Clever Men Do Not Enter the Army.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue I, 2 January 1904, Page 31

Clever Men Do Not Enter the Army.

A man has got, say, two sons to provide for in life (so says Lord Wolesley) he has not the means of giving them fortunes; he says to himself, “Jack is a stupid fellow, and Thomas is a very clever fellow.” He will start Thomas, the very elever fellow, in some profession where talent will come to the front, and where great emoluments and great positions and great rewards are in store —take the law. take any great profession you like, the medical profession, or any other; whereas in the Army the inducements for young men to en-

ter are very small indeed as regards their future. Take the London clubs here—they are swarming with officers of about the age of 40, 50 and so on; they are poor people who have perhaps served in the Indian Army, and have retired on perhaps some .-£l5O to £2OO a year, or £3OO a year at the outside — and they are very fortunate if they get £3OO. In what profession is an ordinary hard-working gentleman so badly paid? Therefore, the clever men really do not come into the Army. I do not say there are no clever men in the Army, because there are many; but the great bulk of the young men of ability in England do not come into our badlypaid profession, the Army.