A Strange Autobiography

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 14 (Supplement)

A Strange Autobiography

TTHE autobiography of James X Gatli£F, ensign and lieutenant in a foot regiment in India in the 1 780's and later vicar of Gordon, written in his later years for the instruction of his son, is now published by his great-grandson under the title "Stations, Gentlemen!" (Faber and Faber). This is a book of no particular literary merit that ie nevertheless a "human document" and ie worthy of publication for ite candid account of contemporary manners and points of view and the necessary contrast it invites with those of our own day. Young Gatliff was destined by hi* family to practise at the Bar, yet he felt the call of adventure and persuaded his over-fond mother to buy him an Army commission, and at Iβ years of age he "was appointed (by the commendable system of purchase) an ensign, and thrown into the company of a bard-boiled lot of brother officers, one of whom quickly drove the shy and sensitive boy into the intolerable position of being forced to is&ue a challenge. More by good luck than any skill with the pistol young Gatliff emerged with his life (and incidentally killed his opponent). We move with this young hero through a world in which duels were fought (and good men killed in them) almost as a ■natter of course, soldiers were sentenced to floggings of 500 lashes by boys hardly out of school, and coaches were nightly held up by ruftian-i within shouting distance of English towns. Last change of all, which ends Mr. Gatliff'e strange, eventful history, he lays aside the sword and dice and is almost instantly converted into a clergyman of ■ the Church of England. And this was i .England only 150 years ago.