The Only Time There Was

The Only Time There Was.

The necessity that there shall be only one man who "has the say" in a military command is thoroughly recognized in the United States army. A story is told of General Shafter which illustrates the punctilio of the regulars in this regard.

At a certain frontier post at which Shafter, who then held an inferior rank, was commander many years ago, a discussion arose among several officers as to the exact time of day. A captain, with his watch in his hand, said:

"It is now exactly 3 o'clock."

"Oh, no!" said a lieutenant. "By my time it's eight minutes past 3."

A third young officer drew his watch out of his pocket. "I know my time is exactly right," he said, "and my watch says two minutes past 3."

At this juncture Major Shafter looked at his silver watch.

"I don't know what your watches say, " he remarked, "but I wish you to understand that in this command it is five minutes past 3."

Then the young officers remembered that the authority of the commanding officer extended even to the time of day.--Youth's Companion.