Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 21, Number 31, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 24 January 1891 — Page 8
DRESS WITH A HISTOBY.
WHAT THE SOLDIERS WORE IN THE OLD COLONIAL DAYS.
Bow Part of tbe Uniform H«i SnrrlTed to tbe Present Oty—Tb® Origin of th« Bine and Bnff and What the Riflemen
Wore.
Iii the colonial days the militia wore the dress that they had inherited from England. Three, at least, of those costumes have survived to the present day. One is that worn by the City Troop, of Philadelphia. Modifications, it is true, have been mad© in the hat from time to time, but they have been in detail of form, atid not at ail in character. The uniform was and is one of the handsomest that was ever worn by a soldier. There is a company in Hartford which still wears scarlet coats and the hat of the last century, which call to mind the British Grenadiers and the soldiers of Frederick tbe Great. In Richmond, Va., there is a company that wears an abominable hat, invented in ths time of the Stuarts, and possessing only the merit of being historical.
IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES.
In the war of the Revolution uniforms for the troops were out of the question. It was simply impossible to procure the cloth from which to make them, or the money to pay for them. The difficulties in the way of Washington and the Continental congress in this respect have already been fully explained. As for Washington, he adopted a simple uniform of blue and buff for general officers, which may have been suggested, as has been intimated by a high authority, by the Whigs and the Scotcti Covenanters, but which were more likely inspired by the uniform of the Blues, in which Lord Fairfax, Washington's friend, was an officer.
It was a plain, pleasing uniform, not brilliant, but eminently fitting to the wearer and the cause of which he was a leader. It was late in the war when an enlisted man's uniform was buff and blue, and then only on paper. The only clothes that were obtainable were the very best for actual service. As early as the French and Indian war Washington, as tlio commanding officer of the Virginia militia, urged Governor Dinwiddie to provide the troops with the simple avid useful dress of the hunter, and afterward, in the Revolution, he urged that as many as could should procure this comfortable dress, which, as it was tho costume of the riflemen, struck terror to the heart of the enemy.
Tho riflemen of the last century wore loose fitting tunics or jackets made of homespun. While the rest of mankind wore breeches they wore trousers. They wore, indeed, tho first to iutroduce that usoful garment, but the trousers did not closely resemble those of our own time. Instead of being tight above the knee, they gave free play of the muscles of the leg, and were gathered close at the ankle by buttons, so that they were not like tho awkward flapping, catch all impediments of today. These clothes were ornamented with furbelows or ravelings of tho materials of which they were made, a fashion that has been always popular with frontier Americans.
TIIE lUKUVMEN's DRESS.
The American riflemen \vore the dress that was in its timo the best possible sen-ice uniform. It was an ample protection from tho weather, for it might bo of cotton in summer and of wool in winter. It was not burdensome. It permitted the unobstructed use of all tho wearer's powers. It did not distract him by petty annoyances. Tho shoes were closed and guarded by the buttoned bottoms of tho trousers, so that during a long march dust and gravel did not intrude to tho wounding of the feet and the laming of tho mon. Hie hat was a soft wide brimmed felt, not pressing too much on the head and shading the eyes.
The accouterment of the rifleman consisted of what was useful to him. Of all the soldiers of his time he alone wore a body belt. Into this belt ho stuck a hunting knife, with which he cut his fuel, his food, or his pathway through tho forests. Mis weapon was better than that issued to the troops opposed to him. and the British soldier with his Brown Bess feared the Yankee rifle. Finally his cartridge box and canteen were carried from his shoulders. This was a virtue of tho period, however, for a hundred years ago no soldiers carried weight on their waists.
It is probable that the absence of uniforms greatly assisted the American army in its struggles with the well clad enemy. The dress of the period was certainly not calculated to aid action. It is almost impossible to imagine anything that could make a fighting man more ineffective than the heavy hats, the full, long skirted coats, the skin tight brooches and the leather stocks with which custom clothed the British soldier. Most of the muscles of the body were cjisod in. and were directed to preserving- the rod like stiffness which was prescribed by the drill master. It is easy to understand how, other things being equal, men whose clothes permitted them to be active and agile could easily overcome the buckram men, who had to shoot over leather stocks.—Harper's Weekly.
