The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-13
TYRANNY OF PETTY oFFIcERs.
Lot OF the French COnscript Compar-
ed With That of Tommy Atkins,

Lot OF the French COnscript COmpar-
eu with That of Tommy Atkins"
Paris Letter in New York Press.
would rather go into Paris cafe or
| orasserie with a French conscript than ac-
company British volunteer into high
class London bar or restaurant, because
the Frenchman would be sure of courteous
treatment, While the free-born Briton
might easily be told 1--WE don't serve
common soldiers" Tommy Atkins, while
OH duty and in uniform, is always made
to feel that he is a common person. The
theaters want him only in the upper gall
lery or the pit. He knows better than to
venture remark to a welI-dressed city
clerk on the top of an omnibus. Barmaids
IN the common 'publics' treat him with
superior GOODNESS. Shop girls utterly dis
dain him. Only nursemaids in The parks
are kind to him.
On the other hand, l would prefer to be
British soldier while on duty for the
mere matter of the police hall' is capa-
Die OF making the French conscript's life
burden to him.
The police hall is a long cell, with heavy
boIted doors and small, barred windows
These cells are always full of honest
frenchmen serving in the army without
pay and with not much enthusiasm. Some
times the motives" assigned for the pun
ishment" are in the ordinary line of dis
cipline. as: -Four days of consigne, order
of Sergt. R0ssareil TO soldier of the sec
ond class Oignon, for having invited a
comrade to drink in an establishment of
the fourth class. and, at the moment of
paying, declaring himself TO have no
money" Or, as, 1.-TWO days of consigne
order Of COrpl m g. ~
second class Malet, for having soiled a
mess room towel by envelopng in it a
piece of ham destined 10 his repast" But
who is safe from punishment like the fol-
lowing: Eight days of police hall to Corpl
August Bazola, order of the captain, for
having made alluslon to late political
events during his instruction hour?' Or
the following: -Four days of consigne, or
der of Sergt Ravel, TO the soldier-reservi-
ate Bondon. Being at the cantonnement he
profited by a moment of a sentinels dis
traction to pull a hair from his horse tail
with which to repair a fishing line?"
The most trihing breaches. not only Of
discipline, but of mere etiquette, are so
severely punished by the species of French
officer called martinez 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 viii
be seen to be strewn with receptions. For
example, tIe otlser day dragon briga-
der of my acquaintance was obliged to
present himself to the sergeant Of the
guard. Now, the soberly dressed infantry
are Jealous of the gaily costumed cavalry
and never lose a chance to show it,
Howl exclaimed the infantry sergeant.
You have the aplomb to come TO me for
a permission wearing your dress KEPT and
your patent leather bootsi The phantom
will conduct you to the officer de service"
1t happened that the official was a brill
liant young dragon captain of the easy
going, aristocratic type.
WHO sent you here?" he asked. THAT
infantry sergeant downstairs? But 1t looks
very well on you, that KEPT. You are
free
Thanks, my captain said the offender
of etiquette, gratefully, and retired to brag
of his victory to a brother dragon.
Don't be uneasy. You can go to the
officer of the guard in fancy dress 1 did
it,"
Relying on the adventure, the other went
down to the place the next day without
taking the trouble TO put on undress boots
and cap.
TAnother of these dandy dragons wear
ing full dress garments out of service"
CTIeQ TIE NLSCdHt- my "-AA NNtNS 49,
to the officer de serVice!'
Much I care" thought the gay Dragon.
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 Brig
adler Bechut. Order of the captain. Hav-
ing a permission TO be signed, he present
ed himself to the sergeant of the guard
IN his patent leather boots and full dress
KEPT, to the detriment of his uniform, the
service and good manners"
Last week a private soldier, the brother
of a 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 the cool
shadow coloring a meerschaum pipe that
he had blackmailed from a newly-arrived
conscript, called out: "Halt?' Then he
began: do you disgrace the service by
going out on your permission with head
of hair ike that? Go to the barber OF
your company and nave cut. 90 nan
hour was wasted.
.Haltr, the humorous petty officer ex-
claimed again, as the uniucky fellow start
Cd oumfor a second time. You have
buttoFloose there" Ten minutes more
lost sewing on the button.
Then il was in succession: Halt! have
vou got the nerve to go out with those
dirty gloves?" and Halt! Do me the ia
vor to to go back and give your shoes
better polishing" and Halt! Hum! You
appear to be all right this time. Remember
in the future / am not your nurse or va
let; and attend to these small trifies Of
your toilet on your own account"
The British soldier could never be made
10 tolerate such nagging, nor would his SUI
periors consider il good for him. He is
volunteer, who has freely offered TO fight
for his country and his monthly pay. Ev-
erythng is done to make the service at
tractive to courageous but lazy young
men.
The theory of the French CONSUMPTION,
having nothing to do with the difficulties
of enlistment. is that, for its drafted men,
severity is the mother of discipline" But
the great pubic Is not deceived In either
case. 1t reasons that the British soldier,
having freely enlisted in what Is, after
all, a poorly paid service, must have had
little to leave, and treats him accordingly
The Queens uniform becomes a badge to
mark the unsuccessful young man who
cannot get along, or will not get along at