The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-25
NOVEMBER BLACK
MONTHS FOR YOUTHS
Are Liable to Military Service
in France
OFFICERS ANO SERVAN IS
Attendants Are Found Among the Re-
cruits and the Plan Works Very
Well in Most cases-The
French Militia.
OFFICERS AND SERVANTS
BY PIERRE ROSTER.

Paris. December 12.-November Is the
black month for French youths liable
to military. They face their misfortune
with a brave front, march about the Gay
before they must report themselves with
fving ribbons, red, blue and white fas-
tened to their caps. The rich invite their
future comrades to dine at restaurants
and are sure aagin to do so when all
have been discharged. The humblest
may fare the best in the two years which
they must face.
Officers now find their domestic serv-
ants among the recruits. They could
have them for nothing but their food II
custom did not stand out against such
abuse. But the wages they give are
much lower than might be offered In the
labor market. l know of young ostler
in a country inn who had picked up some
culinary knowledge. He receives from
the captain, or captains wife, whom he
serves 20 fr a month, and gains 40 IT.
. month on the marketing. He cooks
makes the beds, polishes the floors and
mends clothes and darns. comrade at
tends table, answers the door bell, dusts
and yalets He receives 30 FIR month
A third, who gets 10 fr. and his food
works In the scullery cleans knives anu
shoes A captain is entitled TO TWO ser
wants, but practically he can ask tor
as many soldiers he can AFFORD 10
keep General slackness reigns, as reign
IL must. 1t takes four solthers an hour
TO peel a pound or so of potatoes. When
from bad air, poor food. want OF healthy
stimulation every one has run down.
discipline grows lax.
know a rich major in active service
Who has hired at his different changes
Of residence a villa or country mousse
near his garrison town. He thinks great
standing armies une bonnie plague, IS
persuaded that the German army is no
litter than the French and uses 10 inc
fan his privilege of finding servants In
the regiment. No less than four soldiers
have been called in to cultivate his gar
den He has many more In his stable.
An officer fond of horses and rich
enough TO keep a stud can always find
Youngsters In the regiment able to groom
and exercise them, Jockeys who nave
distinguished themselves in riding for
owners of great racing studs are some
how relieved from military service me
case of one attached to foremost train
ing establishment at Chantilly mas just
come to my knowledge.
Practice Not SO BAD.
These relaxations of rules must shock
Journalists In practice 1t is not so bad
as II appears. The French have TURK
ing regard for human right as against
stnpid laws. 1t is not their way to agi-
tate on platforms. but to gradually repeal
such laws by "dodging'' them. Soldiers,
I repeat are better off, and will become
more useful to the state as officers SER
wants than as the slaves OF sergeants
and corporals. They have time at
stated intervals TO practice the goose
step. march and learn to use rife.
FOR the rest, employed as domestics pri-
vate secretaries, ladies' tailors, tutors,
they do not leave the army In broken
down health the time spent In appren-
ticeship is not quite lost. The state BEN
Gifts In not having to feed them. II they
must wear uniforms in the streets. they
have slop clothes and aprons for house
work. This saves the clothing provided
by the army stores. Cooks assistants
are bounced upon by officers of hospitable
habits. They eventually find their adj
vantage in serving these employers sell
A French general of good private fortune
may be an oblig!ng and very useful pa
iron hereafter.
The late NJ Got, in serving as a
coloners servant In Algiers. became stage
manager to the colonel's wife, who had
a craze for private theatricals. Got used
to act with her on grand occasions.
When the regiment was ordered to return
to France this lady prevailed on the
Due d'Aumale, the governor-gen TO
use his influence to obtain Cots dis
charge and a nomination for the Fran
Gals. Who but a prig will deny that in
this case breaches Of rule had no draw
back? They were advantageous for the
coloners guests. for art and consequently
for France; and they released Got from
seven years of military service. There
is more facade than military reality in
nearly all great standing armies The
sooner JinRoes all the world over get this
into their heads the better.
Chemist Allowed Many Helpers.
The pharmaceutical chemist Of a mill
tary infirmary is allowed as many SOL
diers TO assist him as he asks for He
chooses from two classes One class fur
nishes the men who soour and scrub and
take turns in the kitchen. The other
provides the pharmacy assistants. Par
ents Of bourgeois standing besiege him