Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-06

yening at cost varying from III. 10 'u'
II at the end OF the seven years SER
ice the soldier does not wish TO JOIN
ho army reserve, hut serves on TO COM
.,lr,e ,wenty-one years service. he re-
,eIvcs on final discharge. lump sum
OF s2s deferred pay, and pension OF
IA a oay for life. a sergeant. under
slniIar circumstances. receives sum OF
fss. and pension varying from -. 20 IS.
"a "a day while the pensions OF warrant
officers run TO r.. Ga. per diem.
Passing now TO the life of the SOL
dier he is kept hard ut work for the
frat three months OF his service; but
recently the drill has been rendered
much less irksome by being combined
with cymnastic trimming. which Is car
ried on uninterruptedly for ten weeks
the men being excused all duties when
may interfere with their regular attenc-
ance. which lasts for an hour ana IL
half daily, being divided into morning
and afternoon lesson. There were at
first some commanding officers VINO Ia
mented this innovation, thinking 1t wouI-
delay squad-drill. but every one now ad-
rnits Il has quickencd ii to an extraor-
binary degree, the recruits limbs being
rendered so much more lissom, ana the
hour and a half which they spend az
which Is now required TO pass into the
first squad. -,
After the young soldier has been dis
roissed drill. he has to attend two, and
at SOME stations more. parades Day
and to 90 on guard, which comes to his
turn about every fourth, fifth, or sixth
dav. When l was at Aldershot 1t only
AVERAGED once In three weeks, ana ali
general officers should keep down THIS
time-was,ing duty. When not on guard
or detailed for fatigue duties, such as
carrying coal, sweeping and cleaning
barracks, the infantry soldier is gene
rally master Of his time from about 8
to $50 i. NJ. when he has 70 be III par
racks. Should he prefer to remain IN
barracks in the evening, IL he is oil
conyivial nature, there IL now III tne
new barracks a good canleeh 10 ""'0 (,
n miniature music hall IS attacheu' anu
there is q recreation room, where ne eau
smoke and have all the Doohs anu
naners which are to be found in A Lon
don club. and where lie can at all times
Get tea and coffee These rooms are
fairly lit. but the lighting Of barrack-
rooms leaves something TO be desired.
There are Came-rooms in which he can
amuse himself. and library In each
regiment in barracks, well supplied with
hooks Nearly every want IS supplied
on payment In the regimentai institute
at the lowest rates consistent win d
slight increase OF capital.
Chaplains 10 whom much OF the I'M
movement in the tone Of cur soldiers Is
due. organize smoking concerts. in whlch
they are generally assisted by o.iee''
of the battalions, who cheerfuuy give
IN tne;r mess dinner for an early feei
in order to take part IN entertainments
desiened 10 keep the soldiers from GONG
out into the towns. In every corps Il,
the service there Is now a cricket aiiu
football club, in which nearly an III.
men are interested, even II they GO ho'
play. 49, 40.
If we turn now to the state OF the ac'
tive army in 1897. we find that at home
in India. and the Colonies, there are l9'VN
electives. and 1900 in the army Oh re-
serves. Numbers alone, however, gave
no ADEQUATE idea Of the efficiency or al
army for fed service. and without al
leging that our arrangements are yet per
feet for. indeed, there remains huCi
10 be done, yet il may be conhaehtiy aS
serted that as regards the department.
or auxiliary branches, which ciothe' cure
subsist, and transport the army ana d.
therefore essential for its weh-pelhS II
tho fold we have never previously DeeI
,n co efficient a state. The growth Of
tba volunteer forces and our innumeraDl'
minor wars have made the army knowi
a. the taxpayers. and the War once
has thus been enabled 10 Organize mo
dern system, which has replaced the
hand-to-mouth fashion prevailing Sky
years ago.
EVELYN WOOD. V. c.. q. c. b.