The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-04-21
BRITISH SOLDIERS.
They Are Jaunty Fellows Who
Lead a Hard Life.
Their Pay is Poor and Their Pros
poets Worse.

The trim, well-built English soldier
is met with at every known corner OF
the earth, and one is simply counter
part of another. Outside of barracks,
on the promenade and mingling with
the passing throng-the English sol
dier is marked and prominent figure.
Erect and easy of carriage, chin-strap
down, natty forage cap widely raking
TO one side, hair nicely done; chest
like peacock's, waist tightly belted,
and boots shining clear as n mirror,
not trace of discomfort is discernable
on his sunburned features. His scarlet
jacket fits like glove, with trousers
strapped, setting clean and smooth
with scarcely wrinkle, while in his
sinewy right hand, light bamboo
stick is deftly twirled, which indeed
forms the inseparable companion of
the English soldier.
He gets four shillings n week-clear
money-but out of that he has to pro-
vide butter for breakfast and tea, and
something for supper, and all his I'M
derclothing and cleaning materials.
If he becomes n sergeant, he will re-
ceive seventeen shillings and siXpence
week-married quartcrs-coal and
gas, and two shillings will buy from
the regimental stores enough provis-
ions to supply family for fort
night.
He has about one chance in forty
to become sergeant-major, and one in
eighty to be appointed quartermaster.
If he has aptitude for drill, he may
get the position of adjutant in some
shattered, obscure regiment serving
in deadly climates of the East or West
Indies. But the soldier is out of
place, discontented, and although
treated civilly by his brother officers,
cannot hope to be received in their
circle on terms of social equality. As
an officer he receives ten shillings per
day, deriving far less comfort from
his increased allowance than when he
served in the ranks.
After serving twenty-oEe years the
English soldier lis supposed to be en-
titled 10 pension of one shilling per
diem for life, and sergeant to two
shillings. But at the end of twelve
years, his first term, he liz subjected
to so rigid medical examination
that, if his system is in the least I'M
paired by hard service, disease or
dissipation, he is rejected and dis
charged with temporary pension of
sixpence or tenpence a day for n
couple of years. Not more than 30
per cent. succeed in holding out the
prescribed time, and escape being
mercilessly turned adrift after having
become disqualified for the duties of a
civil life.
Every soldier of the English army
must go to school until he has mas
tered to certain degree the rudi-
ments of reading, writing and arith-
metic, which largely transforms him
from the slouchy, illiterate clodhop-
per into a trim, smart-appearing sol
dier. But despite the fact that Eng
lands prestige, at home and abroad,
has been largely through the deeds
and prowess of the English soldier, he
has no standing with the trades people
or the masses generally in civil life.
There are those who will drink and
carouse with him at the public house,
but he is never invited TO the homes
and family circles of those whose inter
ests he defends. He is excluded from
all such influences, is made 10 feel,
whether he be sergeant or private, up
right or besotted, that for him outside
of the barracks, there is a certain
taint enveloping his scarlet coat and
trappings that stamps him as coming
from the dregs of the great city's
drifting orerplus of human beings,
with whom there can he no social com
munion. l. Detroit Free Press.