Vct% Mtule Money.
Regularly every six months the treasury department receives either a twenty or fifty dollar bill which, from all appearanees, instead of being made from a plate, is exwr.ted entirely with a pen. The work is of a very high order, and several !itm th**se bills have defied detection and passed on their lour of circulation unhindered. The counterfeiter seems to be a genius who yearns for notoriety, as ho conhl not make his living by his {wnmauship. The culprit has not yet been captured, although efforts have been made to find him, and it is believed that he has had the pleasure of viewing his handiwork in a little frame which hangs on the walk of tbe treasury building.—Washington Letter.
A SAG OF GAME WITH ONE SHOT
Bow a Wild Cat, Fox, a Martin," a Weasel and a Mouse Were Canglit.
Speaking about pot luck, said a veteran hunter and story teller one day, I suppose I have had some of the daradest streaks of luck ever had in the state of Maine. Everybody knows how I once drove a bear np a tree, and then felled the tree into the pond where the bear was drowned, at the same time scaring thirty or forty trout to death which rose to the top of the water, and the way I sot a bear trap and caught a fellow who was there to steal sheep another time when I sot a trap for critters what was arter my turkeys, and ketched a young feller that was hangin' round to see my darter Mary.
And the story Hbont my going to the courts to prove' that I hadn't cetched trout in close time, by showin' that the line and hook the trout was on had been left dangling in the brook one day in the legal season when I was fishin,' and got called away all of a snddent to drive the cows outer the corn. In the excitement of the moment I forgot the hook and line, and when one day arter the law was on I was passing that way I found that the hook had captured a trout weighin' fourteen pounds and seven ounces. I reckoned by the appearance of things, as the fish was uncommonly spry, he had been hooked that very mornin', but as it couldn't be proved I got off.
Yes, all these and more, too, are well known doin's on my part, but, as I said, the daradest thing of all happened not long ago. I took down the old rifle qne day and told the old woman as long as there was nothing doin' round the place I guessed I would take a walk. Wal, as luck would have it, I hadn't gone far when I spied what I surmised to be a wildcat. The critter probably got wind of me, for he cut and run a little ways in about the direction I came from, and then took a sneak along a mossy bank and hove in sight only to disappear round a large stump at the edge of my clearin'.
I didn't wait a second I just up and let go, just as the cat got out of sight. The ball, I was pretty sure, hit him in tho hind quarters. I went forward to secure him if possible and then and there I found out that he hadn't got wind of me arter all, but was on a still hunt himself, and he got his game just as my ball hit him. That cat had a fox, holdin' him with his teeth, and, you may believe or not, the fox had ketched a marten. I could hardly believe my eyes and looked again, and bio wed if the marten didn't have a weasel. Hold on I hain't done yet. The weasel had a mouse by the hind leg, and the mouse was trying to escape through a little hole in the fence of my back yard where he had been and robbed my hens of a kernel of corn, which stuck out of the little mouth.
One of the young roosters was trying to get the corn away from him, not that there wasn't plenty more, but that is a rooster's nature, you know. Now, I had a hound pup, and the antics of the young roosters made him caper round arter him, and this stirred up the old cat, and she joined the dance by roundin' up her back and spittin' at tho hound pup. Meanwhile tho youngest kid was trying to harness up the old cat, and the old woman came out with the broom to see what all the racket mo'nt. She had heer'd my gun go off, too, and didn't know by the rumpus but I had gone crazy and begun shootin' the children and other domestic animils. While she was out the fire in the kitchen went out, but my lucky shot broke up the combination, beside loading me with -game, and the only serious consequences was supper being about fifteen minutes late.—Bangor Ne\ys.
Swallowed His Cigarette.
