The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-05-24

The Queer Drilling OF Holland's Happy
Go-Lucky Militia.

letter in the ~ Y. Tribune. The ma
tional drfenses are In disorganized
condition. and the Dutch would be un-
able I'd offer much resistance TO any In
yasion. Reform is the cry on every
hand. aud universal CONSUMPTION Is adj
yocated on all sides; but no one seems
to feel disposed To carry the matter
through. As things now are. no
Dutchman need serve in the regular
army IL he can pay for his substitute.
The consequence Is that the rich are
opposed 10 universal conscription. be-
cause they do not want 10 serve. aud
the poor are against il because they
would no longer receive the large sums
which their children earn by serving
"a substitutes. Every man. however
between the age of % and 40 Is forced
to belong To the militia. or schuttery.
as 1t is designated in Holland. The
latter numbers about = per cent of the
entire population. But il is quite
harmless, and partakes 10 a certain ex-
tent of the nature of the opera com
ique.
Nothing can be more amusing than
TO watch the schutters on their way TO
TO drill late in the afternoon of sum-
mer and autumn days. They can
scarcely be described as presenting
martial appearance in their blue and
red uniforms. with their shakoes
perched rakishly on one side of their
head, the chin strap barely reaching
down TO the nose, cigar or pipe in
the mouth, and an Notwithstanding
old musket carried over the shoulder,
butt end upward. AT the close of his
drill the bold militiaman. whose port
w figure causes him 10 dislike any
violent exercise, sends his gun aud
bayonet home by porter or dientst-
man, who is often as not his corporal
or sergeant. and then adjourns to
beei-garden. There he spends the re-
mainder of the evening with "A number
of equally martial blades, washing
down the accumulated dust of the
mimic battlefield with copious liba-
tions, and consigning the founder of
the schuttery to the darkest depth OF
hades.
In winter when IL rains or SHOWS the
monthly drill at Rotterdam. Amster-
dam, and other important cities usual
~ takes place under cover in the boursc
after the business of the day is over
The drill scrgeants, however. dislike
this; for il doubles their work. since
the schutters devote far more attention
20 the figures of the afternoon stock
quotations, still chalkcd upon the
board, than to the figures of drill.
Thus, for instance, when the sergeant
shouts out: '.Schutter Jansenl What
do YOU mean by standing there like
thatp Keep your feet together and
your stomach in" Jansen, who is lost
in the contemplation OF the board. ex-
claims by way Of response: "Herr
Gott! Ninety-siX and half per cent?
am In nice holem
The officers of the militia regiments
are exceedingly gorgeous creatures,
with their long. clanking sabers their
pumed hats, and their profuson of
gold lace. Their knowledge OF things
military Is but one degree superior to
that of the men under their command.
Tor they have been forced To drill for
two hours week during period. OF
six weeks with the regular line regi-
mcnt. Under ordinary circumstances
they manage TO fulfill their duty after
n fashion. but during the annual ma
neuyers they are subjected 10 great
trials. A schuttcr captain will be-
standing in front OF ms company. when
corporal acting as orderly approaches
with the following message: The
enemy Is close at hand. The colonel
sends you his very best compliments
aud wishes 10 know if YOU would oblige
him by leading your men TO attack"
All 40 once the latent patriotism and
military ardor OF the captain blaze
forth. lie draws his sword. and call
ing on his soldiers TO follow him, rushes
10 meet the imaginary enemy. Sud-
denly MS advance il checked by a shall
low ditch filled with muddy water.
This causes his fierccness 10 abate. for
he would not for all the world soil his
uniform. He pauses for few seconds
All at once happy thought strikes
him. Fire by yolleys!" he cries to
his men Immediately the ramrods
are heard To rattle in all the enormous
barrels of tho old muskets. and min
ute later the hammers fall with a
clicking noise OF old metal. For
the miitiamen are not only forbidden
the use Of gunpowder, but are even de-
MED percussion caps. In the middle
OF all this the adjutant OF the regiment.
who is invariably an officer of the reg
ular army. dashes up on horseback
and cxclaims in frantic tones to the
captain:
Good heavensl man. don't you
know that in case of yolley firing the
officers must not stand in front of the
muzzle of their mems guns?H
Nowisc Disconnected. the captain
pulls his handbook Of military regula-
lations out of his pocket and. after