The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-08-14
REvILLE AND TAPS YARNS on
THE BARRACKS.
BY Blackstone.

The next time you stroll through
the corridors of the postoffice build
ing, and admire the beautifully
illustrated posters depicting life in
the army and navy. do not allow
any pangs of remorse to agitate
your conscience for failure to live
up to the high patriotic ideal that
you may mentally sooth yourself
with.
Unless enlisting for the purpose
of taking the exam" for a commits
sion, there is nothing in it for the
average American soldier. In every
outfit that is seasoned and well
shook down there will be found
little groups of congenial spirits.
that live, eat drink and sport to-
gether in the true spirit of COM
radie.
In our outfit, Battery X, --th
Heavy Artillery, at Monroe, were
two daredevil windjammers. Null
doom and Doolittle; both from the
old country; perfect specimens of
what true soldier should be when
sober, and also what he should not
be when full of Johnny Barlycorn.
They were favorities with all from
the Captain down to the dog
robber."
Speaking of dog robber." Null
doom said to me one night after a
game of checkers: The old man."
(meaning our captain,) is hot on
my trail. "Why?" "Oh! he wants
me to 'rob-dog' for him. This
morning, was on post ten. and 1 see
him coming up from the shore bat
teries." ''Muldoon," says he, Il
want you to rob dog for me; the
man have is drunk most of the
time and l want YOU" Sorry sir"
l says, hut l have liking for
drink myself. so must ask you to
excuse me-" WELL" he says,
think 1t over.
The Captains servant is called a
dog robber" in the service and is
practically ostracized by his com.
rades.
Sunday morning shortly after
breakfast. while preparations were
going on for our usual inspection,
the top sergeant came into our
room and called: Attention"
This unusual proceeding caused
every one to pause and wonder
what was up. Men," says his
royal top. The commanding Off
Ger has lost his pet owl, and the
Captain wants twenty-five volun-
teers to search the reservation for
it; be offers $40 reward to the one
who finds the bird. The searching
party will be excused from duty.
Give your names to the sergeant"
OF course Muldoon and Doolittle
were among the searchers. and re-
turned late in the afternoon carry
ing the precious pet in a gunny
sack. Easy money! boys" said
Muldoon. as he came into quar-
le1s. We hikes down by the cot
tonwood trees, where the Colonel
had his headquarters last summer
and listens; sure enough 'who-who'
comes out from one of the trees.
That's the bird. says / to Doolittle,
and after awhile we made him out.
1t was a divil of climb, but we'll
worth ten bucks. Me for Norfolk
as soon as / can reach the old man.
through the top sergeant"
A peculiar thing in the army is
the joyous anticipation of payday
and leave, and the consequent re-
morse attending unfultilled plans
and promises. A few days after
the paymaster's visit large per-
cent of the men would be broke,
and equally true every month, a
few men would have possession OF
the squandered money. During
such dry periods my two Irish
friends would scheme and ma
newer to satisfy and quench their
thirst. with success and pleasure to
their numerous friends.
A few Sundays after the search
and recovery of the Coloneps pet
owl, the top sergeant again came to
quarters announcing, The Colon.
ell has lost his pet owl again-$1O
reward. All searchers excused from
duty" Again our friends M. & D..
were the lucky finders and recip.