Evening star., 1898-06-11

that the hand of the corscription falls the
| eaviest
I The peasants and young workingmen are
/ only losing their time. When their three
| years are over they will take up their lives
| exactly where they were interrupted. But
| TO any young man in line of promotion or
study the three years between nineteen and
| twenty-five are not lost without sacrifice.
| One fact only eQualizes things and makes
| the loss of time more tolerable-all are in
II together, all the competitors IN the strug-
| gle for life must bear the same handicap
| OF military service. And here is to be found
the chief reason of the French feeling and
legislation against emigrants. Foreign
clerks artisans and workingmen. especially
| r young, are not desired in France and
everything is done to keep them out.
To EquaIize Things.
With regard to foreign students for the
learned professions. the present laws are
even more severe than formerly while the
special privilege of a shortened term of
army service is accorded to the French
student Of the university to equalize things
for him.
The regular term Of military service Is
three years, but if a young man has begun
his studies at the university-there is only
one, the University Of France, with differ
ent branches in the various cities-he will
be let off with one year beneath the flag
No one is excused this one year; even stu
t'i4b5 IpT iIt priesthood ana the eldest
sons OF widows" held to it. But-im-
portant fact-the university examinat tions
must be passed. If the young student fails
TO get his diploma he must go back to the
army 10 do two more years like anybody
else. Foreign students of the university
are well received, We'll treated and per-
mltted to study. But when II comes to
asking for diplomas it Is different
The diplomas of the special schools of the
university carry with them the right to
practice medicine, law, dentistry, archi-
lecture and so
You are a foreigner" France SAYS to
the outsider. You seek to be put on an
equal footing with the youth of France
Ihen, undergo an equivalent to the French
youth S hardship. OF course, we do not
ask you to do military service Instead
pass the baccalaureate-the first degree in
arts or sciences-as our young men have
done. then you may enter for the exami-
nations OF the professional schools We
Will not accept your foreign university di-
plomas."
Thus made up of all kinds of young men
from all France, the French army is de-
cIared to be "a family" "a school of yir-
tue, endul ance and patriotism and the
demonstration of liberty, equality and fra
'erhty- But. as the world itself is made
UP OF only three classes-those who have
everything, those who have nothing and
those who have a little and intend to have
more-the conscription of each year be-
comes IN reality a family composed of
three families. The well-to-do vounr mon
In spite of their patriotism, resignation
ana good WILL Immediately begin to study
now to shirk whatever is the most dis
gushing in their routine. The poor but
proud go struggling on in silence as thev
do outside, while those who ara moor but
not quite so proud become the servants of
their richer comrades pocket money.
Two Cents Day and Tobacco.
The pay of the French con.cript being
less than cents q day-plus rations and
topacco-there Is strong motive for the
son or peasant and workingman to in
crease 1t by honorable labor. There is no
doubt that the labor Is honorable. and
plenty OF 1t can be found. The poor young
man man desires many things-extra meat
wine and glasses of brandy more tobacco.
tr1filng pocket money when off duty and
cash to treat a bullying non-comrnissioned
ollcer. his only opportunity is in richer
comrade. Having done his own work, he
can act as valet for this neighbor
Although it is looked on as bad form by
tne ,ins highest class OF young men, the prac-
be got out of is the commonest device
among those who have money.
Young Max Lebaudy, the millionaire
spendthrift whom army discipline killed
only a few years ago had constantly a
dozen men in his pay-common soldiers
non-commissioned officers and even higher
II report is to -e believed. He never
cleaned his arms, never made his bed, never
swept or scrubbed, never groCmed his
horse, never did stable work or peeled po-
tatoes, or carried burdens or helped to
sweep the courtyard of the barracks He
had himself continually let off from drill,
obtained long furloughs and sick leave, had
private apartments in town and ate at least
once a day in some rich restaurant. 1t was
not the work that broke him down so much
as his attempt to lead a sporting life while
being still bound down to the army hours
regulations and discipline. He could pay
to be allowed to slip out secretly at night
and come back late; but he could not shlrk
the reveille, the early breakfast and the
morning inspection. Through the day he