Dr. Lapeyre mentions a remarkable case, in which an elderly gentleman, in consequence of a sudden slap on the back, unconsciously drew the cigarette he was smoking into his right bronchus, where it remained without causing any symptoms or in any way revealing its presence for nearly two months, when it set up pneumonia in a circumscribed area, and produced cardiac Weakness and some oedema of the lungs.
After this condition had lasted without much change for about two months more the patient expelled during a violent fit of coughing the cigarette, enveloped in mucus and waxy looking matter, and then remembered that he had never found his cigarette after the slap on the back four months before. The pneumonia persisted for two or three months after the expulsion of the foreign body, and some oedema of the right lung, due probably to embolism, remained at the date of the report nearly a year later. This, as well is some other cases that have been published, appears to show that the bronchi are exceedingly tolerant of foreigh bodies, even when not encysted.—London Lancet.
A Case of Tree Resurrection.
About 1875 a large tree of the elm species, growing on the farm of Mr. Smyth, rector of Little Houghton, England, was blown down, upturning an immense quantity of dirt in its fall. This large ball of earth had almost entirely washed from the roots on the upper side when, in 1881, workmen were set to work removing the old forest monster. When they had sawed off several of the large limbs on the undermost side, to their great astonishment, not to say downright terror, the tree rose of its own accord and went back into the pit excavated by tho upturning roots six years before, standing up in its original place* straight as an arrow. In 1882 it threw out a fresh, green head and still stands, even to this
day,
r, curious ex
ample of A resurrected trev—St. Louis Republic. In Alsace, not far from Worth, there Is now a monument to the young Englishman who was the first victim in the Franco-German war. Young Lieut. Window, who was attached to the German army, was shot while reconnoitering with the staff by one of the first bullets fired on the French side.
rEREE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL.
PAUPERS BECAUSE OF THE CHURCH. sn A Case' Showing How Charitable Women
Are Sometimes Imposed On.
Nancy A-—, aged 30 can wash, iron, clean house, sew, cook—"almost anything that will earn an honest living," she says. A crippled brother, a blind grandmother, a widowed sister who has the asthma and three children under 8 years of age. "Seven people to be supported by one pair of hands." Tears in her eyes as she says It. Children partly clothed by "Sunday school of your church, ma'am, and oh, the lrinrinrew of your church ladies to me I can never, no, never, forget!" It seems that they give her cart loads off cast off clothes and provisions, always employ her to wash dishes, etc., at church entertainments, and "never let her suffer for anything." Nancy is recommended to me by one of our Dorcas society as a capable and willing washerwoman. Thus runs the original entry.
Now I needed a washerwoman as little as I needed a belvedere on the roof of my house, bnt I wanted to help Nancy, and I would be consistent to my principle of not making honest workpeople into paupers. So I invented work for her. I hunted up some dozens of "white things" that were yellowing on my linen shelves and packed them into a hamper. Nancy could not do them up in my laundry. "There were children at home, and nobody but them three invaleeds to get their meals and keep the pore things out of the fire."
She looked askance at the hamper when it was offered. The water arrangements In her flat were very "oconvenient." But a lady on the next floor would help her bring up the water if 'twas allowed in the bill
I readily engaged to allow it. Otherwise thoughtful women are too often inconsiderate in the matter of "water arrangements" in tenement houses. It is not as easy to keep clean when every drop of water must be lugged up two flights of stairs as when you have only to turn a faucet to get all you want. Nancy next suggested modestly that the wet clothes would have to be carried up to the roof to be dried. But the lady down stnijg^ would help her with the baskets for twenty-five cents. She didn't like to risk strainirig her back. If anything should happen to her what would become of her three invaleeds and the children?
I "allowed" the additional quarter of a dollar. With seven people dependent upon her Nancy's back must be respected. She kept the linen ten days, but it was done up beautifully. I paid her all she asked with cheerful alacrity, and threw in at her (modest) request some flannel to make undervests for the grandmother. She was unduly grateful, and promised to come tomoiTOW for the next week's supply of work.
