Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-11-24


recruiting sergeants, and, frankly,
there was none too many of US.
Enlisting in England appears to be
the last resource of failure, bad luck,
incompetence, debauchery and lazi-
ness. Taking the queens shilling, in
the popular Imagination, seems TO be
next TO taking the queens handouts.
1t is true that some of the young fell
lows looked almost happy, having
crossed the Rubicon, having taken the
great resolution y few were evident
" young men of good family, having
committed "indiscretions." But these
did not have to Iinger long in the re-
cruiting hall. The plunge was made
easy for them, as it was for me. Sign
the FORM" whispered the sergeant who
had brought me in, pulling al my coat
sleeve significantly.
1t was Il blue paper, constituting the
demand TO enlist, containing questions
as TO age, name, place of birth, mar
ried or single, previous enlistments,
honorable or dishonorable discharges.
saw nothing of the shilling. thought
to gain time, and, forgetting L was not
in red tape France, objected that
had not brought my papers. What
sergeant, almost frowning.
why, do you accept my word WITH
out any written proofs of my idenu-
w." That's between you and the
doctor" he said negligently. IF you
are beyond the age, the doctor will ind
it out or else he won't. 1t is his af-
fair. If you misrepresent yourselt IN
any other particular, it's your affair
You have perjured yourself, ana there
is a penalty of three months hard Ia
bor.'
Listen" l said to the sergeant. Il
am not quite decided. We will talk IL
over with a glass of Scotch cold or
Irish hot And 1 showed to him a
half crown, perceiving readily that my
simple word would go further on the
queens blue paper than in the ser
geant's mind when there was question
of paying for the drinks. Seeing the
coin, his face lit up.
AT the Star and Garter, which is in
st. Martins lane, it was Irish hot, an
excellent remedy against the fog. The
sergeant explained the various advan-
tages of the various arms. For the
convenience of the reader 1 make the
sergeant talk of dollars and cents.
Listen" he said. I'm the cavalry
the engagement is for nine years, with
five years in the reserve. In the line
and the artillery it is only seven years,
with the same in the reserve. There
is even now in the infantry short
three years engagement, with nine
years in the reserve. But l don't ad-
wise it; you get less. With the long
service, taking your pay and canteen
and grocery allowance together, you
get 80 cents day, of which II cents
is cash pocket money. You are we'll
fed and we'll cared for. Three meals
a day, three-Quarters of pound of
meat, your pot of beer four times
week, football and cricket grounds
and a looking glass in your bedroom.
And, do you know, that after p years
service-that is to say, if you have re-
enlisted three times-you get, accord
ing to your grade, pension that can
go from 16 cents to $1.2O'-
a day." "A week" How long
does it take to become corporal?' 1 de-
handed You look intelligent. Say
10 months, or a year at least" and
sergeantT"
Three years. but that's magnificent
Almost 60 cents a day, lodged like
prince, with the right TO marry. Your
wife and children transported gratis to
the colonies and all kind of indemnities
for the little ones. AS for the noncom.
officers mess-why, there is silver
ware"
l ordered another Irish hot. The
sergeant became more communicative.
He said to me: Sign the paper. You
are a gentleman. CThe subtle fiatter-
ery Tomorrow or the day after, if
you think worse of it, you can unlist
for So, Just the amount / make by en-
listing you. During three months you
can still buy off for $50. Then it is
Sergeant" I said, 1--WE are two good
friends" He grasped my hand. Il
don't want to deceive you. l am an
What harm is that? Weren't there |
plenty of Englishmen and Irishmen at |
And I'll tell you something |
elsa superstition. Suppose the doc
tor should refuse you at his examina- |
ton. You just go and give fl to one |
of those boys who is sure to pass. He
will slip you his paper"
And he takes my name?' For |
three minutes "And 1 am to serve |
under his nameT' Naturally, as you |
have his paper" "And draw my pen
sion after 81 years under a false
name:' why not?''
Such is the singular and truthful con-
L had with a recruiting SER
geant of her majesty the queen of Eng
land on n wet October day just out
side the National gallery. And the
If dnSrrihnH
explains we'll the 1000 annual deser-
tons from the British army, desertions
actually counted on, which rather re-
ieve than incommode the service. And
the rest? The rest becomes an adj
band of mercenaries-mer-
cenaries at 30 cents a day,