Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-30

90 the number. The first examination
takes plnee at the age Of twenty. a
young man on receiving notice Of this
will present himself before the ex-
aiming board. which consists of n
doctor, one of the head generals and
two or three lieutenants. Here he Is
stripped, stood up against the wall and
measured much the same as we meas
ure a horse at home. The room Is
cold and cheerless. but he dare not
SILVER as Il strafe or punishment
would be apt to follow. After his
chest has been sounded. his body eN-
| amned and measured. he is free to re-
turn home, not knowing what the re-
suit of the examination may be.
In the course of few days he re-
ceives paper which, II he has been
accepted, requires him to report for
service In one year. or on such and
such date as might be named, but.
If through any physical disability he
| has not been accepted, II IL his duty
| to report one year hence, and again
| the examination is gone through with.
| r. not satisfactory the second time he
is again remanded for n year. and
| this examination is final. If not in
proper condition physically he is free
| from service.
During this ordeal two classes of
| candidates are considered, the ordinary
/
great factor in this part of the world.
so much so that If n person belongs to
| the latter class, he need not apply for
examination until twenty-one years of
age, and If he he disabled in any way
his name is stricken from the roll.
| The ordinary soldier must serve two
! years, the educated only one. During
the first four weeks both have to per-
| form all the work required of the COM
| mon soldier: after that time the for
| mer continues with the same strict
regulations. while the latter Is granted
more liberties; if he is a man of means,
| he can have servant, or If desired,
an extra horse; the common soldier is
| always addressed "Du" which signi-
fies inferority, but the man of learn
| ing Is addressed "Sle," showing more
| equality in rank.
The salary of soldier Is but trine.
90 pfennig daily, which is equal to 5lh
| cents in American money. their food
consists for the most part of black
| coffee, black bread, called "commiss
| brod," bean sausage and potatoes. The
better class are not accustomed to
such poor fare, Wills In many re-
spects II is better than the ordinary
man enjoys; nor is this all, many times
the soldiers are kept busy drilling all
day. and although they retire late at
night. perchance tine bugle sounds at
3 or o'clock in the morning. which
means that all must arise and be
ready for service in the short period of
four minutes. If any be so unfortun-
ate as to be late n severe punishment
will usually follow. and no one, / am
told. likes to show authority more
than some of these officials.
soldiers life is from q to AZ years.
that IL, at the age of 81 he is mustered
in and at As mustered out of service.
This does not mean that he Is in SER
IL, oil Irtt 1tut
he is subject to call from the
"Fatherland" at any time.
At the present time the highest office
in the German army, that OF general
field marshal. equal to our general in
chief Is vacant, for the reason that II
can only be filled in time OF war. and
since the last great war fought by
this nation the general field marshal
VINO so DISTINGUISHED himself in the
many battles, has passed to the great
beyond. Every school hoy Is familiar
with the name of Moltke, who has
been dead about five years. and who
was the last to occupy this tlme-hon
ored position.
This great general, of Danish ances-
try. is loved by all who knew him. He
was n quiet. sedate and determined
man. and for years before his death 1t
was his custom to take morning
stroll. For this purpose he arose at
Spartan-lke as he was, he had been
accustomed to sleeping upon for years
and years, and during his rambles he
always stopped at certain cafe and
took roll and n cup of coffee. Chill
dren on their way to school would
stop before the door and upon his com
ing out they would follow him to
certain confectionery shop and there
he would buy candy for them. after
which he would lift the little tots in
his arms and kiss them. Strange to
relate his head was perfectly bald, and
as result he wore wig.
Although dying of old age, up to the
last his step was quick and his coun-
tenance determined his 6h feet of
stature was hardly bent by his eighty
odd years of life, and his face showed
less wrinkles than the average man
at three score.
Today II you talk to n German about
the vacancy caused by the death of
Moltke he will tell you that the people
will be satisfied If another such as he
can be found to occupy that important
position.