The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-01-09 00:00:00

MILITARY CIRCUMLOCUTION.

The Vie Parisienne his the [miming nib
directed against the "circlunlisinii: a system which
prevails in the French many :is Wcil :LS

. _
Forty-live thousand men, infantry, cavalry, artidery, ap-
peared on the plain of —. .fhe Enr,,croc I. iste4l them in
review, the Empress and Prince Imperial are at his bide,
and around him the staff, all the dignitaries of the army
flashing with gold aml steel, dance and sparkle hi the bright
sun. Suddenly the Empress starts with surprise. Iler
pi actieal eye distinguishes It lancer, with Ills blue and red
uniform, among the ranks of her green and white dra-
goons.
" Why is this lancer In the ranks of my regiment ? " de-
mends the Empress id the Emperor.—" I had not noticed
it. :Marshal !" The Mud ter of War approach's.
"it is that lancer doing amidst the dragoons / " "I
will inquire, sire."
The Al blister of War, leaving the staff, trots off smartly to
the marshal in command of tie litiperi.4l I Mar. I.
•• 31y dear Marshal, the Emperor sends ine to inquire what
that Linear is 414.ing iii to ranks of the Empress's tleaeoollS."
" My is or Minister, I really do not know ; I will gather in-
formation and give you a proper reply."
And the manual ill col ~,,, and g thus id to the general
of the division, commander in chief of the cavalry of the
guard.
'•Sacreblen, general why the tl— is that lancer among
the dragoons of the Empress ? 'the Emperor is very
angry." " 314.11 Dieu, my nmrsital ! 1 had not remarked it.
1 will inquire."
Olf trots the general of the diViSilie, and asks, inalnitating
with heat, the same question id the general of the brigade.
In his torn the general of the I orimele departs in quest of the
colonel of dragoons. But here the regiment begins to tile
tilt and leave the plain. For tell minutes the general of the
brigade is seen galloping frantically, gesticulating and
yelling.
"Colonel ! colo..nel ! The Emperor wants to know what
that lancer is doing in pair ranks I "
" I cannot leave the head of my regiment to inquire,"
replies the el•lmkel, as he Ladops past, swor4l in hand. •' Ask
the captain of the second squadron ; In' w ill, perhaps knoW
more about it."
The regintert continues to march, march.
The general id the brigade signals an ahle.tle-eamp, and
sends him fun tear after the Maple Of tile Sell/111i Silllatiroll
inf her Majesty's Dragoons. After a long gaibip--
" Nlajor," tiled the aide-de.canip, •• their 31ajesties wish
to know what that lancer Is 4bring in your ranks?"
" A lane rin my ranks ! Well, this is news, and the truth 1
as well. I dill not notice it before."
But the major cannot leave ilk command, and refers the
aide-de-canto to Captain tlrindevesce. Be' owe get at last
a tilt e local information. The captain explains that ills
in 4.leMly am idea of lAeutenant Ch011,•111ir, WllO in always play-
ing urine sort of pranks The captain admits that he thought
the appearance 44 the lancer very strange, bat of con-re he
I was not the colonel, mid it was Mit his business to interfere.
The regiment marches on, anal the captain gallops off.
. ',' Sti,b-,Lietttenant Casimapoll, where is Lieutenant Clo-
do
"The major has called him."
‘' I ;0, go after him ; say the Emperor loin a great rage that
a lancer should he among p.m drag.anns."
Clatter, clatter, the sub-lientemnit flies in search of his
superior, officer, bat returned triter jive u.inittes, covere.l with
mild and dirt, charge t wo li tie agreeable intelligence that
Lieutenant Clialotoir sliglests the advisability 4.f questitming
the Brigadier CA primmusette. At the moment I lottomir quits
the &lotting regiment tin inform titian that, on second
thoughts, he remembered that Corneitinsette was in the
hospital. 'the eaSe I,comes hopeless. the sub-lientenant,
however, as Canaille. ill College' ati brave in battle (old motto.
cries lOlt as if by inspiration—
'• Suppose we ark the lancer himself "
"'Pile idea is not so bad, thomet atainst custom and dis-
. .. .. .. ....

choline ; but, bah ;---we must I .I,ty the Kmperor "
I.llving all this the regiment was marching and marching

on.
Sub-Lieutenant Casipmpoil steno at a grand fldiozo
and, seeing the laceer,
"Lii!—Laneer ! yes, pat there, what's your name
"Griespach. of I t dinar. lily tinner.•
••Why are you in that uniform?"
" My proper clothes were not ready, Illy officer."
''Vii should have spoken about it. l must sentence you
to two days arrest.
Anti Sub-Licutemint Casnuapoil rejoins Lieutenant do-
sty lieutenant, you can reply that the kaiser hail not
received his unifo,lll."
" Wen! of source! guessed that; he shall suffer ten days'
arrest."
Lieutenant Chalmoir joins Captain Grilalevesce.
" Captain, you eau info! in their Maje.ties that the lancer
they renual.ed cr uni.ostunately has only newly joined, and
had lea yet received hi. e ~t Ines fr... the ,adnance."
•' In, you think I wonted your inf n111:16011 to know that !
MO Mall shall have a no a itn's arrest.
. . ,