The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-09-01
The French ConscriptiOn Annual
Drawing Of Recruits for the Army.

An annual drawing for the cOnScrip-
ton of the yearly military contingent
the French call it the 75ra9e au Sort
is now going on in Paris. The draw
ing in Paris lasts about three weeks.
The Young men of each of the twenty
ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the Capital are
called out in their turn. The ceremony
takes place on the ground floor of the
Palace of Industry, in the Champs Ely
sees. A large temporary sale is formed
for the reception of the recruits. At
the end Off rises platform, on which
the Mayor of the district, with his tri-
colored scarf, and the military authori-
ties in multi, are seated round large
green baized table. The Iriage takes
place in alphabetical order, so many
letters be ng called up at the same time.
Each young man has his paper contain
ing his name, address, profession, ETC..
and as he ascendS the platform he hands
1t to an official. On his name being
called out the youth passes in front of
the President, advances toward a kind
of urn, thrusts his hand into it and
| draws out a number, which is at once
proclaimed bv another official standing
by. who takes good care that the youth
shall not draw two numbers or replace
the one drawn by sleight-of-hand trick
"a maneuver which is sometimes at
tempted. AS the'number is announced
a feeling of sympathy, whether it be a
bad or good number, is expressed by
the other youths who are waiting.
Formerly those who who drew the good
numbers, which are the low ones, were
exempted from the service, and only
the bad numbers, or high ones, had to
serve; but now all of them have to enter
the army, with this difference, how
ever, that the good numbers serve
only one or two years, whereas
the bad ones are bound for the whole
five wears with the active army.
A proposal now before Parliament
would abolish the ITrGJe an Sort. by
making all the recruits serve three
years and half. AS the youths de-
scend from the platform they naturally
demonstrate their good or bad luck;
those who draw low numbers wave
their caps with delight; the others man.
ifest their despondency, not to say de-
spair. These feelings, however, are
Gained down and blended together as
the conscripts emerge from the build
ings.
The scene outside is even more curl.
Gus than inside. Here the friends and
families of the future soldiers congre.
gate in large numbers, for they are moi
allowed to enter the conscription-room
Fathers and mothers are awaiting fol
their sons. sisters for their brothers
and sweethearts for their lovers. Many
a touching episode may be witnessed as
the young man returns and announce:
his fate to those near and dear to him.
TAs first emotion over, the conscripts
throw care to the winds and prepare tt
celebrate the day which is to mark sucl
an important epoch in their lives They
bedeck themselves with tri-colored rib
bons and rOsettes, and pin the number
they have drawn, painted on coloret
paper, on their breasts and caps. Som'
of them, who belong to musical socie
ties, bring down their instruments anc
enliven the crowd with patriotic airs
They next adjourn to the wine shop
where they baptize their colors anC
{ drink to the corps to which they will
ere long belong. The flow of soul Otter
, goes on till dusk sets in, and then they
resolve to turn home. Headed by flag
bearer, they march through the street.
singing the " Marseilaise' and similar
songs. Others who live further off clul
together and hire u van, which thel
decorate with bunting and as they driv,
, along the boulevards, singing, shoutin,
and laughing, the passers-by stop ant
gaze and maybe ask themselves wher
these gay recruits will lead the flag o.
, France when the irrepressihle rcvanch,
, comes of.-Londo1a Standard.