True stories of old Houston and Houstonians: historical and personal sketches / by S. O. Young. Page: 118

118 TRUE STORIES OF OLD
That year Colonel James, who had charge of the military
school at Austin, brought the cadets down to the fair. There
were several hundred of them and they made a fine appearance.
Major Brokenbourough, who was the military instructor at the
school, had command of the battalion. He and I had been college
mates in Virginia and I was delighted to meet him again.
His father was Judge Brokenbourough, one of the most distingushed
lawyers in Virginia. While the major and I were talking,
my friend, the doctor, came up and I introduced him to the
major. The doctor was loaded just right, and was vety effusive.
"Is it possible," he said, shaking the major's hand, 'that I grasp
the hand of a son of Ty old and esteemed friend, Judge Brokenbourough,
of Virginia?" Now, as a matter of fact, I don't believe
the doctor had ever heard of the judge until I mentioned
the fact that he was the major's father, but he made the play
all right and created the impression on the major's mind that he
and his father had been raised together.
"This occasion," said he, "deserves to be commemorated.
Come and take a glass of wine with me."
He led us over to a stand and ordered a quart bottle of champagne.
The major protested against such extravagance and
declared he would rather have a glass of beer, but the doctor
would not listen to him and the champagne was opened. Just
then a band nearby began playing and the wine and music combined
to make the doctor. feel awfully good and talkative.
There was to be a grand parade of the cadets at 4 o'clock and
as it was near that hour the major tried to excuse himself so
as to go and get ready. Then a happy thought occurred to the
doctor. He told the major he would like to make the boys a
talk. The major thought it was merely a passing whim and
made some casual remark about being most happy to hear it and'
things of that kind. The doctor insisted and then the major
told him he would go and get Colonel James' permission. Now,
had the major known the doctor as well as I did, he would have
gone to the colonel and secured his permission, for the talk
would have been a good one. As it was, thinking that the doctor
would forget all about it after taking the next drink, instead of
going to Colonel James he went direct to where the cadets were
and commenced preparing them for the parade. The parade
and drill were to take place on the race track in front of the
grand-stand, so, taking my arm, the doctor led me out there and
took up his position where the colonel generally stands during
a dress parade. Major Brokenbourough was busily engaged in
forming his battalion across the track. The grandstand was
crowded with ladies, the band was playing and the doctor was
absolutely in the seventh heaven of delight He was feeling
mighty good. He took off his hat and the wind blew his long
hair aboqt and he evidently felt like a war horse about to charge.
The charge was there all right, but it was to come from the other
side. After a little while Colonel James showed up on a fine,
prancing horse.