The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-25

every autumn, wanting him to choose
their sons. He is assimilated to a cap
tain and given a horse and residence near
the nfirmary building. When regimental
health is good. all there have a nice
time. | knew of a chemist who turned
to famous account a laboratory and a
library of the pharmaceutical captain"
A soldier of some education who helps
a stupid officer in his desk work and
necessary studies can do just as he
pleases in the regiment. N. c. O.'s and
concierges fear him. To a man officers
act In regard to these soldiers on the
me-love-my-dog principle. They
stand up for them as senior boys at
English public schools for their flags.
Highly educated soldiers are frequently
brought in to coach" lieutenants and
captains preparing for examinations.
They also help them to prepare those
regimental lectures which were pet
notion of General Andre. The army gains
through this employment of intellectual
priyates.
General Andre, In the four and a half
years he was In office kept soldiers as
much as he could In their native districts.
They remain in touch with their kim
dred. When discharged they have not
an invincible attraction to great towns.
Excellent lectures are given on agricul-
tural subjects. Regimental veterinarians
deal as lecturers with the distempers of
animals There are also military schools
I'm garrison towns for militia lieutenants
and captains.
An Amusing Example.
The other day an amusing example
came to my knowledge of the superiority
of mother wit to book learning. A cap
tain was teaching reservists from book
how to load one of the new baggage
wagons. There is in these vehicles a
numbered place for every object. Num-
bers We're read from a book and the
lading done according to them. At the
close of the operation, however, there was
a general mis1t. The directing officer
could not think what was the matter. He
had gone exactly according to the book,
and a lieutenant with the facsimile had
checked him. regimental soldier who
had been looking on, hands in pockets,
laughingly suggested that perhaps they
had begun at the wrong end of the
wagon. The unlading and relading that
followed proved him to be right.
Miitiamen are bound to serve twenty
eight days In autumn. The officer is en-
titled at maneuvers to n government
horse and a servant to groom It.
This is a burdensome rule for the coun-
try. A friend of mine, who has been a
militia lieutenant for six years, has not
served once in that time. The commando,
ing district officer privately begged him
not to, on account of the horse. He has
not, therefore, bought a uniform. If an
inspector came round and found him
without one. he would probably punish
him. 1t would be for the war minister
to remit the penalty.
1t is a great social advantage In pro-
vincial towns to be a militia officer
Rich and aspiring tradesmen try to get
their sons into the militia as officers.
They gladly supply them with costly
horses to enable them to appear to the
advantage among the district heavy
swells. Meing a lieutenant of militia en-
ables young man In business or start
ing in a profession to marry advantage
ously. By-and-by he will have the title
of captain, and then of major. His wife,
her family, and his own will think It n
feather In his cap. 1t will open to him
exclusive circles. not excepting cathe-
dral vestries. These bodies have gener-
ally the pride of birth and the pride Of
the purse.