WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1101, 18 May 1911, Page 22

WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS.

A great general was taking his regiment into action. He sent forward a detail of men to make gaps in a rail fence to avoid the heavy loss sure to result if the whole body of men paused to tear it down. The coolest and finest man in the detail was a young soldier who had never been under fire before. When he began pulling down the fence he fancied he had disturbed a nest of hornets, as he thought he heard them singing fiercely about his ears. But the lad was not going to run from hornets when there was more serious business ahead. Ignoring the angry insects, he opened the fence and rejoined the regiment without being s L ung. In ,a day or two he was surprised to hear that he was to be promoted. “But,” he said, modestly, “I don’t think I deserve promotion over the others.” “My boy,” replied the general, “I saw you pull down that fence. You were the coolest man under fire I ever saw! ” The man gasped, stared, and turned pale. “What!” he exclaimed, regardless of grammar. “Was them wasps bullets?”