The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1889-10-11
ENGLISH ARMY LIFE.
Scenes and Incidents Along the
Paths OF Glory.
Jolly Young Suhaitcrns Who Never Miss
ANY Fun and Never Pay Cent
Little to Do and Little
to Get.

The road to a commission in the
British army leads through the Sand
hurst Military College-England's 8
West Point--which is romantically sit
uated in Surrey. Having gained ad-
mission to this portal by dint of pass
ing more OR less creditable examina-
ton at the hands Of the Civil-Service
Commissioners, the juvenile gentle
man cadet" as he is euphoniously
termed, il instructed for year, or a
year and a half, according to his capa-
bilities, in the elements of the various
branches of military science, at the
end of which probationary period he
is gazetted to a regiment of cavalry or
infantry, having achoice of regiments,
according to his position in the final
examination.
Sandhurst is q place looked upon
with various feelings by those who
havo, alta carly stage of their careers,
participated in its slightly dubious
joys. Recollections of the "toshing"
of Objectionable or bumptious aspi-
rants to military glory-the operation
consisting in the singing, head down.
wards, of the hapless ''toshee" to the
head of his cot, and literally sluicing
him with cold water-tho frequent
drills, incessant study and school-boy
restrictions such us compulsory bed at
nine o'clock during the first term. The
proud sensation of emerging from the
rank of smoker "a cadet in his first
half year), the annual ball and many
other memories, are either treasured
or detested. as the possessor was a
popular fellow, or the reverse. 1t is a
place where man very soon finds his
level; the inane scion Of the noble
house of Bareacres is toshed with as
little ceremony. and, If any thing,
more zest than the hope Of the Man.
chester magnate. The army is no re-
'specter OF persons, and if man is a
gentleman in himself he is valued and
liked, and taken by his companions
for what they find him.
The final ordeal being successfully
passed, the youthful subaltern pro-
ceeds on two months leave OF absence,
presumably granted bya paternal gov
ernment to allow him to be photo
graphed in every conceivable attitude
and unifprm--during which period he
provides himself with kit, costing
$500 or $500, If his election be the line,
more than treble that sum If the cav
airy. and having been duly admired
by his various feminine acquaintances,
repairs at its expiration to the head
quarters Of his regiment, and duly re-
ports his arrival. Now begins the
real pleasure of existence; handed
over TO the tender mercies OF drill
sergeant, he, in company with several
raw recruits, plods painfully through
tho amazing ntricacies of the English
drill book. Finally the adjutant pro-
nounces him fully disciplined, and he
energies In all the splendor OF full
blown officer Quarters, fuel and
light of sorts-are provided by
the powers that be, the contents
Of the first being invariably
a barrack bed, fender and table,
with two ancient wooden chairs of sur
prising hardness and discomfort; 9
dilapidated bellows and ragged hearth
brush complete the furniture" )" which
is duly set forth and registered on ar
inventory board placed under his care.
III However, with the aid of his soldier
servant and the barrack supply store,
he rapidly evolves very snug ant
cheerful domicile. hiring the goods hs
fancies at more or less--usually more
--extortionato monthly rate.
His inner man is provided for at thu
mess, where every thing is 'done" IL
the best possible manner, comfort ant
luxury being studied in the most mi
mute details. There is but one draw
back, tho monthly mess bill. that bug
bear OF the junior officer, living like ,
Prince On the munifcent stipend o
dollar and thirty cents per diem
plus the allowance, averaging five hun
dred dollars a year. made him by hi
relatives How it is done is mex
plicable; the writer never understood
how he did it himself. but it is, never
theless, d fact that the youthful sub
Is always we'll dressed. does prett.
nearly every thing in the way Of amuse
ment he wants to. lives like lord, goe
everywhere. denies himself nothing
and never seems in want Of money, o.
an income OF little or nothing per an
nun! He has the entree into the bes
socioty, and Is looked upon with nue.
favor by The charming demoiselle
with whom he comes in contact, 8
much so that good match (from tn
mans point OF yiew) has proved tn
salvation Of many spondthrift so
vf Mars Mars and Venus havo o