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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (June 9, 1894)
m IfcjFfj THE HESPEKIAN COMPETITIVE DRILL. 9 (f iM m The day was the sort that Mary Fisko called "a poem in tlio air." It was juBt warm enough to make duck trousers and blazers seasonable. The sky was properly blue, with just clouds enough to make the blue noticeable. Tho sun was in a good humor, and gave the earth just as much of his jovial self as he could contrive to'. There were about a thousand people in the amphitheatre of the M street ball park im patiently awaiting the appearance of the boys in blue. The governor and his staff and their wives were there, and all tho fond mammas and proud papas and adoring best girls of the laddies in the field. There were even a few of the more patriotic professors in the assemblage. The students, as usual, were minus quantity. At about 3 o'clock the band began to play, and the noble three hundred came marching across the field, greeted by shouts and cheers and waving handkerchiefs. It was a time when college patriotism was 50 per cent above par. The men made a good showing. They had been carefully inspected in the armory, and for once all the Univer sity cadets wore properly shaven, and en joyed the fabled luxuries of clean collars and blackened boots. After the dress parade Company 0, commanded by Oadet Captain Gerrard, was ordered into the field and tho circus began in earnest. Tho company put up a good drill. Their first manoeuvres were smooth and even, and their firing lying down was done with precision. The last part of their drill counted heavily against them, as their captain became badly rattled and got his orders sadly confused. The company showed excellent drill, and if their commanding officer had done himself justice would have undoubtedly won second rank. Next Company A, commanded by Cadet Captain Tucker, was called out to perspire for its country. Company A's drill was a pleasant sur prise to the men themselves and their friends. Everyone expected to see them get fourth place, and everyone was glad to see them get third. Their drill was not as smooth as Company O's and their Captain, too, got nervous. When they stacked amis the order was given too rapidly, and consequent ly some of the guns fell with a sickening thud. They lost step badly once, but other wise the drill was very creditable. Commanded by Cadet Captain Clements Company D filed out into die field, and everyone who saw them whispered, "It will take good drilling to beat that." It did take good drilling, but that is what Company B is in the habit of putting up. Company D and its Captain did itself proud, as tho saying goes, and the fact that they got sec ond rank testifies to their work. It was a good clean drill, without any fagging or slip work. The clever manoeuvres won repeated applause and cheors, and if Company D was beaten the boys have this to solace them selves, that it took Company B to do it. All afternoon tho crowded grand stand had been waiting, waiting for the crack company that was to show what the military department of the University of Nebraska can do. At last Company B came up tho field, moving like one man, and that man a mighty soldier. What lungs were left in tho stand vented themselves. Company B had been down at the other end of tho field for some time, working up tho tension or hold ing a prayer meeting or something of tho sort. That company's drill was a thing .to be remembered; it had a precision and ex actness that the others lacked. The lines were perfect and the famous quickstep made the old soldiers iu tho field beam with plea sure. It was the quick, clean finish of their movements that carrried things. As usual the men were what their captain made them. Captain Dixon came on tho field as though he had that silver cup and nobody would get it away from him, nor did they. His confidence inspired his men, and his orders ii if m
