The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-07-30 00:00:00

THE RESERVES.
Q17117E50 7Ri 11.•=5.

The exuberance of friendly feeling between the
regular soldiers of • regiment stationed in Ireland and
those who have been temporarily their companions in
arms took the peculiarly Hibernian form of a free
fight, after which, it is to be presumed, the Reserve
men returned to their homes and the troops to their
quarters in a happy and peaceful state of mind.
, Englishmen never rise quite to this level of high
spirits, and the departure of the Reserve contingent
from Aldershot, Woolwich, or Winchester las not
hitherto been marked by scene of a similarlLexciting
character. All through the earlier hours of Thursday
and Friday detachments of men were leaving the
regimenta in which their brief period of active service
had been spent, and the camps were kept alive with
the music of bands aocompanying them and the cheers
of their comrades. Though there we, much activity,
there was little confusion, and in many CMOS the
delight of returning once more to peaceful pursuits!
was evidently tempered by regret at leaving the
colours. If the men had been left to themselves
, directly their discharges had been handed to them,
, there would certainly have been much -making,
with the inevitable consequences of an over Indulgence
; in the cup that both cheers and inebriates. The
Aldershot authorities, however, wisely maintained
' mifitacy discipline until the Reserve men were
dispatched fairly on their way by rail. Each detach.
mint of more than ten men was entrusted to the
, charge of an officer, and accompsnied by an escort to
. the station, where they received their travelling
• warrants, and then only were they left to their own
resources, in the assurance that most of them would
' reach their homes safely. The military discipline was
not so stringent, however, that opportunities for
festive leave-taking were utterly denied. Every squad
as it marched through the lines gathered round it some
scone of men who were off duty, and who tramped
, gaily along beside the Reserves, cheering them with
songs, laughter, and good-humoured chaff, and so
oncasional drink from the inevitable bottle, or •
stirrup-cup am they passed the wayside public-houses.
Many of the regimental had been paraded that
morning for the L their
et time in full war etrength.
sad had been inspected by their brigadiers. While
POMO of the disbanded men were on their way to the
the 52nd, whose ranks would be reduced by
some three hundred • few hours later, was drawn up
on parade, sad It wu interesting to compare the
training of the auxiliaries still in the ranks with that
of the departing bands, who were alreading beginning
to feel the freedom of Mame from further service.
Some of the latter assumed the slouching gait of raw
militiamen, as a proof that they had cart aside all
restraint with their belta, rifles, and Idts ; but in the
companies undergoing inspection the keenest eye
Zodd have found it difficult to pick out the men who
ed resumed military habits for so short • time.
When ranks were opened for that greet test of soldierly
precision, the bayonet exercise, every man west
through his drill with marvellous regularity. Along
the line the bayonets flashed Aganat the dull banks of
grey cloud as if moved by one impulse, and the rattle
of weapons as the men faced about wu so simultaneous
that It sounded like the distant report of • single
rifle. If the men can resume civil occupations so
readily as they have fallen into the old work of their
soldiering days, their recent enrolment for active
service would not be a matter for much r
Already, however, many of them, In despair of finding
ing
employment, have signified • desire to enlist in the
ranks permanently. When they mumbled in loose
fatigue dress, and carrying the civilian kit that would
have to be so soon resumed, many cast a longing
glance back at the huts, and not a few faces wore •
look more of morrow than joy at the thought of leaving
the place. The lads were evidently ready enough
get back where they might spend their few
of deferred pay in careless roystering, girin7l7Z
heed to the future ; but for older men there was the
shadow of coming poverty and the certainty of seeing
wives and children reduced to want before the willing
hands could find again the work that had to be van
up at the call of duty. The you
merriment if they did not feel it, hoisted ele
on walking sticks to serve as colours for thin last
march through camp, and answered readily enough
the cheers of the aoldiers who streamed out from the
lines of huts to give them • farewellattuLmWhen
somebody ironically shouted, "r for
Lord Beaconsfield," however, the veterans answered
only by dogged silennce, and did not look as it they
quite appreeiated the grim humour of the joke.
Among the spectators warn a group of reserve men
whom departure was to be delayed for a day or two
ioniser. Replying to • question, one of them dad
"Well, sir. I ain't no much pleased at the thought of
going back. The service pay wu'nt much beside
what I'd been getting for • year or two, but it kept
starvationm I
shall be the
.b
fromwlfie
to e. a
sandlittleesoncru.
it for them,
Now Idoe2
know
and when I was In • good berth they never knew
what want was. Yes, I know I ought to have
expected this as part of my lot when I joined the
reserves; but I didn't think to be called out so sudden,
and for nothing like. Don'tiyou see, sir, there's where
It seems hard to me." No such sad apprehendoom
oppressed the gay spirits of • group of yougsters, who,
bringing up the rear of the marching detachment,
were ready to cheer everybody, from the general to
the babies that formed • strong contingent of the
crowd beside the married !soldier's quarters. If among
the regular, there seemed a little miry of the fate of
thoee who were so joyously quitting the ranks, the
feeling wee not allowed to interfere with expreedone
of kindly farewell. Each detachment was followed by
• crowd of men belonging to the regiment in which it
had served, and the long march to Farnborough was
4htemed by many pleasantries between comrades.
'lle men of one battalion were especially effusive in
their leave-taking, and must have availed themselves
of the opportunities at hand with considerable per-
severance, if one might judge by the festive state in
which they made their devious way back to camp.
Under the circumstances the authorities were more
than usually tolerant ; and it is to be hoped, therefore,
that hiendly indulgence in the parting glees did not
Lad to after difficulties.
On Thursday some eight hundred men left Aldershot,
bearing warranta that would take them to their homes
In distant corners of England. Friday • still larger
number received theit routes from the different
=rtal commanders • and probably at the end of
eek there will be scarcely any reserve men left
In the camp except the few who are datelined in
hospital. From Woolwich yesterday some hundreds
timin d6tkarted several by train to London and the
and many to talus passage on board steamers
In the docks bound for Ireland and the north. The
possibility of bringing reserve men from distant
tartars to fill the ranks of weak regiments has been
It only remains now to count the cost
of the experiment ; audit to the transport, maintenance.
and extra pay of Ss men during th few month,
enforced Dania were added the loss of remunerate
labour, the reckoning would hardly be a light COW
The will of the late Mr. Elwin lames Mathews, the
eminent coniedleg, has jut been proved by his widow,
Mrs. ElisabethMatks,s, the sole executrix, to whom he
leaves all his property. the personal iodate is sworn under
geo,ooo.
lite Medical Profusion are now ordering Oadbasy's
Cocoa Buenos in thotrands of cues, because it cow
tan, more nutritious and fiesh-forming elements than
any other beverage,and is preferable to the Wet
starchy Cocoa ordinarily sold. When you ask for
Cadbury's Cocoa Essence be sure that you get It, as
shopkeepers often push Imitations for the sake of
extra profit. Maken to the Queen. Paris Details
90 Faubourg Rt. Honors,
Tumble oser and die en the sest."—HlLL'S MAGIC
VERMIN KILLER is certain death to Rats. Mice. itela
Beetles, Cockroaches, and all kinds of Vermin. Ilea the
following extracts from the testimonial,. No. I writes
I have a large store room which was infested with
mice. I tried your Magic Vermin Killer, the result of
which proved astounding ; the next morning I picked EP
06 dead mice, and the number of dead mice coll.ctsd at
• the end of a fortnight amounted to • tots' of 1113.'
No. 1 writee—" The Vermin Killer you sent me I used for
and it has completely cleared the hoetse ; I also
used it for sugar ants with equal snows. It surpass all
other poisons for these peke No. 3 •treitee—" I have
~,,mphsety ridden my own premises f:om rate d cam.
and willingly bear testimony te the wonderful an
of
your VllCOtill =sr." Sold by all chemiets and «beim
Int:dors. Wholesale agents, Barclay and Sons, TIANIOOO-
- and Ranger and Bons, 150, Oxford-street, London.
Pride', .65. and L. packet; post free for A 7.
13 stamps, of the ctldward WOliine4O. ROMOISOL Local Agents: Bea& and 00.. Bridoort:
3. Evans, Dorchester.

