The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-04
MRS. THOMAS ATKINS,
The British Private's Better Half
When ION the Strength"

UOndOn MaiL)
Thomas Atkins is by no means GER
tain that Mr.. Brodrick's clear shilling
day" viii materlalize.
Several Of him who were seen by the
writer at Aldershot recalled previous
instances of the war Offices peculiar
ideas Of generosity, in which the right
hand knows not what the left hand
doeth The right hand gives a slight
/ increase Of pay, and the left hand
raises the price of boots, for instance,
and Mr. Atkins finds himself treading
[ iu a vicious circle. which leads him no
/ further on the road TO prosperity and
( a coincidence.
A person who is quite as largely in
/ terested in the question Of soldiers pay
/ is Mrs. Atkins
Every measure that the powers that
| be prOmulgate for the benefit Of the
/ rank and file is vigorously and thor
| oughly discussed by the parliament Of
\ the washtUb and the debates Of the
/ doorstep.
! When a soldier wishes to take upon
/ his shoulders the cares Of a family life,
/ he has TO ask the question twice. once
/ TO his chosen cOnsort, and once to his
/ commanding officer From all accounts
/ the later proceeding is often more
I dreaded than the first The soldier
/ can only marry ION the strength" if
/ there is a vacancy, sad if his soldier
/ ing is of sufficient duration.
/ ION the strength means that the
I wife is officially recognized She draws
! government rations equal to her hus-
| band. with half rations for every child.
/ If there is accommodation she lives in
the married quarters in barracks. Goals
! and gas are free. If there are no va
/ cant rooms. Mrs. Atkins lives outside,
and draws separate allowance" Of Is
ld a day, with I'd extra for every
ch.ld
Only per cent Of the privates may
marry on the strength. OF the SER
| geants - per cent may wed, while 100
per cent Of the staff sergeants may do
as they please.
"Oh. I do very well. indeed" said one
military matron to the writer. My hus-
band is supposed to allow me half his
pay. I'm reality. he gives me more.
what Uith the washing. shirt-makng
and occasional dressmaking. ] can cas-
lily earn S shillings OF 10 shillings a
week extra. We DO the mems washing
between us, and geta halfpenny a day
for each mans clothes that we under
take. There is practically no limit to
the amount of clothes that may be
washed for this amount. l have very
coy quarters, as you see" The rooms
the lady showed, with a quaint mix
ture OF pride and difHdence. proved TO
Dc the epitome of all that is neat and
comfortable Round the walls hung
Ghoorkha knives and many other
trophies that spoke of the east and
South Africa. Our children" con-
tinued the good lady, are educated
free. and we have medical advice free
also. We do our marketing at the dry
Canteen. where we can get all our gro
ceries 10 per cent cheaper than any
where else"
The social life is by no means neg
Iected. once a month throughout the
winter regimeutal balls are given. The
room is beautifully If ineXpensively dec
GRATED. and the regimental band at
tends. Sweethearts and wives are in
vited. and all is melody and mazourkas.
One amusement has not yet penetrated
10 Aldershot: ping pong is as yet an
unclaimed blessing. ThrOughout the
camp the eye is attracted by merry
troops Of soldiers children that follow
the evolutions Of their sires in nina
tUre and grim earnest One thing tbs
children must learn young, and that IS
TO recognize the fact that father or
duty and father off duty are two very
. different beings. 1t is most embarra S.
sing for a worthy non-c0na.. when lick
ing an awkward squad into shape. &c
5 be claimed as daddy" by a laughing
b romp of and requested to play
? bear"
The discipline Of the camp IS soon ac
quired by the children. The best be
! haved children in the world" was tn.
character the sCho0lmaster gave them
5 There are six schools for the children
e in AldeTshOt. and over 1000 little one!
E are taught therein daily Some of IN,
Instructors ara rot soldiers. hut boar,
school teachers, who elect 10 teach il
? barracks. Tile boys and girls are ver1
{ bright ou the whole. and fair per
e centage obtain scholarships and so Il