hunter。AttheendofthelunchSethBullocksuddenlyreachedforward，sweptasideamassofflowerswhichmadeacenterpieceonthetable，andrevealedabronzecougarbyProctor，whichwasapartinggifttome。Thelunchpartyandthecougarwerethenphotographedonthelawn。
Someoftheyoungerofficerswhoweremyconstantcompanionsonthesewalksandridespointedouttometheconditionofutterphysicalworthlessnessintowhichcertainoftheelderoneshadpermittedthemselvestolapse，andtheverybadeffectthiswouldcertainlyhaveifeverthearmywerecalledintoservice。Ithenlookedintothematterformyself，andwasreallyshockedatwhatIfound。Manyoftheolderofficersweresounfitphysicallythattheirconditionwouldhaveexcitedlaughter，haditnotbeensoserious，tothinkthattheybelongedtothemilitaryarmoftheGovernment。Acavalrycolonelprovedunabletokeephishorseatasmarttrotforevenhalfamile，whenIvisitedhispost；aMajor-Generalprovedafraideventolethishorsecanter，whenhewentonaridewithus；andcertainotherwisegoodmenprovedasunabletowalkasiftheyhadbeensedentarybrokers。IconsultedwithmenlikeMajor-GeneralsWoodandBell，whowerethemselvesoffinephysique，withbodiesfittomeetanydemand。
Itwaslateinmyadministration；andwedeemeditbestonlytomakeabeginning——experienceteachesthemostinveteratereformerhowharditistogetatotallynon-militarynationtoacceptseriouslyanymilitaryimprovement。Accordingly，Imerelyissueddirectionsthateachofficershouldprovehisabilitytowalkfiftymiles，orrideonehundred，inthreedays。
Thisis，ofcourse，atestwhichmanyahealthymiddle-agedwomanwouldbeabletomeet。Butalargeportionofthepressadoptedtheviewthatitwasabitofcapricioustyrannyonmypart；andaconsiderablenumberofelderlyofficers，withdeskratherthanfieldexperience，intriguedwiththeirfriendsinCongresstohavetheorderannulled。SoonedayItookarideofalittleoveronehundredmilesmyself，incompanywithSurgeon-GeneralRixeyandtwootherofficers。
TheVirginiaroadswerefrozenandinruts，andintheafternoonandeveningtherewasastormofsnowandsleet；andwhenithadbeenthusexperimentallyshown，underunfavorableconditions，howeasyitwastodoinonedaythetaskforwhichthearmyofficerswereallowedthreedays，allopenobjectionceased。Butsomebureauchiefsstilldidasmuchunderhandedworkagainsttheorderastheydared，anditwasoftendifficulttoreachthem。IntheMarineCorpsCaptainLeonard，whohadlostanarmatTientsin，withtwoofhislieutenantsdidthefiftymilesinoneday；fortheywerevigorousyoungmen，wholaughedattheideaoftreatingafifty-milewalkasover-fatiguing。Well，theNavyDepartmentofficialsrebukedthem，andmadethemtakethewalkoveragaininthreedays，onthegroundthattakingitinonedaydidnotcomplywiththeregulations！Thisseemsunbelievable；butLeonardassuresmeitistrue。Hedidnotinformmeatthetime，beingafraidto“getinwrong“withhispermanentsuperiors。IfIhadknownoftheorder，shortworkwouldhavebeenmadeofthebureaucratwhoissuedit。[*]