BIRTHB.
July 8, at Wool, the wile of Mr. igUille Puckett, of o
eon.
July 14, at Cold Harbour, Sherborse, the wife of Mr. Rdward Mu/let, of a daughter.
July 17, at Martinstown, the wile al Mr. Glowing. at a
dsonter.
July IL, at Bayard Perm. Upwey the tabula &whale
of Thomas and lama Garland, weeka
July 14. at Winfrith, the wife at Mr. W. Pitman, of •
July M. at Baiter. Poo, the wlt. of Mr. Jø. Mowiam,
in.. of • daughter.
mAantass.
July a a* the Weskyas navel. Poole. 4172.
O(17 Noll t4;4lmr.rania Julia Meadenver=s
July at the Primitive
Poole.
Prided& of Poole. to lam BMW,. at
• DRAMA
July 18, at Littlebredy. Marla Palmer. aged 48 yeses.
July la, at Wad Mahlon, Ellen, foortli dumber at Mr
Jacob Parker,_aged 11 MR
July It st Reiglitou, Robert. twin eon of Robert
mid a welt Wheeler. seed 14 menthe
July M. at Bryaustou., Jane, relict of the late Charism
Prince Hare, at Blandford, aged 87 years

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Printed and Published by EDWIN R. Winnow, st
the Offices, 8, Ett-etreet West, Derehestsr, hi the
gerbil of The, fee the Propekater.
TnWarl,l44S, Ulf&