Heowedittohisancestors。Itwasthetraditionofhisfamily，theonethinghewanted；itwashisreligion。Hewouldgetintothearmyevenifbythesidedoor，ifonlyaftermanyyearsofroughandpatientservice。Heknewthatsomeday，throughhisrecord，throughtheopportunityofawar，hewouldcomeintohisinheritance。Meanwhileheofficeredhissoul，disciplinedhisbody，anddailytriedtolearnthelessonthathewhohopestocontrolothersmustfirstcontrolhimself。
Heallowedhimselfbutonedissipation，oneexcess。ThatwastohateMajorAintree，commandingtheThirty-thirdInfantry。Ofalltheworldcouldgive，AintreepossessedeverythingthatStandishconsideredthemosttobedesired。HewasagraduateofWestPoint，hehadseenserviceinCuba，intheBoxerbusiness，andinthePhilippines。ForanactofconspicuouscourageatBatangas，hehadreceivedthemedalofhonor。Hehadhadtheluckofthedevil。Whereverheheldcommandturnedouttobetheplacewherethingsbrokeloose。AndAintreealwaysattackedandroutedthem，alwayswasthemanonthejob。Itwashisnamethatappearedinthenewspapers，itwashisnamethatheadedthelistofthejuniorofficersmentionedfordistinguishedconduct。
Standishhadfollowedhiscareerwithanadmirationandajoythatwaswithouttaintofenvyordetraction。HegloriedinAintree，hedelightedtoknowthearmyheldsuchaman。HewasgratefultoAintreeforupholdingthetraditionsofaprofessiontowhichhehimselfgaveallthedevotionofafanatic。Hemadeagodofhim。ThiswastheattitudeofmindtowardAintreebeforehecametotheIsthmus。Uptothattimehehadneverseenhisidol。Aintreehadbeenonlyanamesignedtobrilliantarticlesintheservicemagazines，amanofwhomthosewhohadservedwithhimorunderhim，whenaskedconcerninghim，spokewithloyaltyandawe，themanthenewspaperscalled\"theheroofBatangas。\"
Andwhenatlasthesawhishero，hebelievedhisworshipwasjustified。ForAintreelookedthepart。Hewasbuiltlikeagreyhoundwiththeshouldersofastevedore。Hischinwasasprojecting，andashard，asthepointedendofaflat-iron。Hiseverymovementshowedphysicalfitness，andhiseveryglanceandtoneaconfidenceinhimselfthatapproachedinsolence。Hewasthirty-
eight，twelveyearsolderthantheyouthwhohadfailedtomakehiscommission，andwho，asAintreestrodepast，lookedafterhimwithwistful，hero-worshippingeyes。Therevulsion，whenitcame，wasextreme。Thehero-worshipgavewaytocontempt，toindignantcondemnation，inwhichtherewasnopity，noexcuse。Thatoneuponwhomsomuchhadbeenlavished，whoforhimselfhadaccomplishedsuchgoodthings，shouldbringdisgraceuponhisprofession，shouldbyhisexampledemoralizehismen，shouldrisklosingallhehadattained，allthathadbeengiven，wasintolerable。WhenStandishlearnedhisherowasadrunkard，whendayafterdayAintreefurnishedvisibleevidencesofthatfact，StandishfeltAintreehadbetrayedhimandthearmyandthegovernmentthathadeducated，trained，clothed，andfedhim。HeregardedAintreeasworsethanBenedictArnold，becauseArnoldhadturnedtraitorforpowerandmoney；Aintreewasatraitorthroughmereweakness，becausehecouldnotsay\"no\"toabottle。