The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-23
YOUNG SOLDIERS OF FRANCE.
Scenes at the Departure of the Con

Scenes at the Departure of the Con-
 scripts.
 During the fast three days twenty five thousand conscripts have left Paris for the various military centres. It is the annual departure of the "classe. There have been many picturesque scenes in consequence. Bands of young men of all conditions of life and drawn from all parts of the country have been parading the streets, shouting military airs and blowing upon imaginary in- struments, It is their way of keeping up their courage, for the conscript, as often as not, has little stomach for war, and looks with a degree of dread upon his barrack life The district of Montmartre especially, has been en- livened during these evenings by the registering "Blues,' as Paris calls them, and the police have turned an indul- gent eye on their proceedings, prompted, no doubt, by personal re- collections of the days when they also formed part of the class. The town generally, looks fondy after the lads as they go trumpeting along the boulevards. The purely rustic con script is less demonstrative person, and marches soberly along, under the direction of his sergeant or corporal, with his little valise or package, con taling his worldly possessions, on his arm, cutting often an odd figure in his rough civilian clothes, These are the grubs from which the butterfly Of the soldier will emerge in a few weeks.
 When the conscript comes among his friends again it will be in the guise or the familiar long blue coat and red trousers of the infantrynlan, or he Will have blossomed into a cavalryman, a gunner, or, perchance, an engineer.
 The first day in barracks is trying one for the young conscript. Civil life finishes sharply on the threshold of the caserne. The soldier in embryo is challenged brusquely by the sergeant major. and probably the latter mas some idea of imparting little whole some respect for military discipline at the very outset of the young mans career. Very often the conversation that ensues has it's amusing turn. Each conscript is put through an elementary examination. The candi- date is always asked whether he can write. "But I am 'bachelier, perhaps he says 1T do not ask your occupa- ton" responds the sergeant, grutlly; but can you writer" And so on. When the parade takes place before the adjutant, there are bound to De some few recruits who make last despairing effort to be quit of military service. Their sight is too bad ana they have not enough strength. But the adiutant is a hard hearted man; besides, he has heard all this before. And the military net is spread very wide. There is no myopic bar unless the degree of short sight is very pronounced and as to the question or stature, one often sees the diminutive sentinel handsomely topped by the fixed bayonet his rifle,
 The man upon whom military lie sits the lightest and to whom 1t may he positively agreeable is the musician He comes under the class of "ouvrlefs dart" which escape with one year s service He is drafted into the band so that he continues his studies, and ne may supplement the sou day which a grateful country awards him by giV- { ing lessons outside the barracks. Ana so we leave our brave conscript, TO night he may put his head under the clothes in sheer wretchedness of being; tomorrow he will hold his head up ana crv "Vive la Patriel' "VlVe rArmee!"-Pall Mail Gazette.