SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10127, 9 May 1896, Page 6

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.

It is a remarkable thing that life in the two services will, after a certain time, change exactly similar characters. The surroundings are so completely different, that they mould the temperament and alter the habits of men who i.re very much alike in individuality when entering the respective services, ,

Tommy Atkins and Jack Tar have their peculiarities, but there is one thing that belongs to both, namely, a happy indifference to the future and a quick seizure of every opportunity to get away from the fearful monotony of a daily round of peace duties, but

When flit guns begin to pity, As Rudyard Kipling says, both respond to the call of duty, without a flinch. The boatswain pipes his whistle and the drummer beats to quarters, or the bugler sounds the advance, and at it these veritable tigers for fighting go, whether dressed in blue or red. But, in peace, how different is the jovial, gay, light-hearted tar to the stiff-bearing of tho red coats. No one over saw two soldiers riding on one horse, but, this is one of Jack's highest ideas of fun.

Nelson, Drake, and Rodney obtained for England the supremacy of the sea, without torpedo boats or ironclads. Wellington gained immortal victories without Maxim guns aud quick firing breechloaders that could kill at 1000 yards. So it is with other things. The old clay pipe and the cheroot are discarded as obsolete, and now Old Judge Cigarettes are, figuratively as well at literally! in everybody's mouth.