The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-05-28 00:00:00

tarragonbout.

THE DoRIMIT MILITIA.

To the Editor.

The Dorset militia have let us ore more, and the
streets of our old town seem quite deserted, in the
absence of the rarlet jackets; we mime the bugle,
and the tattoo, and the band, and the daily marches
into the town, sad no* few are really lorry for that,
which used to be i matter of rejoicing. And bow IS
Ibis? Although always contrasting very favourably
troth most militia regiments, and although during
the period of training no just complaint could be
made of them, yet the day of their entering the
town, before they pat Oil their uniform, and the day
of their laying it aside and ref:airing their !comity.
were by too many of theft devoted to drunkenness
and vice—a day's sprits, of the lowest deacription.
But now, our streets have not been disgrard, or
the most timid pedestrian interi opted; the men,
with very few exceptions, have assembled and dis-
persed s• orderly and respectable men—a credit to
the adjutant and oolos•I as soldiers, and to the
county as men. The far is, they now feel that they
are camel for ; not with cold and patronizing bounty,
but with the warmer sympathizing heartiness of
true Christian kindoir. No one can have virtsd
the militia room, and have some the men, perfectly at
their saes, enjoying their tea, or mese, or amusing
themselves with the various games provided for
them, some reading, others writing; can have seen
the poet-office in full employment, and one after
another putting into the penny bank, without seeing
at once that the men were being treated with sound
good sense, as well as Christian sympathy. Without
this room, and these various attractions—without
this perfect ear, with the enjoyment of the indis-
pensable pipe, then poor young fellows would Le
compelled to par hoer, in the public hour,
with every temptation placed before them; but
! now all that are disposed Is he respectable
may be so; the hours that passed in innocent
amusement, where no bed word in ever herd in that
large room full of men, cannot but be beneficial,
not only at the time, but when they return home.
Now this is the work of loos lady, I believe, and no
alight work: brides the incessant work during the
training there is the anxiety of prc.vidini for
another year's expenses. And what is the town of
liiiichester doing towards this work? Dorchester is
gauntly benefited by it. Can it not show its runt
of its importance? Why should not the Mayor
suggest to the Council the pi opritity of at ore raising
a suliseription in the town, and placing in lira
Bingham's Minden sum that would relieve her of all
anxiety with rarer to next year's work Is there
any objection to ii? if not, why not do it at once,
while the recollection of the work is fresh in all our
minds? I will gladly pay my share. I know thr
tome individuals in the town have contributed
liberally, but there ought to boa public acknowledg-
ment of the work from the town itself, and I trust,
that if you will give this letter a place in your paper,
it may suggestthe idea to some, who only want to be
told what his right, and than will do it at roe and
heartily.
ClVlfic.