New-York tribune., 1914-11-16
Grandson of Charles Oar
win Tells of Visits to
the Camps.
BEAUTIFUL PARK NOW
USED BY 10000 MEN
The Temple and Lincoln's Inn
Are Drill Places for
Officers.


Gle was written by Bernard Darwin, a
grandson of the late Charles Darwin.
the author Of The Origin Of Species"
etc:
ILc spirit in which Britain faces the
w.. lcl conviction that she is fighting
fos the protection of all that is worth
living the very existence of good
against ovl-are shown in many ways.
In none perhaps better than in the way
m which the young men are focklng
20 the colors and the sustained cheer
fulness and determination with which
they set about their course OF training.
The first fire Of enthusiasm may
drive man to the recruiting oifice be
cause he feels that there is nowhere
else he can 20 and remain happy and
self-respecting But that fire must go
on burning steadily and with an un-
wavering fame if he is to be got man
fully through the arduous months
which are necessary before he can be
III to do that which ne is longing 10 do
at once strike an effective blow for
his country. That il does so burn and
is no mere fash in the pan one may
see by watching the recruit at his
training He has TO do much hard
work. some of which he may not like,
and TO all Of which he is unaccustomed;
he has to put behind many small dis
likes and prejudces and vanities and
endure difficulties and discomforts IN
order 10 attain goal which still seems
a long way off. But he works desper
ately, and yet cheerfully, hard while he
is working, and he is jolly and light
hearted when a long firing day is over.
He is always acquiring something OF
the smartness and indefnahle carriage
Of a full blown soldier; he is growing
each day filter with strenuous life in
the open air and rejoices in the feel
ing of fitness.
A few DAYS ago | spent some time
in looking at one of the big camps of
recruits that arc scattered up and down
the country. and very short account
Of it may possibly be worth giving.
This camp is i'm one of the rural coun-
ties of England, and there could hardly
be a better one 20 see, for being where
it is il not only illustrates the spirit
animating the whole people, rich and
poor, but also marks the most vivid
possible contrast between the peace
and quiet of rural England and the
stern business of war. The scene IS
the beautiful home of a great magnate,
who has. with the finest public spirit,
handed over his park, lock, stock and
barrel, for the purposes Of the camp.
Railway Runs Through Park.
Where there are as a rule only the
herd of deer and few placidly MUNICH
ing cows the sole disturbing element
in their lives an occasional golfer
there are now between $4,000 and 10000
recruits camping and drilling. Already
right through the park, twisting its
way between the old elms and across
the avenue, there runs light railway
10 bring stores and material from the
adjacent main line. The stiffness ls
broken by strident changing and ham
merings. for another small army, not
Of recruits but workmen, is engaged IN
building huts. At present the men are
under canvas. and the meadows outside
the park look as if whole forests OF
gigantic mushrooms had suddenly
sprung into being. Soon, however,
autumn will have turned into winter,
and by that time a new forest OF huts
will be ready. made of corrugated iron
and lined with asbestos felt. And the
sight of those long rows Of solid iron
houses, ever increasing, brings 1t home
10 one, il indeed it needs bringing
that we cannot reckon on the war soon
being over. that he country has 70 look
forward some way ahead and means 10
see this thing through once and FOR all.
The contrast between peace and war
was made the more emphatic by the
chance that | arrived at midday when
the men were all az dinner The big
house with shuttered windows doZed in
the sun, the peacocks strutted urcon-
cernedly in the garden. the hammer
ings at the huts had temporarily ceased
and there was not man 20 be seen.
Those meg who are still IN their
workaday cRthes, as they came straight
: from the plough or the factory or the
Office, give an additional and thrilling
touch to the scene. They have not yet
the 3martness ard the ship-shape air
Of their brothers i'm khaki. but .hey
help 20 make US understand that this
is a real citizen army, called into be-
ing by the states emergency, wasting
10 time and eager 10 learn its new
business. Here is man with a SER
vice cap, shrtsleeves and corduroy
trousers; another has the orthodox
tunic and is still civilian from the
waist downward The incongruity Of
their appearance might raise smile at
another time. but now il only adds TO
the picture Of deadly earnestness.
All Sorts and Conditions of Men.
There are all sorts and conditions of
men among the different regiments
miners from Lancashire and Northum-
bcrland. agricultural laborers from the
surrounding villages of their native
county, and from Dorsetshre, where
the typical English rustic is always
represented rs standing pacidly by the
. a 90
little Dorsetshire village that possesses
one of the proudest records of any in
the country, for out of total popula.
tion of 575 il has sent slXty-siX men
20 the colors. There are clerks from
Offices in the big northern towns, and
z. varied contingent Of Irishmen in the
Dublin Fusilie~s. As long as they are
in ordinary clothes one may still haz
ard a guess at telling one from the
other; in uniform they all seem 70
melt into one united whole.
II is a good hard days work that
these men do. for they begin with re-
veille at $3.50 in the morning; there is
- very nasty cup Of tea 20 be snatched
md then physical drill. Breakfast
comes at 1880 bacon. tea, plenty OF
bread. cheese and marmalade and
after that drill TIL 1890. Next is din
ner. of beef or stew, bread and potatoes,
and more drill till tea time, between
( and 3 o'clock, after which the men
are free TO amuse themselves as they
please till bed time. about 9 o'clock.
On alternate days each man has the
relaxation Of bathing parade or had
at any rate as long as the water re-
NAMED warm enough. and this Is worth
seeing. as one OF the lighter sides OF
the recruits life. The men march down
in long columns with towels on their
shoulders, to 4 narrow little stream