Sharp County record., 1881-04-28

the end oft rises a platform, on Whlch
the Mavor of the district, with his trl-
colored scarf, and the military authorl-
ties in multi. are seated round large
Green -baized table. The Trtdge takes
5Iace in alphabetical order, so many
letters being called up at the same time
Each Young man has his paper contain
inc his name, address, profession, etc.
and as he ascends the platform he hands
If 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 1t 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 maueuver which is sometimes at.
tempted. As the number is announced
a feeling of sympathy, whether it be a
bad or a good number, is expressed by
the other youths who are waiting;
Formerly those who who drew the goou
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
onlv 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 TIraJe Gu Sort, by
making all the recruits serve three
wears 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 dependency, not to say de-
spair. These feelings, however, are
calmed 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 not
allowed to enter the conscription-room.
Fathers and mothers are awaiting for
their sons. sisters for their brothers,
and sweethearts for their lovers. Many
a touching episode may be witnessed as
the Young man returns and announces
his fate to those near and dear to him.
The first emotion over, the cOnscrlptS
throw care to the winds and prepare to
celebrate the day which is to mark such
an important epoch in their lives They
bedeck k themselves with tri-cOlOred rib
bons 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 socie-
ties, 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 belong. The flow of soul often
goes on till dusk sets in, and then they
resolve to turn home. Headed by 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 boulevards, singing, shouting
and laughing, the passers-by stop and
gaze and maybe ask themselves where
these gay recruits will lead the flag OF
France when the irrepressible revanche
comes of.-LOnd0n Standard.