Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-04-22
A LITTLE LATE,
SOLDIERS WIVES.

The general British reader knows
more, probably about the solar sys-
tenn than about the details of regimen
tai life; though he is always ready to
listen to tale of wrong like that which
was lately told about soldiers wives.
1t will be news to many that an En-
glish soldier cannot lawfully get mar
ried, or is not recognized as lawfully
married until he has completed SIX
years service and is also thepOssessOr
of a good conduct badge. Having
served the allotted period, leave has
to be obtained from the commanding
officer Of the regiment; but as a rule
permission is granted readily enough.
But even then it may be some time
before the newly-elected Benedict can
avail himself of the privileges of free
quarters.
The proportion Of married men tor
whom accommodation IS provided by
government is about ten per cent. OF
the total strength of the regiment;
and when a man has obtained the
necessary permission to enter the holy
estate it may happen that the mar
ried strength of the regiment is al
ready above the limit, in which case
he has to support his wife and self on
his regimental pay and ratlons. But
he is allowed the privilege Of Giving
out of mess" that IS to say, instead
of taking his meals in barracks with
the other men, he is permitted to Iraw
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 I'M
der such circumstances Is a mystery;
but they do, and as a rule the mar
ried men of a regiment cOntrlve to
keep up a better kit than their I'M
incumbered companions. OF course
there are exceptions; and many an
officer will be able to call to mind some
startling effects encountered in his
subaltern days on the occasion OF Exit
Inspection when what to all in
tents and purposes seemed to be a
neatly folded linen shirt or flannel
vest has proved on closer inspection
to be the remains of an article of fe-
male 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
economy a soldiers wife can, under
such conditions, enjoy a more comfor
table existence than if she is mated to
an agricultural laborer or mechanic.
But even under the most favorable
conditions 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 Sou
dan had not more than few snillings
to make a fresh start with. In civil
life thrifty housewife will endeavor
to lay by a small store against bad
times occasioned by slackness Ofwork,
when the bread-winner may, through
force of circumstances, be compelled
to endure a spell of enforced idleness;
but with the soldier 5 wife this necessi-
ty is not so apparent. So long as her
husband remains in the service Oil or
WE'LL, so long will he receive a certain
amount of daily pay; and although
the contingency OF his services beingre-
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 I'M
prepared.
Putting aside the men married
''With leave" there are in nearly
every regiment large proportion Of
men who have got married without
the necessary permit to do so. Al
though they do not actually offend
against military law, their status as
married men cannot be recognized by
the authorities. The man who mar
ries without sanction is to all practi-
cal intents and purposes looked upon
as single. He is compelled to con-
tinue to mess with his comrades in the
barracks, although as a rule certain
amount of laxity is observed in allow
ing leave to sleep out Of barracks.
When a regiment removes from one
station to another the wives OF such
men often find it a matter Of extreme
difficulty to scrape together the neces-
sary funds for the railway Journey;
although, to their credit be it said,
they as a rule do manage to solve
this difficult problem some way or
OUISI, tI1u D6lOIS UuOII IIoN Z
fairly settled down in their new quar-
tiers they are generally located in a
lodging within easy distance OF the
barrack gate. Incredible as it may
seem, not very many years ago as
many as three or four soldiers fami-
fies had to accommodate themselves
in single room in barracks, the only
divisions being curtains stretched
across. After a time the authorities
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 day.