The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
Fresh as a Bridegroom; and
His Chin New Reaped,
Showed Like a Stubble Land al
Harvest Home:
PERFUMED LIKE A MILLINER
As Soldiers Bore Dead Bodies
He Called Them Knaves.
p In Other Words, a Version of
Report on the 35th.
(Rooks County Record.l


Col. w. H. Carpenter, a prominent
Democratic lawyer of Marion, Kan,
who has been doing Red Cross work
in France. tells of an inspection of
the 35th division made by a lieuten-
ant colonel the next day after it came
out of the Argonne forest battle, in
which he reports that the men showed
laxity in saluting. were far from be-
ing neat in their uniforms and equip
ment and there was undue familiar
ity between officers and men," The
officer who came from the inspection
department hadn't been in any of the
fighting; he was spick and span and
drove up in a big limousine. Here is
a section of his report:
Most of the, organizations inspect
ed showed all the earmarks of ma
tional guard units, which they are.
Captains and lieutenants were con-
tinually noticed on most familiar
terms with enlisted men. Most of the
orders that L heard given were in a
more or less apologize and familiar
tone and the results were what could
be expected"
1t should be remembered that this
untimely inspection was made just
after the boys had been in the most
terrible battle of the war. fighting for
six days without food or rest. The
enmity of the regulars for the ma
tional guard crops out in every sem
tence. Colonel Carpenter read this
unjust report to a lot of congressman
in Washington and it created a furore.
The removal of Brigadier General
Martin and other officers just before
going into the battle and substituting
regulars, together with the opinion
that the Missouri and Kansas boys
were unnecessarily sacrificed, is going
to be thoroly aired.
As in Henry ".
We are reminded of a similar cpl
sode recorded by one VIM. Shakes
peare in Henry ". A court officer
was sent by the king to Hotspur for
the prisoners he had captured in a
battle. and the latter tells why he
lacked his usual courtesy in his recep-
ton of the royal messenger:
My lieGe. did deny no prisoners.
Tut l remember when the fight was DONE
When l was dry with rage and extreme
Breathless and faint. leaning upon my
Came there a certain lord. neat and trinity
Fresh as a bridegroom; and his chin new
Showed like a stubble land at harvest
home:
lie was perfumed like miliner.
And twfXt his thumb and finger he held
A pouneet.box, which ever and anon
lie gave his nose, and took t away again
Took It in snuff-and still he smiled and
And as the soldiers bore dead bodies by,
He called them-untaught knaves. unman-
nerly,
To bring Il slovenIy unhandsome corpse
Eetwixt the wind and his nobility.
With many holiday and lady terms
lie questioned me; among the rest. de-
manded
MY prisoners in your majestys behalf.
then. all smartfng, with my wounds being
cold
To be so pestered with a popinjay-
Out of r1y grief and my impatience
Answered neglectingly. 1 know not what
lie should or he should not-for he made
me mad,
TO see him shine so brisk, and smell Sc
sweet.
And talk so like waiting gentlewoman
This bold unjOinted talk of his, my lord
answered indirectly, as l said:
And beseech you. let not his report
Come current for an accusation
Eetwfxt my love and your high majesty"
no doubt the officers and men who
lad just come out of the hell in the
Argonne felt that way about the lieu
tenant-colonel who came to inspect
them.