Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07
THE FRENCH CONSUMPTION.
ANNUAL DRAWING or EECEUITs-mcw THE
cpNHCRiPTs TAKE IT.
Prom the London STANDARD

ANNUAL DRAWING or EECEUiTs-HCW THE
coNscRIrrs TAKE IT.
Prom the London Standard.
An annual drawing for the conscrip-
ton OF the yearly military contingent
(thc French call it the Tirage 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 cere.
mony takes place on the ground floor
of the Palace Of Industry, in the
Champ, Elysees. \ large temporary
sale Is formed for the reception OF
the recruits. At the end of il rise. a
platform on which the mayor Of the
district, with his tri-coloreJ scarf, and
the military authorities in mufti, are
seated round large ereen.blazed tn.
bic. The Iirage takes place in alpha
betical order, 20 many letters being
called up at the same time. Each
young man has his paper containing
his name, address, occupation, etc,
aud a he ascends the platform he
hands it 10 an official. On his name
being called out, the youth passes in
front of the president, advances to.
ward kind OF urn, thrusts his hand
into it and draws out number which
is at once proclaimed by another off
cial standing by, who take. good care
that the youth shall not draw two
number, or replace the one drawn bv
any sIeigh,-oi.haud irick-a manuu.
vre that j. sometimes attempted A.
the number i announced. n feeling OF
sympathy, whether j, be a bad or q
good number, is expressed bv the
other youths who are waiting. Form.
erly those 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. however.
that the good numbers serve only one
or two years, whereas the bad ones
are bound for the whole five year.
with the active army. 4 proposal
now before Parliament would abolish
the Tirage au Sort, by making all the
recruits serve three years and a half.
As the youths descend from the plat
form, they naturally demonstrate their
good or bad luck those who draw
low numbers wave their caps with de-
light; the others manifest their de.
spondency, not to say despair. These
feelings, however, are calmed down
and blended together as the conscripts
emerge from the building.
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
not allowed TO enter the conscription-
room. Fathers and mothers are wait
ing for their sons, sisters for their broth.
ers, and sweethearts for their lovers. |
Many touching episode may be wit !
messed as the young man returns and |
announces his fate to those near and |
dear TO him. The first emotion over
the conscripts throw care to the winds |
and prepair to celebrate the day which |
is TO mark such an important epoch in
their lives. They bedeck themselves
with tri-colorcd ribbons and rosettes,
and pin the number they have drawn,
painted on colored paper, on their
breasts and caps. Some of them, who
belong to musical societies, bring down
their instruments and enliven the |
crowd with patriotic airs. They next
adjourn to the wine shop, where they
baptize their colors and drink TO the
corps to which they will ere long be-
long. The flow of soul often goes on
till dusk sets in, and then they resolve
to return home Headed by a flag.
bearer, they march through the streets
singing the Marseillaise and similar
songs. Others who live further off
club together and hire van, which
they decorate with bunting, and as
they drive along the boulcvards. sing.
ing, shouting and laughing, the pass
ers by stop and gaze, and, NAV be.
ask themselves where these CAV re.
cruits will lead the flag of France
when the irrepressible revanche comes
on.