
dren-sons and daughters of officers
who play about the grounds of the fort
seem exactly like all other children.
Military life seems to interest them but
little. In fact, the average boy outside
Of the army is much more eager to don
the army blue than the average child
Of the post.
One small lad at the post was asked:
Are you going to be in the army
when you grow up?'
Nav" he responded; the armyl be
over by then"
This same boy. however, has an in
innate acquaintance with the inside OF
a carbine knows the military divi-
sions from squad to brigade, knows the
meaning Of every bugle call, knows the
uniform, knows everything, in fact
that he well could know about army
life