The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1884-10-18
In Camp At AIdershot.

My friends stationed ut tho camp
receive mo with the frank, generous
hospitality Of the English officer, and
their kind and friendly treatment loon
makes me feel thoroughly at
home among them, free to come and 20
as | please. and to make my acquain.
tlnce with Tommy Atkins at my leisure.
All branches OF the service are rem.
resented here engineers. artillery.
horse. foot and dragoons." and all tho
varied types Of character in the army
are to be met with, from the little drum.
mer-boy born Ia the service to the
hardened non-comm' ssioned officer OF a
dozen campaigns. Magnificent types
OF the soldier these latter rs they pass
through the streets with ringing strides,
rs arrows, neat rs SOAP and
water, pipe.clay and brush, can make
them, proud OF their position and Of
their profession. and often exercising
fully us much authority over the
under them as the best of their
officers.
a canteen wher the soldiers can pur
si,sse at moderate rates many of The
mug aiSuries of life. libraries. reading.
1iis and recreat on rooms are al.
shn NJ DO large barracks at Alder.
some, here theatrical performances.
frconnnniss OF Considerable merit. ar,
solJIcrs given b, the men. and ths
erons supporsw ays n1Y upon the gen.
amnsements. their c~fIeers in their
hall OF the ROYAL Artt.heater or music
generally well attendEy BARRACKS is
evening, and a good ''songaiinost any
man enjoys no mean degree III lance
lily among his comrades. -lptilar.
But IL Is In the innate love that
E%nglishmen bear for athletic sports thn,
Tommy" comes out In his full glory
and his officers do not disdain TO meet
him on equal ground al cricket, foot.
BALL aud other outdoor games. Dit.
ferent branches oftho service frequently
meet In friendly rivalry, aud many .
match Is played on the grounds OF the
officers club between teams of yariou,
regiments or corps. selected from
among the officers and men, irrcspec
tive OF their military rank. IL Is moi an
unusual sigh, 10 see a game among the
officers 'umpircd" By some veteran
non.commissioned officer. skilled In All
the %intr'oacies Of tho National game Of
cricket.
The most interesting Of the purel,
martial spotts-if | can uso the WORT
N References to what forms part Of IN,
drill OF the cavalry and mounted srtil.
'ery- arn the exciting contests of sabr,
versus sabre, or sabre versus lance. AND
the Ike. when some rival rouyh.ridersi
arc pittct against one another. On.
n easily imagine how the tournament,
oil old appeared. to see these aotiys
fellows, mounted on their fine horses,
which seem to sympathize with and
enter into the spirit OF their riders. As
clad In stout leather tunics, their head,
protected by strong wire masks. they
charge down on ono another cut.
ting thrusting, and parrying. retreat
ing aud pursuing. Hard knocks ar.
gwen and received with apparent good.
hunlor, though | doubt not that lonn
habits Of discipline restrain many ar
honest fellows temper when his blood
up. 1t Is rough but manly work. and
one does not wonder on see ~ what
training they 20 through. that IN,
horsemen are renowned for
their courage and dcsterity. Another
sport IN which the ncrse aud coolue.
20 so far toward making a good
cavalier are displayed TO great advan.
Is tent pegging. introduced. /
believe. into the British army by the
native e%asalryman Of the Indian service.
The player armed with q light bamboo
puts his horse AZ full gallon over
the course, and strikes with his lance
lead q tent peg protruding a few
inches out OF the ground. into which
one end has been firmly driven. See
how firmly yet lightly the soldier sit,
his horse. body bent forward. lance
souched. laundering forward al ths
hop Of bis horses speed. Lower down
Upon biz chargers neck. a tighter clasr
u The legs. nearer aud n~earer-the az.
moment must BE- rightly chosen
Sigh, turn OF The wrist ofthe prscticet
birdie hand-nori Grassland h
back upright into the saddse
the light lance triumphantls
sbovs bis head. with the spiintsreo
piece Of wood iranshxsd on is inn
,oinI- n Zoqtanm. ~ Harper
Magazine.