The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-30

Each deail has Deem Tldctf~ro again
and again, and when the day for TINS.
general inspection comes. when the cap
Tin and later ilte colonel pass Judgment
on the Finished scholar. 1t Is a weignty
moment for pupil and teacher aIike.
Then our recruit enters his regiment IN
correct form, and his heart sweiis with
Joy ard seIf-impo-tancs. as he feels nini-
self the buiwark Of his eeuntry's safety.
So far the insarsryznan. Up 10 eer-
tain point the training for the artkkafy
is mulch the Same, the handling OF the
gums comes later, but for the cavalry
man there is the important item Of rid
ing and handling his mount. which he
must learn as we'll as all the other de-
tails OF the service. As a rule the men
allotted TO the cavalry have had pre-
vious experience in the treatment OF
horses. or at least a love for and an in
terest in the animal, but even then they
must learn the very rudimeEts OF milf
sary riding. AS the cavalry recruits are
brought up in the fall. they have swo
months or more during which they can
have al hour or 50 a day of riding in
the open field. and in small garrisons.
where the district is sufficiently rural.
the men wander anout the country with
perfect freedom that they may learn the
ground and the best method OF overcosrl-
ing natural obstacles. During the win
ter In the ring comes the fancy riding.
with and without saddle. jumping. using
the lance and sabre on horseback,
doubling up" all the other arts neces-
sary for the perfect calyarynlan-
In the southeastern provinces, where
- 49,. . - ~
they must often be taught the rudi-
ments of German, adding an extra thorn
to the already rough couch OF the nom
commissioned officers.
Another large and important section
Of the recruit army Is that of the lone
year volunteers These are the men
OF good family who can find no excuse
To escape from the service, but have
their term shortened to one veal ON con-
siderltiom of their bearing all expense
OF uniform, ETC., as well as for board in
the barracks. Students of medicine
and theology If they can pass the neces-
sary examinations, need serve but six
months, and the service has no further
claims ON the volunteer after his time
is UP, unless he intends becoming off,
Ger OF the reserve, in which case he is
Called in a certain number of weeks
every year.
The one year volunteers receive their
preliminary training among themselves
and do not come In contact with the
ordinary recruit until they join the regi-
ment. Otherwise the treatment and in
struction is exactly the same, only those
aspiring to the rank of officer receive
of nj hi,
The volunteers wear the same uniform
as the regular private. but are recogniz-
able by a tiny twisted black and white
cord running around the epaulet. In
spite of the democratic Laws of the
army, the volunteer undoubtedly has an
easier time of 1t than the common re-
cruit. The corporal may occasionally
take, In word at least, an undue adj
vantage of the authority his position
gives him over men of more privileged
Class. but even his duty-hardened heart
Is not unsusceptible TO the charms of an
occasional bottle or dainty sausage
handed him on the sly. and the thought
OF the possible good things may soften
ais rigor just a little. The absolute
authority of the non-commsssioned Of
ficer himself a man of the people. over
the recruits in his charge, sometimes
leads him TO excuses and tales Of cruel
~ crop out here and there. which are
no great credit to u civilized nation in
the latter half of the 10Th century. But
10 the corporafS credit. In one instance
at least. Ii must BE confessed that dur
Ing the recent inv estigations held by
the prince of a southern state. the re-
suit proved the officers of the regiment
Tar more to blame for the cruel
treatment of their privates, than their
Interiors who had but obeyed orders
This. unfortunately, is an unusual case
Tor however generous towards the COR
poral he may wish to be, stories of cruel
~ and brutality seem less dreadful
when laid TO the debt of uneducated
peasants than to men who have had
every advantabe Of birth and breeding
However, these glimpses OF the dark
side Of military life are not all too fire.
Quent. and IL must be acknowledged
that the three years training has some
excellent results, mental and physical,
for The average peasant or workman.
He learns habits of neatness, punctuaI-
ity and obedience, respect for authority,
the new aspect of life broadens his men,
tai horizon, the physical training makes
him strong, supple and agile, the regll-
TAR habits of life in barracks aid in the
strengthening of mind and body, and
render him all the more serviceabfe in
ia. "a. trade he may embrace when
the state rpiea sesS ifs rtafu1E oyes. hin,