The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-31

REGIMENTAL LIFE.

of how severe school the army is. |
speak more especially of the mounted
branch OF the service, because popular
writer's of fiction are more fond of "writ-
ing up" cavalry officers than any other.
One has grown intimately acquainted
with life in the meSs-room, as 50 many
authors depict it. One has learned all
the names officers are popularity supposed
to bestow upon one another. There is al
ways colonel, old, white-haired, and
Eingularly amiable, who is sort of pro-
tccting father to all his officers. He
looks after their love affairs, Of which,
by-the-bye, in real. chief is supposed to
remain in blissful ignorance. He sees
they are not 'put upon" by their seniors;
is frequently spoken to as cold fellow"
and very often falls in love with the
young lady who has gained the affections
of one of his "subs" of, say, six weeks
standing.
Then comes the major; generally a
woman-hater this. Why major should
invariably hold the fair sex in detesta-
ton is not often explained; but there
the truth is, stern and unvarnished, and
the reader has to make the best of it,
Sometimes this woman-hater falls in love,
aud is transformed into husband of the
most exemplary description, but more
often remains in his unpleasant character
to the end of the chapter.
wonder does it never occur to the
writer that, in the natural course Of
events, man fond of soldering, and
without home ties, must get promotion?
In that case does the major take up his
predecessors paternal line of action, and
was the typical chief a woman-hater also,
before he obtained his regiment?
Amongst the captains there are various
characters; there is one who can do any
thing or everything. He can sing, hunt,
fish, ride-he can win steeple-chase on
the veriest screw, by virtue of his brill
liant riding; he can shoot, draw and paint,
act, dance and do everything under the
sun with equal perfection. He is one of
those whom the gods love, and he does
not die young. He is like the princess
in the fairy tale who was fortunate
enough to have three fairy godmothers,
for every luxury and blessing seems to
have been showered down upon him.
He is singularly handsome general
ly of the type which, butfor moustaches,
might serve for the face of young
duchess; he has more money than he can
spend, which, as he is in a cavalry regi-
ment, must be considerable. He has a
wonderful constitution too, for he can
drink all night brandy. .and-sodas, save
the mark!--and yet he is up with the
lark in the morning, at some innocent
and healthful pursuit, which, though one
might find occupying school-boy, never,
in this world, induced an officer, after a
night of unlimited brandy-and-soda, to
turn out of his comfortable bed until the
very last moment.
And the most wonderful of all is that,
In spite of these eXcesses, our hero's eyes
never lose their brightness or their clear
ness; his hand and aim are invariably as
steady as a rock. To finish the list of
tliis gentleman's charms, he is an accom-
pIished tlirt; his very name is terror
to mothers and husbands, and yet he
usually ends by marrying some insiped
Uniformed child just out of the school
room, and, like the married major, settles
down into steady-going country squire,
without a wish or an idea beyond his
childish wife, his hunting, and his short
horns; in fact, he sinks into state of
bucolic stupidity, and altogether forgets
the days when he was the boast-yery
frequently the toast--of ours and was
known far and wide as Beauty so and
Then there is another captain who
smokes. Of him we do not know much;
his life, his thoughts, his conversation,
and his character may be summed up in
the single word smoke; and 50 very prop
er.y his existence, for us, is but hazy.
The senior subaltern and his duties are
utterly ignored; but most prominent Of
al these military children of fancy is
tie young cornet. He is very young
this wonderful boy, and he has decided
tendency to 20 wrong; but every one pets
him and makes much of him, and he il
popularity known as Baby or Pretty
face sometimes as the Cherub' or the
Scraph.' For this youth the protecting
friendliness of the fatherly CoIone
comes into play and it is wonderful how
many duties and infringements he is ex
cused. He, like our friend the popular
captain, is fair to look upon, being of the
duchess type, graceful in bearing ano
dainty in coloring.
Lastly, we have the regimental sur
geon, whom we must one and all own 6
perfect monstrosity. He is lanky, ugly
addressed, speaks with a strong brogue
Or maybe Il Tyne-side twang or North
u'nbrian burr, and altogether excites the
curiosity of the reader as to how such ;
man attained his position.
Sometimes we are admitted into tht
troop-rooms, and the chief feature W.
fnd there is the blind devotion of thu
men TO the officers, or one officer in par
ticular; rot only blind devotion. bu
passionate admiration and keen interes
in all their proceedings.
How very, very different is real life il
harrack! How respectful the sir will
which the colonel and the major are ad
dressed! How very different is the be