The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-04
WIVES OF SOLDIERS.
How the Matrimonial Question Is Regu-
lated in the British Army.


lated in the British Army.
The general reader knows more,
probably, about the solar system than
about the details of regimental life;
though he is always ready to listen to a
tale of wrong like that which was lately
told about soldiers wives. 1t will be
news to many that soldier can not
lawfully get married, or is not recog-
nized as lawfully married, until he has
completed six years service and is also
the posseSSor of a good conduct badge.
Having served the allotted period, leave
has to be obtained from the command.
ing officer of the regiment; but as rule
permission is granted readily enough.
But even then it may be some time be-
fore the newly-elected benedict can
avail himself of the privileges of free
quarters"
The proportion of married men for
whom accommodation is provided by
Government is about ten per cent. OF
the total strength OF the regiment, and
when man has obtained the necessary
permission to enter the holy estate it
NAV happen that the married strength
of the regiment Is already above
the limit, in which case he has
to support his wife and self
on his regimental pay and rations. But
he is allowed the privilege of living
out of mess" that is to say. instead OF
taking his meals in barracks with the
other men he is permitted to draw his
rationS and do his best to make three
quarters of a pound of meat per diem
and one pound of bread fill two mouths
instead of one. How the men cOntrive
to make both ends meet under such cir
cumStances is mystery; but they do.
and as rule the married men of a reg
iment contrive to keep up better kit
than their unencumbered companions.
OF course there are exceptions; and
many an officer Will he able to call to
mind some startling effects encountered
in his subaltcrn days on the occasions
of ''kit inspection"-a when what to
all intents and purposes seemed to be g
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 a 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 a
share of the regimental washing. and if
she is a good laundresS, frequently has
some of the mess and officers linen to
wash. BY the practice of strict ecOno-
my 4 soldiers wife can, under such con-
ditiOns, enjoy a more comfortable ex-
istence than if she is mated to an agri-
cultural labOrer or mechanic. Bat
even under the most favorable condi-
tions it is hard to- lay by for rainy
day; and we may be sure that many of
the wives of the brave fellows who have
lately set out for the Soudan had not
more than few shillings to
make a fresh start with. In civil
life a thrifty housewife will en-
deavor to lay by small stock against
bad times OccasiOned by slackness of
work, when the bread-winner may,
through force of circumstances, be COM
PEELED to endure spell of enforced idle
ness; but with the soldiers wife this
necessity is not so apparent So long as
her husband remains in the service ill
or welD so long will he receive a certain
amount of daily pay; and although the
contingency OF his services being re-
quired abroad may at times present
itself to her mind, the possibility of such
an event is usually overlooked until it
arrives to- find her quite unprepared.
Putting aside the men married with
leave" there are in nearly every regi-
ment large proportion of men who
have got married without the necessary
permit to do, so. Although they do not
actually offend against military law,
their status as married men can not be
recognized by the authorities. The man
who marries without sanction is to all
practical intents and purposes looked
upon as, single. He is compelled to
continue to mess with his comrades in
barracks, although as rule certain
amount of laXity is observed in allowing
leave to sleep out of barracks. When a
regiment moves from one station to an
other the wives of such men often find
it matter of extreme difficulty to scrape
together the necessary funds for the
railway journey; although, to their
credit be it said, they as a rule do man.
age to solve this difficult problem some
way or other, and before their husbands
have fairly settled down in their new
quarters they are generally located in Il
lodging within easy distance of the bar
rack gate.
Incredible as it may seem, not very
many years ago as many as three or
four soldiers families had to accommO-
date themselves in a single room in bar
racks. the only division being curtains
stretched across. After a time the au-
thorities awoke to the fact that this
state of things was not quite what it
should be, and single room to each
couple has long been the order of the