The herald., 1897-06-13

guards was permitted to exchange with
the observation-disclosures of the battalion,
in spite Of the fact that the senior major
had nearly 40 years service, had been in
several actions in the peninsula, was en-
gagged at Waterloo, and whose name was
recorded for purchase but who was un-
able to give the over-regulation price of
the lieutenant colonelcy. The greatest
gain, however, from the abolition of pur-
chase lies in the fact that officers now
being professional soldiers have much
more influence over their men than for
merly. The duty of instructing the nom
commissioned officers and privates has
rendered my brethren more alive to their
serious responsibilities, and has en-
abled them to obtain a greater know
ledge of the feelings actuating their
comrades in the ranks
The young soldier of today, on join
ing, is in a very different position from
that of his predecessor 60 years ago. He
is supplied with a complete outfit of
clothing, and a kit containing all such
necessaries as brushes, combs, razors,
etc. He is supplied periodically, later,
with the principal articles of his uni
form without charge; but he has to
hSSP dp Tie utCeSSdIltS. WHICH lHCluu6
underclothing, at his own expense, and
to pay for any repairs to clothing while
it is in wear. He pays for groceries.
vegetables, and personal washing. the
cost Of which varies now from Sd. to
4d per diem, but his bedding is washed
by government.
1t is a fair estimate to put a soldiers
rations, pay, lodging and clothing as
equivalent to 15s. week, which sum
increases gradually according to tn,
soldiers conduct, and consequent pro-
motion. He is credited also with a sum
of G3 per annum under the head of de
ferred pay" (which is given to him on
his joining the army reserve or at the
expiration of his service. After deduct
ing all stoppages, a well-conducted SOL
dier of our infantry-the lowest paid ot
our army-may reckon on having As.
week as pocket-money. On the other
hand, he sacrifices a great deal of his
personal freedom; but it must be re-
membered that if he were employed in
civil life on a weekly wage, this ceases
on his becoming ill, and he would have
to pay for medical treatment, which to
the soldier is afforded free. I'd. per diem
being, however, stopped from his pay
while he remains in hospital
There is mixture of feudalism and
parish life in battalion. Scarcely
regiment exists which has not a char
table fund, and in most corps either the
colonels wife or one of the rgmental
ladies plays the double part of the
squire's daughter and parsons wife
rolled into one. There are Christmas
festivities for the soldiers families, and
in cases of death, or even of outbreak Of
infantile sickness, not only is money
forthcoming, but have known personal
GERS wives, under the most distressing
conditions.
Although some corps have a better
regimental system than others, yet in
the majority of the mounted corps the
men have coffee or cocoa at a. m.
served outside the stables. All branches
of the service have, as rule, bread and
butter, with, in some cases, bacon,
Drawn, or some such relish for break
fast. For dinner they have boiled, baked
or roast meat, and generally pudding
of some kind, the rations being in
creased by grants from the regimental
institu tes to the company messing
book. Not only are the cooks stimulated
by the monetary prices given for gen.
eral excellence of dinners throughout
the month, but it is the duty of com.
manding officers and of company officers
to see the bill of fare from day to day,
and that the company books correspond
in the quantities of groceries to the food
which is provided. Between 4.30 and 5
p m. there is always tea with sugar and
milk, and bread with generally either
butter or jam.
The appetites and the habits of re-
cruits vary greatly, according to the
locality from which they join. Whereas
some men will eat but little more than
the ration provided, many recruits will
in addition consume bowl of soup,
which in most corps is given free, fer
supper, and at the regimental institute
a substantial and paatabe evening
meal, which is obtainable throughout
the evening at cost varying from ID
to 4d.
If at the end of the seven years service
the soldier does not wish to join the
army reserve, but serves on to complete
21 years service, he receives, on final
discharge, lump sum of 936 deferred
pay), and a pension Of Is day for life
A Sergeant under similar circumstances
receives a sum of G63 and a pension
varying from IS. to IS. Cd. day, while
the pensions of warrant officers run tc
As Cd per diem.
Passing now to the life of the soldier,
he is kept hard at work for the first
three months of his service; but recent
ly the drill has been rendered much less
nastic training, which Is carried on un-
for 10 weeks, the men be-
ing excused ali duties which may inter
fere with their regular attendance,
which lasts for an hour and a half daily,
being divided into a morning and after
noon lesson. There We're at first some
commanding officers who lamented this
innovation, thinking it would delay
squad drill but everyone now admits
it has quickened it to an extraordinary
degree, the recruits limbs being rem
dered so much more lissom. and the
hour and half which they spend at
gymnastics materially shortens the
I me which is now required to pass into
the first squad
After the young soldier has been dis
missed from drill he has to attend two,
and at some stations more, parades a
day, and to go on guard, which comes to
his turn about every fourth, fifth or
sixth day. When l was a Adershot it
only averaged once in three weeks, and