The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-12-25
COLONEL OF The
TENTH HUSSARS
Why the Career of a Young
Officer Was Cut Short.

| IL something on your mind
The daughter of Baron Ballenstein
had just come in from gallop on
horseback over bitches and hedges and
was beSpattered with mud. Her cheeks
were flushed with exercise thick
coil Of hair haG come unloosened and
was resting on her shoulder.
81 have been notified, my dear, that
| must be enrolled in the military serv-
ice and go out to fight the kings bat
| ties. am too old to do such duty,
and we are too poor to provide a sub
stitute. About all we have left is our
title of nobility, and as you are all
girls even that will pass from us at
my death"
Don't worry, father, dear; we'll find
some way out Of the trouble"
A few days later youth, evidently
about eighteen. sailed forth from the
baron's estate, walked briskly to the
| town and presented himself at a re-
cruiting station. He gave his name as
Caspar, son of Baron Ballenstein Of
Ballenstein castle. The recruiting Of
fcer rose at the announcement.
II did not know the baron had
son." he said.
81 have been long away" replied the
youth.
Caspar Ballenstein was enrolled in
the cavalry and sent to a barracks for
instruction and drill. A son of the
house of Ballenstein could not be per-
mitted to remain in the ranks, and
young Caspar was soon promoted to be
subaltern officer. He was rapidly
advanced, and in the first fight that
occurred in which he took part most Of
the field officers were killed, and he
was made major. This gave him the
command of his regiment while still
mere boy.
Naturally one so young in so high a
position excited much attention in the
army. 1t was especially remarked that
the officer, though brave and dashing,
was one Of those men who from some
congenital cause are effeminate. His
girlish expressions often excited mer-
riment Instead of saying to a brother
officer, You're chump!' he would
say, "You are very disagreeablew In
stead Of swearing at any bit of Ill luck
he would exclaim, How provOkingw
And, Notwithstanding his leadership in
battle, in camp he was considered a
lax disciplinarian. His men came to
consider almost any tale of woe to the
major quite enough to excuse any neg
lect or infraction of duty.
Nevertheless the little major CT colo
nel-for he finally gained that rank
was adOred by his men, who would
follow him right into the jaws of death.
True, he was not an adept at tactics
nor did he have much head for ma
neuvering, but these he did not need.
General SweetZer commanded the
brigade of which Ballenstein's regi-
ment formed n part. Sweetzer was
one moment disgusted with the colonel
Of the Tenth hussars and at another
delighted with him. The time came
when he began to give orders to his
subaltern gently. He excused those
things in which the colonel was def
cient. And at last 1t came to be no.
ticed that instead Of sending the Tenth
TO do necessary sacrificial work he was
prone to choose some other corps. Bal
lenstein noticed this and pronounced
it real mean," Of course drawing forth
burst Of laughter that brought a tear
to the boy colonel's eye.
The truth is the colonel suspected
that Caspar Ballenstein was a woman.
he had no doubt that his suspicion
was correct, but he could neither prove
it to himself nor any one else without
what might outrage a woman's most
sacred feelings. He thought of pri-
vately asking the question of Ballen-
stein, but in case the answer were in
the negative the act would be an in
suit that could only be wiped out by
blood. He finally determined that he
could only discover If the young Off
Ger were woman by placing him in
a position where he would act accord
ing to sex instinct.
One day General Sweetzer invited his
regimental commanders to dine with
him. His headquarters were at the
time in a house, and, of course, the
dinner was set in the dining room. All
the courses had been served, and cof-
fee and cigars were being brought on.
When the door was opened to admit
the servant with the coffee the gen
erals striker let in tiny animal and
Immediately closed the door.
"A mouse, a mouse" cried the gen.
eral, rising. None of the other officers
moved except Ballenstein, who jump
ed upon his chair and from there on
to the table. Then the general or
dered the mouse driven out, and Colo
mel Ballenstein descended from his
perch
Nothing was said in the command
about the incident, General Sweetzer
having ordered the secret kept but the
next morning 1t was announced that
the colonel of the Tenth hussars
had resigned and his resignation had