The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-04

something out of scum-sometimes. 1t
would take a good deal to get something
out of this scum, but there were men in
the army who would do it-plenty of them
AS for the rest, Nathaniel was not bad ma
terial. He was half-starved, true; but
six months existence on British SOL
dier's rations would make a man of him.
He slouched. and shambled. and had con-
tracted a foolish habit OF rounding his
shoulders. but the arpy is not without
drili-sergeants. Altogether. there was just
a chance that he might make soldier.
And so Nathaniel Flat became a soldier
of the Queen and was sent off to the
depot of the regiment into which he had
enlisted and for the next few months he
was licked and kicked and earthquaked
into something like shape. and knew misery
in many forms; but the Queen clothed
him, found him bed and gave him regular
meals, he was satisfied, and in some re-
spects happy. Also he learned something
about the art and science of soldering
and the importance of keeping himself
clean; and when. year after his enlist
ment, they sent him out as part or
draft to the regiment in India he presented
a very different appearance to that which
he had exhibited when he slouched up to
the recruiting sergeant and asked for the
Queens shilling.
II was something more than pity that
Private Flats military lot should have
been thrown in with that of the Queen
Own Northshire Light Infantry. Most of
the men of that distinguished regiment are
Northshiremen-even as the territorial sys-
tenn desires they should be; and being
Northshiremen they look upon the children
of other counties as of no Importance when
compared with themselves. But about the
time of Private Flats enlistment, the
O. o. N. l.. l., had been below its strength;
and as Northshiremen could not or did not
come forward there were some men who
were not Northshiremen came into the
regiment and Nathaniel was one Of them.
1t was a mistake, and Nathaniel had dim.
very vague notions that it was mistake
during the time he spent at the depot in a
Yorkshire town. But then he was only one
amongst a crowd of recruits, all equally
raw and rough; 1t was not until the draft
got out to Kistnamutgar and was absorbed
into the regiment that the fullness OF his
isolation began to realize itself in his soul
When the realizing process began, the
heart of Private Flat became very bitter
within him, and he went down into hell,
and there he abode for a weary space, as
many better and lots of worse men have
done before him.
1t was the first night in cantonments
that saw Private Flat begin the easy de-
scent, and it was Private Hollingworth
I'm he'd IN he adp Of he first
step. He was devout Northshireman,
this Hollingworth, who believed in the ter
ritorial system to such an extent that he
hated every Westshire and Southshire and
Eastshire man who dared to come into thu
regiment by any door that might be opened
to them. Therefore, when he, finding that
by some means other Cockney street
boy had been introduced into his own par
ticular company, opened his mouth to VEN
tilate his opinions on the matter, he said
things unpleasant to hear. They were not
intended for Private Flats hearing, or not
supposed to be heard by him, but he heard
them very plainly. He was somewhat dull
and obtuse by nature and 1t surprised him
at first to hear that there were people in
this world who regarded what they called
or knaves. or scoundrels. scum, in ere
alton. Until then Private Flat. who had
enjoyed liberal education in the ways Of
the world as seen and felt amidst the Lon
don streets. had always believed himself
to be a citizen of no mean city, but now.
He looked round in some amazement at
Hollingworth. The latter, a magnificent
animal with the strength of a lion and the
mental ability Of a rabbit saw the Cockney
look at him, and looked back From that
moment there was war between these two
men. Some old survival OF savagery In
Hollingworth impelled him TO treat the
smaller and weaker man with whatever
cruelty he could bring to bear upon him;
and the mere fact of his physical defense
lessness and of the injustice of his tor
mentors pursuit of him woke up in FIatt
such hatred of his oppressor as only the
weak can feel for the strong who misuse
this strength. And so the thing began.
Private Flat went down into hell swiftly
and surely. He had no mate, pal, friend.
| and scarcely an acquaintance His Cock
ney accent made him an object of dislike.
| Nobody drank with him, talked with him.
| or walked with him. His life became an at
| fair of dull. colorless monotony, relieved
| only by the tricks his comrades played with
| him. He did his duty in a mechanical.
| spiritless sort of fashion. and the sergeant
watched him huntsman watches a
hound that looks like slipping away. No
body took his part when Hollingworth
treated him TO few brutalities-it was fun.
thought the men. if they thought about it
at all, to see the Cockney baited, and be-
sides who would waste sympathy on a
Cookney? Moreover. private Flat hadn't
the spirit TO defend himself-wasn't he
known throughout the regiment as Perfect
Flatt?-and therefore was not worth de-
tending. And. after all. what did it matter
that one man should possess his soul in
| bitterness?
But at last there came a time when
Private Flatte broke out-broke out in the
worst way. Seeing that he could get no
companionship from men. and feeling per-
haps. the want of the society which he had
enjoyed at street corners and in railway
arches during the days of his youth, he
made friends with another creature which
until then had been as friendless as him
self-to wit, lore dog OF most disreputable
appearance and enormous appetite.
With this dog Private Flat used to walk
much at such times as dIty did nor 20 m