Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-11-26

tertnaster. IN his numerous leisure hourt
he comp0acs variations on the principal
airs Of civilian Tell" and Norma
thanklcss task, sewing that these airs Of
Rossini aud Bellini are good enough for
most people in their original form. bat
II Il his pride to sce his name on pro.
gramme In company with these great
nnes. and ~ ho works away at his Ain
from william Tell. arranged ldersngcdi.
by n. bandmaster ~ the forty-scc.
ond Light Foot" Just a. every English
chemist has composed a special tooth
powder. every French handmaster has
composed an arrangement ~ William
Tell"
Here comes the colonel on horseback.
lie looks sad and caroworn. No won.
der. cxclaims Jules Noriac. three thou.
sand men to manage. aud the variations
on William Tell to hear every day Al
dinner
Ipass over the lieutenant colonel and
tls, chief of squadron 10 have the plea
suro ~ introducing 90 you a few subal
terms. the non non-commissioned officers. and
the French Tommy Atkins. Who i called
"Pit0u" by his compatriots.
The married officer kecT~ 90 himself
and does his list a. keep his wife al
home. French susceptibilitic-. In bar
racks especially. are som wounded. and
he wants 10 avoid the possibility of quar-
rels that might arise from the dear
ladies taiilc lie does wool work In his
spare moments. and looks forward o. the
time when he will H. able 20 retire on
his pension. lie j. peace loving man.
In the army ;natrimony l. the grave Of
glory.
Tho serious officer j. the one who looks
for promotion. lie i soldier by pro
fcs,ion and by vocation. lie studies
tactics and military history, and prao.
ticcs fencing. shooting at targets, swim
ming and all athletic sports lie has the
campaigns % Napoleon at his hngen
ends. You will always see him poring
over MAPS. lie studi,. geography and
the German language. lie j. ~ opinion
that when the French can all spcak Ger.
man. the PruS-ans will have a hard
time.
The officer u fortune j. the one who
has not got any-and runs into debt.
Give him a wide berth: be- !. the bully
% the regiment. very quick 10 take of.
fense. anI oycrticklish ON the point q
honor.
The officer Who has risen from the
rank. /. very popular with the soldiers.
Nho-e want. be knows much hotter than
10 the Young lieutenants fresh from THE
miliiaTy-school. Ills messmaies say "he
is not a gentleman. lie l.. however. a
good soldier and a trusty. straightfor'
ward man. II 10 true that his manners
aro not refined. He can speak very fair
French, bat prefers bad language. and
can swear for a quarter of an hour with
cut using the sam. oath twice.
remember. during the Franco-Prus-
sian war. happened TO b. equar'crcd for
a day la an aristocratic household In
Lorraine with lieutenant Of this type.
Trembling at the thought Of my worthy
friends unruly member. ! seated myself
at oar hosts dinner table. All went well
until tho conversation unluckily fcll
upon military marches, when the lady
III the house wanted to know whether
the fcct did not suffer very much with
such a quantity u walking 90 do every
day In the hot weather.
"I1l tell YOU what. maam, said lac.
you must never wash the feet. | never
do. Grease them well with tallow and
they'll H. all night"
The lady wished she had not spoken.
Later on there was whist party
formed In the drawing room. and my
comrado was asked II he would make
fourth at a little table where three old
whist PLAYER. were already seated. ready
o. enjoy their favorite game.
"wiih pleasure. I'm SURE, said he.
comfortably installing himself In the
empty chair-''only must tell you ]
never played before"
The face of the old gentleman opposite,
a. he looked at him over his spcctaclc-,
Vas study.
The sergeant major j. prctcniious lie
will tell YOU that II be were a civilian be
could occupy position that very few
officers would h. able 10 III When be
rctircs 10 private life h. boasts Of having
b.en a sergeant major.
The corporal, 10 b. seen In all his
glory. must b. studied when be has
written report to make % the colonel
lie l. a good fellow. who rules four men.
AMI deiies all rules u grammar. HE
spelling i. phonetic; yet be- loves long
words. and his reports bristle with such
words a. nevertheless. notwithstanding
lie l. regarded by his four men a. an au
thority on elegant diction. A private
may H. able To spell. but corporal never
such Il the deep rooted belief of all
French officers. was present one day
when corporal came to the doctor with
one of his men who was unfit for the
saddle. The doctor examined him aud
found him suffering from rheumatism.
The corporal proceeded % ill up the
requisite form for the mans admission
To the nearest military hospital
"Can YOU spell rheumatism, corporalF
said the doctor.
II think can. doctor. thank you ~
Piled be. saluting.
That corporal was Louis Coetloyon.
one Of the leading journalists Of Paris.
who had volunteered soon after the out.
break of the war. We had a good laugh
over the incident when told the doctor
of his blunder.
"what business has he to be a corporal
II he can spolly' exclaimed the surgeon,
who was little BIT sorry for what had
happened.
Pitou serves his country for the mod
est sum of two sous day. lie receives
one sou cash. and the other l. placed to
his credit until his term Of service l.
over. when he Is presented with a sum
representins as many sous, plus interest.
a. he has spent days In the army. OF
course his pay IL not often his only
source of revenue. Many soldiers work
at some trade inside the barrack. and
those who come from the middle classes
are well supplied with pocket money
from home--even the PEASANTS son Il
sure to receive little help every month.
lie rises at 5 in the morning. and as
there Is no food served before 4, he goes
straight 90 the canteen and has his petit
,errc "a tablespoonful of brandy II,
toeses II at one dranght. drains the dregs
out In his palms and touches up his hair
with H.
Great fraternity prevails In the bar.
ncks. II there are any empty pockets.