_The Haskells, Père et Fils._
It will delight the venerable editor of “The Boston Herald” to learn
that his son, Will E. Haskell, has been commissioned a member of the
military staff of the governor of Minnesota, with the title of major. As
we learn by reference to Lossing’s “Field-Book of the Massachusetts
Militia,” Haskell _père_ himself is a soldier, having been commissioned
a captain of militia as far back as 1844. In this same reliable volume
we read that “on July 4, 1847, the Cambridge Israel Putnam Fusileers,
under command of Capt. Haskell, elicited rapturous huzzas by the
alacrity and precision of their evolutions and manœuvres during the
general training on Boston Common” (vol. iii. p. 268). As we understand
it, young Major Haskell’s military promotion will not necessarily
involve service upon the field of battle. Minnesota is now in a
condition of peace, and is likely to remain so. All that will be
expected of Major Haskell will be the purchase of a suit of regimentals,
a roan gelding, and a fine sword: upon state occasions, the major will
have to wear these regimentals and this sword, and will have to ride the
roan gelding to and fro through the streets of Minnesota’s capital,
bearing sealed orders to and from his excellency the governor, and
bestowing ineffably fascinating smiles upon the throngs of admiring
ladies. Young Major Haskell is a handsome man, and it makes us tremble
to think of the increased powers and the illimitable possibilities with
which his regimentals will invest his native pulchritude.
_A White-House Ballad.—III._