The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-06-04
HOW BLONDY WON
THE DIAMONDS.
A Soldier Story BY an Inmate who Sensd
with the "ReguIars. Tells How a
Private with Pluck and Initiative, Won
His Stripes.
HE SAVED THE CIRCUS
BIZ RapbIer-SS77

BIZ RambLsr-SS77
Now that the Regulars" are in
the spot light. stories of real life in
the service are read with interest by
every one. Several years ago troop
E of the til u. S. Cavalry was
stationed at Fort Ethan Allen. Dur
ing the summer months it was GUS
tomary for the different troops to
make short hikes of several days
duration into the surrounding coun-
try efficiency test" is what
Washington" called them. Troop
+ was without First Sergeant-the
old top cutter had been recently re-
tired after thirty years. hard and
faithful soldering, and Blondy M,
as he was called, was acting First
Sergeant. There were other Ser
geants in the troop, older in the
service, and senior to Blondy, and
it was constant topic at the camp
supper. who the old man would hon.
or with the commission that places
it's holder at the top round of the
enlisted mans military ladder.
Blondy felt that his chances for
receiving the coveted honor were
not promising unless something oc-
Cured that would give him the op-
portuity to base his claim for pro-
motion ON an act of military merit.
1t is one of the regulations of the
service. that company or troop
commander must know his men.
He is acquainted with the merit and
demerit of each man under his COM
mand, knows his good qualities and
his weak ones; verv rarely is mis-
take made in choosing top cutter.
Why, because the Top" ia the
man who makes or breaks the COM
mand; he rules with an iron hand.
but if he is wise, the hand of iron is
carefully concealed in a glove of
velvet and is only felt when some
trangression of the articles of war
compel punishment swift and sure.
Position of Importance
All communications between the
enlisted man and his captain must
pass thru the First Sergeant thus:
Private Smith has the First Ser
geant's permission to speak to the
captain''-an enlisted man who ad-
dressed communication to super
ior officer without the approval
and endorsement of his captain is
promptly court martialed.
The path to honor and fame in
the army is the path of duty. No
where else is merit so quickly re-
warded-eqnally true of the buffer,
and those having yellow streak"
are given the opportunity to go
over the HILL" which means in the
army forced desertion." Merit
wins the chevrons every time.
1t is no uncommon sight to see
privates in the army who have
served many enlistment periods.
Many have served thirty years and
been retired. Why, is this possi-
BILE? Why are they not promoted?
The answer is plain, They were
men without merit or ability. Not
every one possesses the requisite
ability to command; many men rise
to sergeancy and then find them
selves unable to maintain their
poise. They know of their unfit
ness and deliberately commit viol-
alton of the articles of war that COM
pels their demotion to the ranks, or
as it is termed in the army, they are
busted"
With this short depression for
which trust / may be pardoned.
we will continue the yarn with the
troop out on hike.
The Circus Stunt
One morning the troop broke
camp very early and started on their
twenty mile ride for the next COM
pany place. On entering the town
of M" at about six a. M, we en-
countered circus erecting their
outfit in large field. As we ap-
preached, it was evident that some
thing was going wrong. A crowd
of ronghs were molesting and in
terfering with the circus men in
their work. The "Townies" were
trying to pick row with the circus
people who, it was evident, were
trying to avoid any trouble. Itwas
no use however. for the 'Townies"
were looking for trouble and hal
made up their minds to rough
house" the circus. The circus out
fit put up good stiff fight. and for
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