The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-22
lyeastsd lyea st tei
by Captain
C. Elliott Nightingale
Copyright, WNU
THEY DON'T "ALWAYS'
GET THEIR NAN

- the Men of the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police do not always get
their man. Sometimes their assign
ments order them to go out and get
a baby, for more than one northern
settler was brought into the world
by a Royal Mounted Policeman.
Doctors and nurses were as scarce
in the writer's early days IN the
northland, and both settlers and po-
lice were often called upon TO de-
liver a baby, or amputate badly
shattered arm or leg Furthermore'
many a Man of the Mounted mas
been a lifelong friend of some IN
dian he had separated from an ach-
ing tooth, or for whom he had per-
formed some worthwhile medical or
frst-aid services.
Sometimes, too, the lads who
wear the scarlet and gold are calleo
upon to conduct funeral services,
and even to assist at weddings ana
christenings. The force, right from
its inception, has been just as ac-
tive and interested in crime pre-
vention, as in criminal detection,
therefore their association with In
dians and settlers on other mat
ters than police work gave them
an opportunity to do quite a bit OF
missionary work along the lines OF
crime prevention One old timer
this writer knew had the habit OF
spotting youngsters inclined to be
a bit wayward and more or less
troublesome to parents and neigh
bors. Biding his time, this con-
stable would soon have the head
strong youngster off on a little Jaunt
during which he would tell pointed
stories showing how criminals and
crooks finish up. He did not preach
a doctrine of fear of the law, but
rather respect for the law and the
personal satisfaction one gets by
behaving oneself. That lone con-
stable steered many youngster
onto the right path.
Believe it or not but there is not
on this American continent a more
versatile, resourceful, talented and
accomplished body Of men than the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Many of them could trot out more
degrees and sheepskins than the
same number of men in civil life,
to say nothing of the years of world
wide practical experience these Men
of the Mounted had known in some
field of endeavor before joining the
Force. You might find the naviga-
tor or naturalist, or the electrical
expert tidying up horses hoof
or dolling up saddle and accoutre-
ments, and you must keep in mind
| the fact that these well-informed
smooth-mannered chaps are wear
! ing scarlet and gold because they
hate the sight Of the marts of trade
and commerce.
The writer has lived and associat-
ed with Men of the Mounted who
tucked themselves into their bed
rolls with a well-spoken verse from
| a Grecian lullaby, and awoke quot
ing some timely bit from Cicero's s
orations. Yet, in action these schol-
ars and worldly wise chaps are well
| hammered, courteous, and sympa-
thetic when necessary, but hard,
| firm and severe when their gentle
manly conduct does not go over
very well with some miscreant or
| lawbreaker who somehow had the
| sIA- n% l,o Man nf thu Mntg1fa6
don't like to get their nice coats
soiled, or their hands dirty. Many
a blowhard and insolent trouble.
maker has learned, to his lifelong
regret, that although the Men oi
the Mounted respect, and take care
of their uniforms, they don't let
that interfere with the enforcement
of the law. On the other hand
these Men of the Mounted can be
as broadminded as the wide worlc
when they chance to meet some en-
ergetic and conscientious. settler
who has helped himself to some
game out of season.
One time in Saskatchewan, the
| NA4ICA oAA0 tAO OlilCl S0A Wy "a . a
short of meat, so we helped our
selves to game out of season. W.
had the birds all cooked to queen:
taste when our cabin door opened
and in walked Redcoat. We were
caught, redhanded, and we knew it
Nevertheless, we asked the Man o
the Mounted to sit in and have
bite with US. The meal finished, th
| Man of the Mounted rose to his fee
with the assertion that he had jus
partaken of the finest rabbit pie n
i had had since he left England. HI
knew he had eaten forbidden game
but he also knew we were law-abid
ing citizens and that we had to hav
meat once in a while. They're
fine body of men, able to preach ;
sermon or deliver a baby, and the,
don't always get their man unles
it happens to be the very ma
they're looking for, and then, the
get him, and that's that. Their 10
is to Maintain the Right and the
do just that. That motto is er
| graved on their buttons and badges
and also on their hearts.