The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-07-25
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WIVES OF SOLDIERS.


lated m the British Army. 81
| The general reader knows more
probably, about the solar system tha
about the details of regimental life
though he, is always ready to listen to
tale OF wrong like that which was Latch
told about soldiers wives. II will b
news to- many that soldier can no
lawfully get married, or is not recop
nized as lawfully married, untiIhe ha
completed SIX years. service and is ais,
the possessor of a good conduct BADGE
Having served the allotted period, ieay,
has tobe obtained from the command
ing officer of the regiment; but as rul,
permission is granted readily enough
But even then it may be some time be
fore the newly-elected benedict car
avail himself of the privileges of .free
quarters.n
The proportion of married men TO,
whom accommodation is provided by
Government is about ten per cent. o.
the total strength of the regiment, and
when nian has obtained the necessary
permission to enter the holy estate Il
may happen that the married strength
OF the. regiment is already above
the limit, in which case he has
to support his wife and Sell
on his regimental pay and rations. But
J he n allowed the privilege of ..liyino
out 81 mess; that is to say. instead OF
taking his meals in barracks with the
other men he is permitted to draw his
ratiens and do his best to make three
quarters OF pound of meat per diem
and one pound of bread fill two mouths
instead OF one.zs How the men contriye
to make both ends meet under such cir.
cumstances is mystery; but they do.
and ASA Inie the married men of n REQ.
iment coptrire to keep up a better kit
than their unenctimbered comnan;ons
OF course there are exceptions: and
many an officer will be able to call 70
mind some startling effects encountered
IN has subaltern days on the occasions
OF kit inspection-as when what to
all Intents and purposes seemed to be E
neat folded linen shirt or flannel vest
has proved on closer inspection to be
the remains of an article OF female attire
not usually worn BY the male sex.
when once married man has be-
come enrolled on the strength" his
position is materially improved, He
has his single room in barracks. with
coal, gas and wood free; his wife gets
share OF the regimental washing, and if
she is a good laundress, frequently has
some OF the mess and officer linen to
wash. BY the, practice of strict econo.
my soldiers wife can, under such con.
dltions, enjoy q more comfortable ex.
istence than if she is mated to an agri.
cultural laborer or mechanic. . But
even under the most favorable condi-
lions it is hard to lay by for a rainy
lay; and we may be sure that many Of |
he wives of the brave fellows who have
ately set out for the Soud an had NOT |
more than a few shillings ia
make fresh start with. In civil
lie q thrifty housewife will en-
leavor to lay by small stock against
'ad times occasioned by slackness of /
work, when the bread-winner NAV.
trough force of circumstances, be CON-
Yelled to endure spell of enforced idle
less; but with the soldiers wife this
lecessity Is not SO apparent So long as
Ter husband remains in the service {ill +
r well) 50 long win he receive certain
mount Of daily pay; and although the
contingency OF his sergicesl beiso re.
ulred abroad may At times present I
sell to her mind. the pussibiiity of such i
N event IS usually overlooked until Il
rrives to find her quite unprepared. -
Putting aside the men married with
ave, there are in nearly every repi-
lent large proportion OF, men Who'll
ave got married without the necessarv +;
erInit to do SO. Although they do NOT
ctually offend against military law.
leir status as married men can not be
ecognized by the authorities The man
no marries without sanction is to all /
tactical intents and purposes looked
pom as single. He is compelled to
ontinue to mess with his comrades in
arracks. although as q rule certain
mount OF laxity IS observed in allowing
ave to sleep out of barracks. When
'gipent moves from one station to ans3
her the wives OF such men often And
a matter of extreme difficulty to scrape
gethcf the necessary funds for <tbet
.iIway Journey; although, to their
edit be it said. they as rule do man
Re to solve this difficult problem some !
az OF Other and before their husbands I
I'VE fairly settled down in their ndw
larters they are generally located in
dglng within easy distance Of the bar !.
Incredidae ns it nay seem,s not very 7
any years ago as many . three o. l
nr rseldiers' families had to accommo- c
te hemset1es in as6ngle room in bar. I
cks. the only division being curtains
etchef across. After time the au. a
orities ayoke ITO the fact that this '
Ite OF things was NOT quite what it I
'nid be, and a single room to each
nple has Along been,the order of the !,
y.-Londoh Mems. TEgH g ~ - q
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