The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-04

The EARL
The yearly drawing of numbers has taken
place this month. and during the two or
three days while it was going on the streets
were full of very fantastic looking young
men. They know now what is to become
of them next autumn, for the numbers in
dictate whether they are to be sent on board
the men-of-war, which service is cordially
detested, or to some more favored spot.
1t must be confessed that the young con-
scripts are a most rowdy looking lot of
boys. Their numbers are pinned on their
hats and pompons and tri-colored rosettes
on coats, and it seems necessary for them
TO link arms and go shouting through the
streets. Frequent stops at cafes neither
improve their department nor appearance,
and the French 'Arrys" and "Arriets" eX-
change hats and rosettes In quite Hamp-
stead Heath fashion. If they are not very
romantic looking subjects, the majority
that promenade the streets, much is eX-
cused in the conduct of the conscripts, and
it is a very daring piece of 'rowdyism' that
calls forth the interference of the police.
Poor chaps. They will have discipline
enough later on" is the general feeling,
and they certainly brighten uE the streets
and cafes, which always seem particularly
dull just before carnival season.
There are certainly, as well, more at
tractive groups, for 1t seems to be an ac-
copied fact that the family shall dine the
young soldier in some restaurant; and
sometimes very manly and often very boy
ish he looks, seated between mother and
grandmother, and playing the host to the
others of the party, which often includes
an enviouS little brother and adoring sister
or two.
The question that naturally rises in dis
cussing this subject is, Is the CONSUMPTION
absolutely necessary, and cannot money or
influence prevent it? In regard to the
question of money. we have as example
the cas- celebre of last year. which was
hardly ended by the death of poor little
Max Lebaudy. If the little sugar prince
had not been so sick, he would undoubt-
edly have been released from the army on
account of his undoubted ill health, and
have ended his few years in the cruel en-
vironments of a military hospital. He was,
without doubt, a d~issipated lad. and his
friends were using every influence in their
power to obtain his release. Certain papers
of radical or socialistic policy made such
a point of this circumstance. and drew
such parallels between the condition OF the
rich mans son and the offspring of the
poor man, that, although this poor rich
chap was dying of the mill
Nobody denies that all sorts of under
handed methods were employed to further
his discharge, but the ways in which the
poor boy had been robbed, fleeced and then
neglected were not known until after his
death, when Mile. De Maisy. who was sup
tainly his best friend, resigned her position
at the TheGter Francois to testify in public
court.
So much for the opposition of money.
AS for position or influence, ii was only a
few years ago when one of the SONS of the
late President Carnot was serving his term
as a private soldier. Another son is an
officer. and graduate of the military col
lege of st. Cyr. but that is because he has
made of a necessity a profession. 1t is time
that if a boy takes certain prizes in the
Sorbonne. or even in the national school of
painting and architecture, the Beaux Arts,
he is exempt from more than one year of
military duty. provided he is not called
upon for the months duty. for which every
Frenchman. even after he has served his
term. is liable. But a military service of
one year is certainly something to be con-
sidered. if one were TO choose where one
would wish to be born.
The only son of Il widow. If he can prove
that he is her only support. often gets off
with only u months service, and there are
other conditions which modify the law.
For instance. the son of a naturaliZed citi-
zen only serves two years in place of the
legal three, and some few years ago the
fact of an elder son doing service when
the younger became of age enabled the sec
ond to escape with little time.
The laws are more strict now, for sta
tisticS show that the French army is sadly
decreasing in numbers. compared with the
German corps. and it is the principal thing.
after all, that that pretty head dress of
Alsatian lows shall become once more 10
mean French soil.