In his recent speech at Barnstable Earl Fortescue said he demurred very seriously to the principle on which officers were now selected. They competed in book-learning, but in nothing else. There was no test whatever applied to their strength or skill in athletic accomplishments of any sort. It was said, on the one hand, that the Queen did not want muscular idiots ; but he answered, on the other hand, nor did she want feeble bookworms. He thought the competition ought to extend to marching, riding, swimming, and running ; in short, to those powers "in body, as well as mind, which were likely to fit them best to say to their soldiers, " Come on," instead of gasping from behind them, "Go on."
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZT18761229.2.35
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 196, 29 December 1876, Page 14
Word Count
121Untitled New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 196, 29 December 1876, Page 14
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