On the morrow I had, instead, a badly spelled note—in pencil, of course. Nancy had "meant to tell me yesterday that she could not do my washing no more, but did not have the heart to disappoint me, seeing I was so set upon having her do it, and what with fetching up the water from below and the clothes on to tbe ruff sech work didn't pay. She was sorry to disobleege me, for nobody need wanter work for a nicer lady, and would I please remember to mention her name to the ladies at the strawberry festival next week?"
I waylaid her in the lobby of the hall when the festival was over. She had a big basket on each arm full of* cake, bread, sugar, etc., bestowed with her supper, over and abovo in money. She was in a hurry to get ho .3 to her "invaleeds," but paused amiably hearken to my query as to her engagem r,s for the house clearfrfeg^aeason. "You're ,e fourth person what's asked me that -"night"—affable and complacent. "The chu. ladies has been so good to me that I a ti seem unobligin'. But I really don't see how I'm to leave home all day, or even half a day. There's my three invaleeds, you know."
Can you do some plain sewing for me? Would you undertake a weekly job of mending to be done in your own house? "I'm afeered to promise, ma'am—on account of my invaleeds, you know. They takes up all my time.'^ "But your grandmother is not a cripple and your brother is not blind, and your sister has the use of her eyes and limbs. Couldn't they help one another for a few hours of the day?" "Oh, ma'am!" with a smile of superior pity for my ignorance, "you can't imagine how much waitin' on them poor invaleeds requires. If 'twasn't for the Sunday school and the blessed Church ladies we should a' gone to heaven together long ago. The Lord ought to reward 'em." "A worthy creature," remarked the president of our Dorcas, who chanced to pass as Nancy and her load moved on, "and so grateful. One of the Lord's poor."
In the ten years, that have passed since that particular strawberry festival Nancy has not, I think, missed a single church entertainment or failed to stagger hume under the weight of the fragments gathered up by generous hands. In that time I know she has never done a day's work if she could help it.—Marion Harland in New York Herald.
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Monev to Loan#
ONEY TO LOAN in any amount at lowrates. Bargains in Real Estate in all parts of city. J. D. Bigelow, 22 South 7tli
Wanted.:
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OR SALE—A good three-room dwelling. 5800. $100 cash and balance in monthly or quarterly payments.
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FOR
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on easy payments will buy
yDU \J\J.\J\J 37 acres of choice land near Martinsville, 111. For particulars address JACOB FRANK & CO.,821 N.
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Amusements.
pRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
LECTURES OUST
li
TO BOTH SEXES,
MONDAY, JAN. 26, 27, & 29,
At Eight P. M.
TO LADIES ONLY, JAN. 27, 28, 29,30 AT 2:30 P. M.
SKELETONS, PAINTINGS, ETC.
Love,Courtship and Marriage
a famous lecture to both sexes,
FBIDAY,jJAW. 30, 8 P.M. "As good as an hour with Mark Twain [Boston Herald.
The night lectures, January 26 and '27 and the afternoon lecture Jan. 27, will be frw.
JJN Wllsoa Naylor Manager.
50c 25c
Afternoon Course Tickets, (3) Single Admission TSXAYLOK'S OPEEA HOUSE
Tuesday Eve., January 27th.
The talented and gifted comcdiene, MISS VERNONA
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Wednesday, January 28th.
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Friday Eve., January 30th.
THE CELEBRATED
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THE GYPSY BARON.
Sale of Seats will open Wednesday, January 28. PBICE8,$1,75,50&35.
CHEAP FENCE,
Slat wire fence, four feet high, plain wire, 60c a rod Galvanized, 76c a rod. For Bale by Terre Haute Shovel & Tool Co., South
Street
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Sugar G11red. 1 ams, at 10 cents per pound.
Kiiigham's English Cured Shoulder^
at 7 cents per pound.
Turkish Primes at 10 cents per pound, Canned Tomatoes, Canned Corn, California Canned Goods, at
W. W. CLIYERS,
681 Wabash Avenue,
WAU-KE-MAU6H THE INDIAN DOCTOR
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