Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-10
Economy in and out of the Army.

Economy in and out of the Army.
One Of our contemporaries has been reading the pub
lie lecture on the subject of economy in food 1t tells
US to what shifts the French army reduced when it
was beseged and blockaded in Genoa, viz: IL
Of bread daily of mille seed hour, with oil or
cheese alternately instead of fresh meat and half
pint q wine-rin ordHaire. Bread giving out sub
sute was found in beaten bran starch and miet seed
and fresh meat being exhausted, they substituted
ounces of horse-hesh day.
The lecture comes in good time, for it is beyond
doubt, that, do what our farmers may we shall be
forced during the present year, to do with far less ami
nal food than we have been accustomed to. The army
must be fed at all hazards, and nOncombaants must
give to the soldier in the field every particle of beef
aud bacon that be spared and if need be- the NUT
ton also reserving for themselves chickens and other
small fry 1t is possible that the mich cattle will have
to be killed in order to supply the army and in that
event learn do without milk and butter as we
have already learned to dispense with tea and coffee
II the wors. comes to the worst soldiers and civilians
will we are sure fall back upon mule meat and Dr.
Fraukins saw-dut buildings, which last said to be
very good for dyspepsia. Aud rather than come down
to Mr.. Weler's 81 eS pies" which "werry good
purwidn you know they amt made ocats we can cult
vate French tastes aud provide our larders with
the hind legs Of frogs, of which the James
River and KsnaNha Canal Company could with ease,
furnish some tons weekly to markets. But with n-
dusy the part of producers economy on the part Of
consumers, and foolish impres smeuts, we shall be
able TO get along through the Summer months and
during the Fall lay up an ample supply of subsst.
q 4 e.. L
shah provide abundanty foe the worst eSgencies we
may have encounter. Our country is so vast and so
fertile that oay criminal folly and extravaganza or what
is fully as bad unnecessary government interference,
reduce the straits Of people in besieged cities
But there is another kind of economy to which we
would call attention, towit economy among the officers
and soldiers of the army Many thousands of our young
men receiving, officers, great deal more money
than thew earued before in ali their lives and far
than they actually need for their personal expenses
Even at the present prices of provisions the
lowest commissioned officer Of the line eau save some
thing nay great DEAL if he chooses. But extravaganza
has always been, and will, we fear, always be the
main Characteristic of armies. The excuse is, make
merry to-day, for tomorrow we die" Hence we find
young men, Who before entering the army, were repu-
ted sensible, rushing to Richmond squandering money
in gay uniforms guiding whisky at a dollar a drink
paronizng the gaming houses and the French restau
throwing their pay away if the touch
of Confederate note carried contamination with it,
A sufficient reply to the apology given for this wild
eNtravdgan is found in the fact, that merry life is
not the best preparation for life. These jolly youngsters
should reflect that the will notast forever-thst the
day will come when they will lose their commissions,
and be thrown back into the world of every day bust
ness e where they will find the most lucrative places
already filed. Moreover the fitness they had for ord
nary occupations will have been more or less seriously
impaired by their long service in the field and tor this
if for no other reason they will need something to fall
back upon.
Why should men of sense encourage extortoners, by
paying eItravgnt prices for fine uniforms or ruin their
constitutions by drinking vile liquors or squAnder their
money at gaming tAblesg Add if it be true that we
brought nOtng into le World aud il certain we can
take nothing Out of it, that poor argument indeed,
for young gentleman, Wao iaAy leave behind him re-
iatiyes and eads much, more, in need Of money
than he himself would have been had he survived the
war.
Some officers, glad TO learn, saving their
money aud providing for the future but the reokessness
constantly displayed in this city, both by officers and
men, aud the indifference of the government officials to
the crying evils Of gambling and drinking carried on
openly in Richmond leaves US little room to doubt
that thousands Of officers look forward to perna
ment support in the profession of arms and that our
Chief Magistrate is not to that great curse an
immense standing army.