is intended, besides outraging the military knowledge
of many by a recital of elementary instruction. Suffice it to say, after
a certain period, he is sent to some post on the sea-board, or to active
service on the frontier.

The term of enlistment varies in different countries. In England,
formerly, it extended to twenty-one years; but the law has lately
reduced it to ten. In our service it is for five years only, with the
privilege of re-enlisting, if at the end of that time the applicant is
still sound in body and mind. He then becomes an "old soldier;" a term
which, for some reason or other, is used in civil life with no
complimentary import. It has a better meaning in service, however, which
is well exemplified in the French proverb, "_Il n'est chasse que de
vieux chiens_" (old dogs are staunch hunters). The pay also varies, and
it is a feather in the cap of our Government that we may say she is in
this respect more liberal than any other. In France, Prussia, Germany,
Austria, and Russia, a private, with all economy, cannot save more than
six cents a-day; yet when we consider the vast number each is obliged to
keep under arms, we cannot suppose them able to pay more. England, whose
"public debt is a public blessing," also looms up largely in the battle
array, and pays better than her neighbors. With her artillery-private
(or gunner as he is more properly called), we will compare a private of
the United States artillery, or infantry, since both are on a par in
this respect. The former receives one shilling fourpence farthing, or
thirty-three and one-half cents, per day, from which, deducting his
rations and clothing, there will be left thirteen and one-half cents, or
about four dollars per month. The latter receives seven dollars per
month, beside his rations and clothing. In the British infantry
regiments, the private has but one shilling per day, and the Queen
graciously allows him one penny of "beer-money."

The artillery-company of England is perhaps the best organized and most
efficient in the world; while ours is merely nominal, and a sore subject
to the accomplished officers attached to it. It is called artillery, but
infantry is more appropriate. At nearly all the forts, the siege pieces
and implements of the artillerist are packed away in storehouses,
without a particle of benefit to those for whom they are intended. In
Mexico, on the march to Orizaba, it had the mortification to trudge
along on foot, whi