Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-07


rates of pay have been selected from Ordl-
nary regiments extra pay Is put down rs
given to guards and engineers serving IN
the London district. and yearly additions
Mt that rate have been calculated as the
value of allowances To each otiicer. ms
is because 10 estimate OF pay would be
fair which, taking account as we nave dohc
above of the extra expenses 10 winch officers
are nut left out of account the many al
lOwances which are made 20 them besides
their money paw. These allowances COM
prise lodging, candles. coal, cheap service,
forage. &c They are usually given IN
kind. and 1t is only in the case of guards
and engineers serving IN tie London DIS
trict that we find them IN the pay-warrant
committed for a definite sum n money,
which even then in the case Of the guards
excludes forage. The allowances them
selves are as a rule on the whole more
valuable than the money they are conf
muted for.
stiff enough to make it pretty certain that
no one who has not fair brains and a good
education shall pass. At WOOlwhich. sup
posino that he passes, he Will remain two
wears. at Sandhurst only one. The age at
which he may 90 up IS from sixteen TO
eighteen for WOOlwhich. and from seven
teen to twenty for SandhurSt, with an ex-
tension for university candidates 10 twenty
1
sixteen to twenty-five.
This varying age creates a difficulty
all the way through IN the attempt to
make distinct tabular statements as 10
what a man NAV expect TO enjoy III the
way Of income or dignity AT any given period
of his after-career. The real importance
of il will only be seen when we come to the
question. later on, of compulsory retire
ment. Five or six years difference IN the
age at which a man obtained his commis-
sion may make all the difference, at some
turning point IN his career OF whether he
is promoted or obliged 10 leave the army
in the prime of life. II is, therefore. dis
tinctly to the advantage of the individual
officer TO have passed his examination as
young as possible.
"For this reason the way into the army
through the militia has come generally TO
be looked upon rather as an extra chance for
those who failed in getting IN through the
military colleges then as desirable alter
native in itself. Militia candidates after
passing the preliminary examination
spoken of above join a militia corps.
In years time they 60 up for
not competitive. Surprising this 10 be
passed, they then prepare for final ex-
animation, which is about the same as
Sandhurst cadets have to pass on leaving
the college before getting their commits
sions. The preparation tor this is usually
done by private cTammer and may take
from six months to a year, according TO the
industry and ability OF both pupil and
master
"The only rule or limit enforced by the
military authorities is that the candidate
must have gone through two trainings
with his militia corps anda certain amount
of drill, and obtained a certificate of pro-
ficiency on these heads; and that he must
also have completed fifteen months ser
vice i'm the militia before the 18th of Janu-
airy for the spring examination, or before
the 18th of July for the autumn examine
ton. Fulfilling all these conditions he Is
allowed TO compete up to the age OF thirty
three, and may have three trials within
that age. Militia candidates can there
fore enter the army at later age than any
Others. and men, who have failed Tor their
last Sandhurst examinations or who decide
rather late in favor IA military career, can
sometimes make up time and get IN this
way. From the parental point OF view II -,
of course, as disadvantageous as from the
future officers point OF view TO prolong
the period Of preliminary education more
than can be helped.
either wav considerable. The boys who
pass straight from school form a compare
lively small number Of the best candi-
dates The usual thing is first TO spend
year or two with q crammer at cost OF
about 1900 year. Then. as cadets, if they
90 through the military colleges, they
must be left for two years at Woolwich or
for one year at Sandhurst at Il cost which
is nominally $40 or $50 year for sons of
officers and Gl50 for sons of civilians,
but which amounts in reality. with
uniforms and other expenses, 10 con-
siderably more. Passing through the
militia Is rather more expensive rs a rule,
though there is scope for individual econo-
NV. On the whole. supposing the candi-
dates to be sons of civilians of fair average
ability going mp for their preliminary ex-
animation at sixteen and getting their CON-
missions at twenty, the process of putting
them into the army may be said 10 cost
roughly from 600 to f250 year for that
time. and certainly altogether, If final ont
AT be taken into consideration, not less
than fi.o0O. Young fellows of more than
average ability aud spirit, especially, Of
course. il they are officers sons. will do il
for less. buffers who miss their examina-