SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 8794, 7 March 1896, Page 3

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.

It is a remarkable thing that life in the two cervices 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 are very much alike in individuality when entering the respective services. Tommy Atkins and Jack Tar have their Deouliaritiei, but there is one thing that belongs to both, namely, a happy indifference to the future and a quick seizure of overy opportunity to get away from tho fearful monotony of a daily round of peace duties, but When the guns bogin to play, As Budyard Kipling says, both respond to tho call of duty, without a flinch. Tho beatswain pipes his whistle and the drummer beat; 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 tho stiffbearing of tho red coats. No ono over saw two soldiers riding on one horso; but, this ii one of Jack's highest ideas of fun. Nelson, Drake, and Bodney, obtained for England the supremacy of the sea, without torpedo boats o? ironclads. Wellington gained immortal victories without maxim guns and quick firing broeehloadors that could kill at 1000 yarda. So it is with other things. The old clay pine and the choroot are discarded as obsolete, and now Old Judge Cigarettes are, figuratively as well as lilorally, in ovorybodv's mouth.