The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-29
English Army Life.

Some recent proceedings in the Lon
don Court OF Bankruptcy give an ink
ling Of the extravagunt habits INDUCED
by young men in tile British army, un-
der the idea that perfuse expenditure is
necessary in order to support their posi-
tion and rank. In the case of one young
officer it was shown that in the course OF
few months service in the Grenadier
Guards he had managed to run up debts
to the amount Of $4,000. This person
had but recently come Of age. A sub
lieutenant in the British army under the
new oranization gets three shillings
and sixpence per day, and n Lieutenant
six shillings. With this pay they are
expected to Join the regimental mess,
which involves an expenditure OF at least
fifty dollars month for dinners alone,
together with share in the expense of
keeping up n suit Of rooms splendidly
furnished, including n dining room
capable of holding u hundred or more
persons n share in tho cost OF tho regi.
mental band q share in numerous other
expenses common to the British army,
stich as entertainments to officers OF
other regiments, regimental balls and
the like. The extrnvagant habits Of
British officers form the great obstacle to
the success Of the army reform which
has been attempted by Mr.. Cardwell.
The purchase of commissions has been
abolished in the army, with the intsn.
ton OF opening the service to men up
pointed for merit alone, and non.pnr.
chase men are being appointed but
unless they are wealthy and disposed to
ioin with the old school of officers in
" keeping up the reputation OF the regi.
mcnt' by squandering money, they find
their positions extremely uncomfortable.
In several instances, officers gazetted
without purchase have been bullied and
treated in so overbearing q manner by
the purchase men TINT the war office has
been forced to take cognizance OF the
matter. Very different Is The practice Of
the Prussian service. There, every man
for himself is the rule, where paying is
concerned; and all expenses that must
be incurred in common by officers OF all
ranks, have been carefully reduced to n
minimum, 20 that no poor man can have
pretext for saying 10 his comrades
that they lead him into outlay which he
cannot afford. A correspondent Of the
London Telegraph gives m account OF
the mess life OF the Twenty-fifth Reserve
battalion, stationed ut Berlin, which is
stronger in officers than the British line
battalion is in men, comprising nearly
eight hundred commissioned officers,
representing every division OF the upper
and middle social class, the nobility in.
cluded. And yet they do not possess n
club house or even mess room Of their
own, but meet TO sup or d:ne together
at hotels or restaurants. In England the
richer officers OF regiment sometimes
pay more than. their share Of the rcgi.
mental expenses but this would never
DO permitted in the Prussian service,
and rs the large majority Of officers are
really poor, the small wealthy minority
are kept within bounds, and forced to be
economical whether they like it or not.
Even tho present of few cases Of
champagne by the wcaltaier officer to n
mess would be deemed M insult. Those
who did not feel themselves rich enough
to buy champagne would feel oiTen'ed
that it should be offered them as u gift,
and would refuse to drink it. This shows
commendablc pride very different from
the pretentiousness which characterizes
the British service.