The mirror., 1907-01-17

the way OF duty, .se were free to do as
we pleased. FIRST post $780, Last post
ten. Lights out 1915. Ali soldiers,
under the rank of sergeant, were re-
quired to be in barracks by ten, unless
on pass. Sergeants have permanent
pass till twelve.
With all these drills, the bugle was
sounding in the square almost every
few minutes, for, besides the parade
bugle, there are the regular daily calls,
such as reveille, rations, cook house,
meals, and dozen others. We had
some exceptionally good buglers, they
having come from Toronto, where they
were members of the famous Queens
Own Bugle Band.
An amusing incident occurred one
day, when young lieutenant had his
company out doing drill in extended
order, the commands being sounded on
the bngle. First in explanation, let
me say that there is no such command
in the British drill as retreat" that
term being used to ssignify sundOwn,
when the bugle sounds the daily call
of retreat" and the regimental flag is
lowered. The officer in question told
the bugler what calls to sound.
"Sound the "Advance," he said.
The bugler did so, and the company
advanced. When they had proceeded
J about two hundred yards, "Now sound
) the retreat" said the officer.
Quick as a flash, the wise young
bugler commenced on the sunset call.
"Nol MOI N OF that one," shouted the
, lieutenant. 81 mean the other One."
Probably you mean the retire, Sill" !"
said the bugler, without batting an eye.
J -@'' Z est Yes! CfIsrt's tt. 5Uuriu retire.
| But he looked suspiciously at the boy,
, not quite sure that he wasn't being
7 guyed.
r Wehad a<French adjutant, who had a
3 poor command of the English language.
} He knew his drill all right, but his
: pronunciation was defective. One day
S he convulsed the regiment with silent
laughter, by bawling at the top of his
0 voice:
Q "Dat corporol dere in de rear rank
a she mus get her hair cut, and you
d sarghaw (sergeant) you mus buck up
9 L got my eye on you."
q A soldiers life is not all beer and
y skittles. He has his trials and tribu
q lations, and if he would enjoy life, he
r, must be member of the don't worry
o club. He may buy tickets for the the
y ater with the intention of taking hi
n best girl to see the show, and then fine
,r himself detained for guard duty tina
n night, in that case he must hustle an(
" find a substitute, or take his medicine
IS Shortly after our arrival in Halifax
)e the government decided to have Onl!
seven companies there, and to recruit
e, the right half of "a" company, in Brit
r ish Columbia, up to strength. The lef
le half, of which l was acting color scr
1t geant, was distributed among the othe
q seven, and found myself transferred
e. to f company, consisting mainly o
as French Canadians from Quebec.
Ill 1t was fierce. Half of them couldn'
D. understand English, or pretended the
OF couldn't, when told to do anything
or And their names were awful. l wa
or calling the roll one day on parade, an
getting answers to such names as Pal
IN ads, Fortin, Plomondeau, Bourasss
IT, Peltier, Psriseau, Bonlauger, Marchaut
RS etc., when came to the name Brien,
ne shouted "Brien." No answer. trie
OF again. Still no answer. A Frenc
en- corporal came and looked on the boOl
's "Say Breeaw, sergeant" he said.
'le 1 bawled aBreeaw," and the respons
- was prompt.
To The British regulars, particularly tt
no private soldiers, regarded us with col
an tempt. They considered US voluntee
Il. and you know how regular despises
wa volunteer. But when we showed the
10. few points in drill. and captured tt
col prize in bayonet exercise, fancy dri
1E and when our boxers put it all over tt
no sIuggers from both army and navy, v
TX were accorded moderate amount
20 respect.
3O With the navy it was different. o.
ay, men and the sailors were the best
II friends, and the petty officers m
~, were among the best fellows I kne'