SOME RECRUITING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16026, 18 September 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

SOME RECRUITING.

BY ICRS. LEO MYERS-

" Going to give us a hand, my boy?" asked the stalwart sergeant, approaching a fresh-faced lad who had stopped to look at a war poster. , I dunno," was the slow reply. Isn t it time you did know?" Well, I just got here from IreianJ this morning."

Good! Now, I'm sure you came over for the special purpose of enlisting, my lad, didn t you? But, like most of your countrymen, you're a bit shy, eh?" " Well, I dunno, sergeant. I'd loike to do something."

"Come inside, and I'll talk it over with you."

"All right. But, von ku\}\ it's an Irish regiment. I'm think a-joining," he said, slowly following the sergeant. "Irish' of course; and.proud you should be to follow in the footsteps of Michael 0 Leary, V.C. You know, surely, the grand brave deeds he did?"

lhat I do. It's filled me with wonder and pride, sergeant, that it has." Well, my boy, it's open to you to travel the same glorious route.'' "It's wanting to do my bit I —but I'm Irish, and clannish."

" I've the very battalion for you." said the sergeant heartily. " Our colon-si, sergeant-major, and our quartermaster are all Irish to their heart's core, and lots of our lads are Irish too. You'd be with your pals." The lad thought a moment, but only a moment, and then, with fine alacrity, the enrolment form was filled in, and the boy wajked forth, a potential soldier.

Five minutes later a young couple passed. The sergeant placed himself in front of them, and, ignoring the young fellow, turned to the girl :— Wouldnft you like to see him in khaki, miss?"

"Indeed I would, sergeant," she answered frankly.

The youth grinned. "I've the best camp in England for you, my boy, and a jolly lot of fine fellows to stand alongside in the trenches. What's keeping you back?" "I didn't want to leave the girl. If she wishes' it, I'm on." Well done, Jack!" the girl exclaimed, with tears in her eyes. " I'm wanting you to go for your own sake. I'm prouder of you now than ever."

A couple who had frequently passed and repassed were finally challenged by the sergeant. The woman was exceedingly pretty; the man big in body, but weak in expression. All over him vacillation and hesitation were writ large. The girl whispered to the sergeant: "I've done my best for months to get him to enlist. But you see, sergeant, we're not married, and he hates to leave me and the boy unprovided for." , That's all right, misslegal provision has been made for such cases. You are his wife in the eye of the law, and will receive the usual separation allowance."

"In that case," said the man, shifting uneasily, "I'll join. That's the gnly thing that was worrying me."

) ... * A' very handsome young male, perfectly tailored and barbered,--silk-hatted,' whitespatted and gloved, came lightly swinging his stick down the Strand.

" I can't let that pass," mused the sergeant, and walked up to him in friendly fashion.

"What's wrong with you, my friend? Is it a wife and four children

" Me married !" laughed the handsome one.* "Not a bit of it. I'm too fly for that! I'm an actor, and making money. What's more, I intend to make all the money I can while the war lasts. This is my chance, see?"

My God, you don't mean that!" retorted the sergeant. '

" I mean every word of it. I don't care a damn about the war! Let those fight who want tu! I'm here to make money! If you want to know, I'm at the Frivolity Theatre, and I've saved £300 since last August. First time I've been able to do that, and I'm going to pile it up."

" Then you brand yourself a traitor to your country and to the splendid fellows who sacrificed their lives to save your cowardly skin," shouted the sergeant, turning his broad khaki bacK on the handsome thing, who sneeringly shrugged his shoulders, and, twirling his cane, sauntered down the Strand.

" Will you take my boy in. sergeant?" queried a good-looking mother on the arm of her worthy son of twenty-two. " He's just returned from China, where he has thrown up a fine position and a promising career. ... I ought to tell you, he's our only child, and it's hard to part with him; but? he is so keen on going that his father and I can't refuse him. He's a public school boy."

"Then why doesn't he apply for a commission?"

"Because he dotsn't know his work well enough. He wants to enlist as a private." " Quite right," said the sergeant, approvingly. " You . are giving up a great deall, madam. It's a, spirit like yt/urs that's an inspiration to cur boys at the front." " But." she whispered aside, " isn't it more risky to be an officer?" " It's tfcn to one more dangerous, madam. But that won't influence you in your decision," the sergeant replied gravely. " Nobut it makes one think and pray," she said, with tears in her voice.

She was followed by another handsome woman of about forty, who inquired, "Would you take a boy of 17, sergeant?" " Are you his mother?" "I am, sergeant."

" Then 1 am prepared to do whatever his mother wishes," was ' the courteous reply. His mother wishes him to play the man," she said with emotion . . and the lad's name went down on the roster of gallantry.

"Going to join the ranks, my friend?" said the sergeant to a young man who had both hands in his trousers pockets and a fag "between his lips. Yes. when the War Office gives me a commission.",-

"Ah, then," exclaimed ' the sergeant. " I presume " you know your work and have had military training?" "Not a bit." answered the young cub; " but you don't catch me roughing it in the ranks. I'm after a commission."

" What right have you got to expect a commission?" the sergeant exploded in anger. "Do you want to lead men to their death through your ignorance?" Still slouching, he replied, without removing his cigarette, " Nothing but a commission will get me into the army." "Then, by Heaven, I'll see that you're kept out of it, until conscription drags you in by the heels and makes a man of you!"