Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-02-27

ted the officer to desSt. He, I'M
fortunately for himself, turned
upon the the sentry and COM
menced abusing him. The sentry
raised his voice and called the
guard. The officer was arrested,
tried, and condemned to a years
imprisonment fer abusing sentry
on his post. The account stated,
that IN the case Of officers, all pun-II
ishments were doubled. On iaqui-
ring about this, | was told that
such was the regulation. If ] re-.
collect rightly, / was told at the
same time that the punishment for
striking sentry on his post was,
death. -
A most amusing illustration of
the dignity of a sentry, as well as
Of the peculiarities of the French
language, fell immediately I'M
der my own observation. A valet
named Joseph -, q quick-wit-
ted and Industrious fellow, who
laid by his earnings and invested
them in railroad stock, went to
the Tuilleries one evening to see
the guests come out of their CARR
ages and enter the palace to at
tend one of Louis Philippe's court
balls. Pushing for a good place,
he encountered sentry who was
posted to keep the crowd within
certain limits, and, in turning
quickly, came near the bayonet in
Joseph's face.
"Fdis attention donc,' said Jo-
seph.
"What is that? do You speak to
me?"
Joseph was instantly seized
and sent to the guard house and
Obliged to pass the night there
In the morning he sent word to a
gentleman with whom he lived
and who managed to get eli with
out further punishment.
/ In French one has the right to
"thee ard thou" only a relative, an
intimate friend, or an inferior. To
speak thus to a stranger is there
fore to treat him as an inferior,
and is alwayslooked upon as an in
isuit. Instead of saying 'Fais at
ttenfim' (pay hten attention. he
should have said 'sfotes attention !"
(pay you attention.) | heard the
story from Joseph, and it was cor
roborated by the gentleman who
released him.
The social equality which is so
wonderful in France pcrvades also
the army. The naughty distance
of the English officer is unknown.
Mingled with implicit obedience
to command is the constant &C
acknowledgement Of q common
Brotherhood. Each man knows
his place and keeps it, but not stiff
ly. In consequence Of this the
men are better cared for, and their
complaints meet with more atten-
ton The officer himself who lis
tens to them may have risen frem
the ranks; for the French army is
far more democratic than others,
and there s.no law or regulation
to prevent the French soldier
from rising to the highest rank
There is, however, a barrier which
prevents almost all rising beyond
a certain point, and that is, the
want of education. Yet this, also,
is to a certain extent cared for.
One morning while going
through the Place du Carrousel, |
noticed a-file of soldiers marching
along, each one having a slate un-
der his arm. Asking whittier they
were going, | was told ''to the reg
mental school" There is, it
seems, a school in each regiment.
where all are taught to read, write,
and cipher. tits true, thatw in
domitable industry and decided tai
ent a man may rise with a knowl-
edge of these three, hut the higherhe
gets the greater his difficulties are.
| can quote'a case in point.
l was told that the best shoe
maker in Paris was Mr.. NJ,
and | found he understood his
business thoroughly. Wishing to-
try pedestrianism a little, | re-
quested him to make me pair of
good walking shoes, and thinking
them rather out of his line, gave
him rather minute directions
He listened to me patiently and
then said: cit would be better tot
make the sole broader at the bot