Evening star., 1898-07-16

we Qon serve COM
mon soldiers" Tommy Atkins, while off
duty and in uniform is always made to feel
that he is a common person The theaters
want him only in the upper gallery or the
pit He knows better than to venture a re-
mark to well-dressed city clerk on the
top of an omnibus. Barmaids in the COM
mon ''publics' treat him with superior cool
ness. Shop girls utterly disdain him. Only
nursema1ds in the parks are kind TO him.
On the other hand, would prefer to be a
British soldier while on duty, for the mere
matter Of the police half is capable of
making the French conserpt's life burden
to him.
The police hall is long cell, with heavy
bolted doors and small, barred windows
These cells are always full of honest
F'renchmen serving in the army without
pay and with not much enthusiasm. Some
times the motives assigned for the pun
1shment are in the ordinary line of disci-
pine, as: -Four days of consigne order of
Sergeant Rossarelli, to soldier of the second
class, Oignon, for having invited comrade
to drink in an establishment of the fourth
class, and. at the moment of paying, de-
ciaring himself to have no money" Or as;
Two days OF consigne, order of Corporal
Vasseur, to soldier of the second class,
Malet, for having soiled a mess room towel
by enveloping in it piece of ham destined
to his repast." But who is safe from pun
ishment like the following: Eight days Of
police hall to Corporal August Bezola, order
of the captain, for having made allusion to
late political events during his instruction
hourP' Or the following: -Four days of
consigne, order of Sergeant Ravel, to the
soldier-reserviste Bondon. Being at the can
tonnement he proflted by moment Of a
sentinels distraction to pull hair from his
horse tail with which to repair fisnias
line?' III bE
The Original Martinez.
The most trifiing breaches, not only of
discipline, but Of mere etiquette, are so Sc
verely punished Sby that species of French
officer called martinet that new word has
thereby been added to most languages, and
when account is taken of the easy-going
leniency Of the more aristocratic type of
officer the French soldiers life will be seen
to be strewn with deceptions. For exam
pie, the other day a dragoon brigader of
my acquaintance was obliged to present
himself to the sergeant of the guard. Now,
the soberly dressed infantry are jealous of
the gayly costumed cavalry, and never lose
a chance to show it. Howl exclaimed the
infantry sergeant. You have the apIomb
to come to me for a permission wearing
your dress KEPT and your patent leather
bootsl The phantom will conduct you TO
the officer de service"' 1t happend that
this official brilliant young dragoon
captain of the easy-going, aristocratic
type.
Who sent you here?' he asked THAT
infantry sergeant downstairs? But it looks
very well on you, that KEPT. You are
free"
Thanks, my captain" said the offender
OF etiq-iette, gratefully, and retired to
hrag of his victory to brother dragoon.
Don't be uneasy. You can go to the Of
ncer of the guard in fancy dress. 1 did it."
Relying on the adventure, the other went
down to the place the next day without
taxing the trouble to put On undress boots
and cap.
Another of these dandy dragons wear
ing full dress garments out of service!"
cried the sergeant. ''They will take YOU
to the officer de servicer'
Much care thought the gay dragoor
But this time he found a grim old captain
OF infantry, who wrote out the following
slip to him without delay:
-Four days of police hall for the brisa-
oier Bechut. Order of the captain. Hav-
ing permission to be signed he presented
fimself to the sergeant of the guar5 in his
patent leather boots and full dress keri. 20
the detriment of his uniform, the service
and good manners.
The TyrannOus Petty officer.
Last week a private soldier the brother
of barber of my acquaintance, had full
afternoon permission and had planned a
highly amusing outing for himself. But as
he was passing out the barracks gate the
sergeant, sitting there in cool shadow,
coloring meerschaum pipe that he had
blackmalied from a newly arrived con-
script, called out "Halt!' Fhen he began:
DO you disgrace the service by going out
on your permission with a head of hair
like that? Go to the barber of your COM
pany and have 1t cut!' So half hour
was wasted
"Halt!' the humorous petty officer ex-
claimed again, as the unlucky fellow start
ed out second time. You have a button
loose there" Ten minutes more lost, sew
lrg on button.
Then it was, in succession, Halt! Have
you the nerve to go out with those dirty
to go back and give your shoes a better