 | The Writings of Bret Harte |  |
SCHALK!
[_]
[Emil Schalk, a resident of the United States, was born at Mayence, Germany, 1834, and educated at Paris. He wrote Summary of the Art of War, 1862, Campaigns of 1862, 1863, etc.]
What do our successes balk!
“Want of simple rules,” says Schalk,
“Daily I am shocked to see
Utter lack of strategy;
While the skill that art combines
(Shown in my interior lines)
And success that ever dwells
In all perfect parallels,
Prove to me, beyond a doubt,
That you 're twisted right about,
And through ignorance of art,
Yours is the defensive part;
Or, to make my sense complete,
In advancing, you retreat.
Don't you see—it 's plain as day—
That thus far you 've run away,
And your siege of New Orleans
Simply was defensive means,
While your Washington, my friend,
You must conquer to defend—
Thus your whole campaign is naught
When not logically fought!”
“Want of simple rules,” says Schalk,
“Daily I am shocked to see
Utter lack of strategy;
While the skill that art combines
(Shown in my interior lines)
And success that ever dwells
In all perfect parallels,
Prove to me, beyond a doubt,
That you 're twisted right about,
And through ignorance of art,
Yours is the defensive part;
357
In advancing, you retreat.
Don't you see—it 's plain as day—
That thus far you 've run away,
And your siege of New Orleans
Simply was defensive means,
While your Washington, my friend,
You must conquer to defend—
Thus your whole campaign is naught
When not logically fought!”
Right and Might at times prevail,
Lines and figures never fail!
So if you'd your battles win—
And would properly begin—
Choose your scientific man,
Fight the European plan,
And to stop all further talk,
Win 'em by the longest Schalk.
Lines and figures never fail!
So if you'd your battles win—
And would properly begin—
Choose your scientific man,
Fight the European plan,
And to stop all further talk,
Win 'em by the longest Schalk.
| The Writings of Bret Harte | |