Colonel Stirling's "damn" had damned the strike as
well as the votes.
Dead silence fell on the committee and crowd. Even Company D. looked
astounded. Finally, however, one of the committee said, "There's no good
wasting time here." Then a reporter said to a confrere, "What a stunning
headline that will make?" Then the Captain of Company D. got his mouth
closed enough to exclaim, "Oi always thought he could swear if he tried
hard. Begobs, b'ys, it's proud av him we should be this day. Didn't he
swear strong an' fine like? Howly hivens! it's a delight to hear damn
said like that."
For some reason that "swear-word" pleased New York and the country
generally, showing that even an oath has its purpose in this world, so
long as it is properly used. Dean Swift said a lie "was too good to be
lavished about." So it is of profanity. The crowd understood Peter's
remark as they would have understood nothing else. They understood that
besides those rifles and bayonets there was something else not to be
trifled with.
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