A SPORTSMAN AFTER ALL

Nelson Evening Mail, 27 May 1916, Page 5

A SPORTSMAN AFTER ALL

The following amusing story is told by Bishop Bury in an article on prisoners of war which he contributes to the April Nineteenth Century and After: — i "In one of the camps where com'batants were imprisoned a new non-commission-ed officer had been added to the staff. The first night that he came on duty, before turning off the light, he said, by way of asserting himself: 'Now, you English swine, you -worse than dogs and cats and. farmyard' fowls, the" light is going out, and if I hear a sound after that you'll suffer for it, I can tell you,' and so on. - There -was an instant silence, which to an Englishman would have been at once suspicious, but which was to the non-commissioned officer an intense satisfaction. After a moment or two a dog was heard) barking 'loudly at the bottom.of the room, and the sergeant, angry and surprised, went down to find and turn it out, muttering, 'Everyone knows dogs are not allowed. As he drew near the place two or. three cats mewed and spat at each, other just behind him. Startled and furious hie wheeled round to find nothing, but to hear, at that end of the room he. had just left, the shrill crowing of /£ cook. Growing very hot and angry he looked suspiciously at the silent and still forms of the men on every side, when suddenly they all lif ted_ their heads ami Ibegan to cough -violently. The noise must have been almost as nerve-trying as shrapnel. With his hands to his ears he strode back to the place he had left, and turning round, with heated face, -waited. When the coughing at v last ceased, and there -was' quiet, Jhe said in an almost choking voice, 'Gentlemen, I'm sorry I said what I did. Will you think no more"of it? .1 have mv duty to do. Let us work together, and perhaps, after all, we may be friends.' Anyone who knows the average Englishman there would know how that appeal would go home, arid how the men would say to themselves. 'He's a sportsman after all/ and, go contentedly off f to sleep, and after that after such a start they would give their officer iiO more unnecessary trouble."