THE SLIGHTLY WOUNDED.

West Coast Times, Issue 1659, 24 January 1871, Page 3

THE SLIGHTLY WOUNDED.

It seems hollow mockery (writes a Daily News correspondent) to call the human wrecks which have been forwarded by rail " slightly wounded." The meaning is, that they had been shot through leg or arm, have sabre cuts on head or shoulder, or bullets in their bodies. By comparison they maybeless seriously hurt than the others who cannot bear the fatigue of removal, and who will probably linger for a few hours in agony before yielding up their lives. Yet to all appearance the wounds which the surgeons pronounce slight are in reality very severe. Perhaps the toils which these soldiers had to undergo before entering battle, or the exhaustion caused by the long journey after the action, may have prostrated them more than those among their comrades who fell at an earlier period of the campaign ; but, whatever the reason, there is no doubt of the fact t' at the wounded who arc now arriving seem in much worse plight than any I have yet Rein. Many bear the impress of death on their faces. They have that desponding and worn look which indicates a want of power 'o bear up and conquer their woes by sheer force f will. Another symptom of the same kind is that the deaths in hospital are becoming relatively more numerous. Next in sadness to the appearance of the wounded is the demeanor of the bystanders who come to witness the arrival of every train. Women constitute the larger proportion of the spectators. It is neither idle curiosity nor morbid taste which leads them to the station and makes them eagerly scan the features of the wounded soldiers. They are anxious to see if among the suffereris any one who is dear fo them. When an army moves so rapidly aR that of Germany, the troops have no leisure for wriliug letters. Hence there are few amonjr those who remain behind who know what has been the lot of husband, son, orbroti er. They are condemned to live in a state of horrible suspense. It is a great relief when they find the well-remembered face among the crowd of wounded soldiers. They are glad to know the wo-st, even though the knowledge they have acquired be the reverse of satisfactory. I cannot help thinking that if the Sovereigns, Ministers and legislators who plan and precipitate wars had personal experience of a military hospital after a battle, the number of declared friends of peace would be multiplied.

A crusty old bachelor says he thinks it is woman, and not her wrongs, that ought to be redressed.

Lately, John M'Laughlan, shoemaker, Blairgowrie, was examined in bankruptcy before Sheriff Barclay, Perth. In answer to Mr Duncan, solicitor, he said he held other offices besides that of a shoemaker. You were grave digger and church beadle ? — Yes. How much did you get for these ? (No answer.) What did you get fur being church beadle ? If you say church officer I'll tell you. (Laughter.) I beg your pardon, sir ; well, what did you get for being church officer (not to take down your dignity by calling you beadle) ? — I get Is 6d per week. And when is that paid ?—? — It is paid by the man at the " plate " every Sunday. (Loud laughter.) I cannot say how much I got for being grave digger. It may be £10 a year, and it may be less. The statutory oath was administered. The liabilities amounted to £474 2s lOd ; assets, £244 15s Id.

A Model Town. — The following is from the Newcastle Wcchly Express, and is vouched for as, "on the whole a faithful report," by the British Worhman : — | Bes-ibrook is an Irish manufacturing town near Newry. Its principle founder and holp proprietor ia J. G. Richardson, a leading membpr of the Soci ty of Fri< nda. T (i is gentleman, with one or two other "Friends," founded the Be -brook Spinning Company, and erected there the Bessbrook Mills. The factory has grown so lyrge that it gives employment to 3000 hands, most of whom reside in the neighborhood of the works. In Bessbrook there is no licensed pnblic-honse, nor is there one in any of its surrounding lands. There are no police in the place. The li-h constabulary, a mcd, occupy every town in Ireland, and have barracks for half-a-dozen men each along evety roads de, hut there are no police in B'-s°Diook. Mr Richardson alleges that, so long as he keeps out the public-kou-e they can do without ; police ; but that so soon as the tap-room I is introduced they will r quire the constabulary. There is no drunker^- ss in Bessbrook ; in short, the operatives are models of sobriety and good order. Of course it is not m< ant to be said that they have not their faults and their failings like mankind everywhere ; but the town is wholly free from the sad scenes which are to be met with publicly every night in much smaller populations. And the population of Bessb- ook h composed entirely of operativps, while that of many other towns is mixed, comprising the wealthy and poor. The operative* themselves have not two opinions on the question of the absence or pretence of the public-house. They are agreed that, if licensed houses were opened in Bessbrook, the reading-room, the library, the schools, the co-operative societies would be deserted by only too many, for the allurement of the dramshop, and that another establishment, hitherto unknown in Bessbrook, the pawn-office would soon be required, And , ryrt only sp, \ivt ib? *ohce torr»?.V.»,

the handcuffs, the dark cells would come into fashion too, and homes now happy would soon be rendered miserable. All this Mr Richardson has seen in too many towns, and he decided to keep the licensed public-houses out of Bessbrook. The results have decidedly confirmed him in his resolution, aud would convince the most sceptical of the course he thus adopted, if the town were only once or twice visited by them. Coupled with the last negative point of management is also the exclusion of police and pawn offices, as already referred to ; these follow in the wake of the dram shop, and the exclusion of the public house renders all the rest unnecessary.