The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-06-13
In Camp at Aldershot.

In Camp NJ Al0erShOt.
NY friends, stationed at the camp.
receive me with the frank, generous
hopitality of the English officer, and
their kind and friendly treatment soon
makes me feel thoroughly at home
among them, free to go as I please,
and to make my acquaintance with
Tommy Atkins at my leisure All
branches Of the service are represented
here-engineers and artillery, "horse,
foot, and dragons" and all the varied
types OF character in the army are to
be met with, from tie little drummer
boy born in the service to the hard
ened nOn-commissioned officer of a
dozen campaigns. Magnificent types
of the soldier these latter, as they pass
through the streets with ringing
strides, straight as arrows, neat as soap
and water, pipe-clay and brush. can
make them, proud of their position and
of their profession, and often exercis-
ing fully as much authority over the
men under them as the best of their
officers.
A canteen where the soldier can pur-
chase at moderate rates many Of the
little luxuries of life, libraries, reading
smoking and recreation rooms, are at
tached to the large barracks at Alder
shot. Here theatrical performances,
often of considerable merit, are fire.
quentlygiven by the men, and the SOL
diers can ALWAYS rely upon the generous
support Of their officers in their amuse-
ments. The theater or music hall at
the Royal Artillery Barracks is gener-
ally we'll attended almost anv evening,
and good -song and dance" man en-
joys no mean degree Of popularity
among his comrades.
But it is in the innate love that all
Englishmen bear for athletic sport that
Tommy" comes out in his full glory,
and his officers do not disdain to meet
him on equal grounds at cricket, foot
ball, and other outdoor games. Diff
ferent branches of the service frequent
~ meet in friendly rivalry, and many q
match is played on the grounds of the
officers club between teams of various
regiments or corps, selected from among
the officers and men. irrespective Of
their military rank. It is not an un-
usual sight to see a game among the
officers "umpired" by some veteran nom
commissioned officer, skilled in all the
intricacies of the national game Of
cricket.
The most interesting of the purely
martial sports-if can use the word
in reference to what forms part of the
drill OF the cavalry and mounted o. til
1ery--are the exciting contests of saber
versus saber, or saber versus lance, and
the like, when some rival "'rongh-
riders" are pitted against one another.
One can easily imagine how the tourna-
ments of old appeared, to see those
active fellows, mounted on their fine
horses. which seem to sympathize will,
and enter into the spirit OF their riders,
as, clad in stout leather tunics. their
beads protected with strong, wire masks,
they charge down on one another, cut
ting, thrusting. and parrying, retreat
ing and pursuing. Hard knocks are
given and received with apparent
good-lumor, though I doubt not that
long habits of discipline restrain many
an honest fellows temper when his
blood is up It is rough and manly
work, and one does not wonder, on see
ing what training they go through, thai
the British horsemen are renowned fol
their courage and dexterity. Another
sport in which the nerve and GOODNESS
that go so far toward making a goot
cavalier are displayed to great advan
tage is tent-pegging, introduced. | be
lieve, into the British army by The
native cavalrymen Of the Indian service
The player. armed with light bambot
lance, puts his horse at full gallon
over the course, AMI strikes with HI
lance head tent peg protruding few
inches out of the ground, into whlcl
one end has been firmly driven. Se'
how firmly yet lightly the soldier sit
on his horse, body bent forward, lane
couched, laundering forward at tn
top of his horses speed. Lower dow
on his chargers neck, tighter clasp o
the legs, nearer and nearer-the exec
moment must be rightly chosen
slight turn OF the wrist of the prac
ticed bride hand--now! crash and Ii
swings back upright into the saddle
waving the light lance triumphantl
above his head, with the spGntere
piece of wood transtixed on its iro
point. II. +. /og baum, iae Harper
Magazine.
In the fifty-eisht provinces OF Euro
pean Russia there are 1864, ,123 horses
of which number nearly 5000, 600 AZ
y t,n