Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-14
ABOUT TOMMY ATKINS
ARTIST BENGOUGH TELLS WHAT 4
SUPERB CREATURE HE -.
DISH OF THE BRITISH WARRIORS.
An Equally Inspiring sight To See
These Red-Coated Troopers OF the
oueen.s Guard on Review or Out
for n stroll.
for n stroll.
Correspondence Of the Dispatch)

CORRESPONDENCE Of the Dispatch)
LONDON. January For many reasons
tho British soldier is d wonderful sight TO
the American who visits London for the
first time. TO begin at the beginning OF
Tommy Atkiuss career, it is astonishing
how the service can be instrumental in
fashioning from the rift-ran Of the Lon
don streets the trim, neat, sodierly-look-
ing men. who look 1T TO fight for their
lives. and who carry themselves, on pa
rade and or with a jaunty swing th"'
have seen nowhere else during my ti@'e'S
in purope. II is simply wonderful no"
Tommy manages 10 keep his hat on Ilo
has Il balanced at such remarAaDle
,rglo that the force Of gravitation must
have been enlisted on the side Of the ser
vice for by no natural process Of season.
ing can the balance Of the hat be account
cd for.
free-and-easy swagger Of the conquerors
~ san Juan can form no idea Of the al
terence between the American ana the
British soldier, so far as appearance goes
Al heart they are the same dashlhs
soldiers. but in the matter or uni
form and general carriage they are as uh-
IKE as can be. The British soldier is a
gorgeous creature when on parade. II -
"a most inspiring sight 20 witness a gamer
ING OF the household troops i'm Hyde PARK
,n q bright morning. The soldiers are an
~ stalwart build, I'm their movements as
,~eciee MS machinery, and with the easy
grace OF men who Thoroughly De"eNe IH
themselves. The tall bearskins OF these
ruardsmen Of the queen give q iorlnliaDIe
aDpearance to the troops, ana the req
coats lend a brightness and dash ID lhe
scene that makes the most patuotlc AIne-
,.,osn cheer for the soldiers of the mother
country -s
ar. a brave sight. what words can ade-
ouqteIv describe the magnihcence OF me
warriors of the horse guard? OUTSIDE
th. barracks of the regiment on Whte-
hall street there sits day and night mo-
tiouless on a. cOal-biack horse. sentry
dressed in the gorgeous trappines or TINS
crack troop. ] am told that the EQUIP
mcnt of each trooper costs 500 ana IL IS
easy 10 believe the truth OF the state
ment. From the plume OF his uashins
helmet to the tip Of his shining boots thee
fro0rcr is gorgeous creation. his Droad
chest is protected by a steel breast-plate.
His neither limbs are cncased IN usnt
luckskin breeches. and he is armed with
Csrbne and cavalry sabre. AS he sits
his mouonless horse, looking straight De
fare him across Whitehall street. the
gorgeous warrior Is always the admired
~ au admirers. From daylight TO dark
ness a little group made up OF country
visitors. street urchins, and tatteIed Lon
..ners Of the out-of-work class stands
lue at the trooper taking IN every
...ut of his equipment and doubtless
banking their stars that Providence was
.. kind as 20 allow them 10 be part ana
parcel OF a nation that could produce
such c8yalrymen.
To see The Queens body guard on one
uf the great days is 10 see the finest BODY
OF troops in the world. These cavalry
men and foot soldiers in review together
are "a superb sight. Their dash and gene
ral cir of being capable OF sweeping over
everything on earth that stands IN the
WAY gives the spectator some idea of the
strength and vitality that Is left III the
old country
Take the army apart and examine the
individual sections of it that one meets
IN the streets OF London and the sight
is no less impressive. The soldier off duty
has the same swing and dash that he
has on the parade ground or when chang
ing guard. The cavalryman walks through
The streets with a jingle of spurs and
the rhythmic crash of heavy heel on
sidewalk. He carries his head up; his
steD is carefully measured his jaunty
cane IS held al the regulation angle; not
q hair is out Of place Meet another man
u the same regiment, and, although
they are merely out for stroll and are