Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
DISCIPLINE,

QeQIS uLeTG ISlutCt piou6ho iNieio'J w
nv mind three different anecdotes OF
real life illustrating the same motto,
and which, though they are not of a
"thrilling" nature, may still be interest
ing to some readers from the mere fact
of their being true.
One of these occurred in 1864 q
think when Lord Lawrence was gov
ernor- general of India. His excellency
had Just returned from England to
assume his onerous duties, and was
spending q short time at what might
be called his country seat the govern.
ment house at Barrackporo.
ANY one who knew Lord Lawrence
will remember his utter disregard OF
personal appearance. Excepting on
public occasions he paid so little atten-
ton to his dress as to appear almost
shabby, which seems strange in man
who so well understood the character OF
the natives, and who could not have
lived so many years in India without
knowing how much importance they
attach to pomp and show; and who,
moreover, as representative of the
queen-empress, and governor OF such a
vast territory, was expected to appear
with suitable ceremony.
The day after his arrival at Barrackpore
he took walk, with some Of his staff,
in the beautiful park; and on their re-
turn to the government house they were
refused admittance by the sentry, a
Punjabi soldier who had not seen them
go out. In vain the staff officers ex-
planned, reasoned and insisted. The
sentry would rot listen to them. His
orders were peremptory. No one must
pass but those who had particular bust
ness with his excellency, and could give
satisfactory account Of themselves.
And he wound up with what appeared
to him an unanswerable argument:
"The lord sahib would not wear such
shabby clothes so it's no use to try to
deceive me-"
tt was not until some official, known
to the sentry, came out of the government
house and assured him of his mistake,
that the poor man, who had only wished
to do his duty, realized what he had
done. He was so terrified at having
refused admittance to the "lord sahib"
himself, that he fell down in fit, and
was carried away to the hospital. [
believe he recovered, and, no doubt,
his convalescence was fastened by Lord
Lawrence's pardon, and the assurance
of his excellency's satisfaction at his
having so faithfully carried out his
orders.
The second incident is of q totally
different nature, though it, too, was
consequent on the advent OF q new
general.
I think it was on the occasion of
Lord Dalhousies arrival that the troops
in Calcutta were assembled to do him
honor, lining the whole length of road
from the landing.place to the govern
ment house. One part of this road leads
directly to the cathedral, the graceful
spire of which is conspicuous object
for some distance round The orders had
been issued that the road was to be kept
perfectly clear, no conveyance of any
kind but the cortege of his excellency
being allowed to pass. All were in
readin SIS, and full of expectation, for
the guns from the fort had fired their
salute, announcing that the governor.
general had set foot on Indian soil, when
Suddenly closed carriage appeared on
the piece of road mentioned above,
the driver having very cleverly con-
trived to slip in from by.way.
The young officer in charge of that
particular spot Immediately gave chase,
but the coachman was driving fast, and
he had to ride some distance before he
overlook him. Shouting to him to
stop, he repeated tle order, and told
him to turn his horses lead at once.
The man, native, chartered and
gesticulated as only a native can, but
the officer was inexorable. The road
must be kept clear, and already clouds
OF dust in the distance showed that his
excellencys cavalcade was fast approach
ing. AT this critical moment a lady's
tremulous voice was heard from within
the conveyance, the blinds of which
had hitherto been closely drawn, so
that the occupants could rot be seen.
ooh! pray let us pass on. I am
going to the cathedral to be married,
and if we are obliged to go the long
way round I shall be too late p
Here was dilemma The bride
groom awaiting the bride, while she,
poor lady, was letting "the tear doom
fa'," though from quite different
motive to that of Jock O Hazeldean's
betrothed. Her evident distress moved
the young officer to pity, and though he
dared not himself disobey his orders,
he did the best he could by represent
ing the case to his commandant, who
CALAMITY taking for his motto Place aux
Danes, and considering that if al
things are fair in war they are equally
SO in love, gave the required permission
having, no doubt, made menta
calculation as to the length Of time
that might elapse before that cloud o
dust should develop itself into solne
thing more definite.
Let us hope that the lady, being
married, 'lived happily ever after" (a
the story-books say, and that she neve,
had reason to repent the hour when hel
tears were even more powerful than TN
stern sense OF duty and discipline owe
the heart of British soldier.
The third illustration of "Let nobod.
pass" occurred during certain colo
season In India, when considerable
force was collected at one of our larg
stations for camp Of exercise. Th
camp was pitched just outside the can
tonments, from which it was separat e.
by road, and surrounded by ditch
communication being afforded by ten
porary bridges which were guarded q
either end by sentry.
One evening the colonel commandin
one of the regiments (who was bette
known for his kindly disposition tina
for any special military qualities) ha
been dining with friend in the station
and returning rather late, he made hi
way to the bridge which was nearest t
his own tent. Unfortunately, he di
not know either the ''parole" q