At seven o'clock we dined at the regimental mess, with the officers of the North Cork. The mess-room is by far the most endurable place to be found in camp. The hut is large, and the mess-room is capable of receiving between thirty and forty guests, besides the officers of the regiment8, when a great dinner-party is given. As I saw it, the whole space was divided into a dining-room and two anterooms by red curtains drawn9 across; and the second anteroom seems to be a general rendezvous10 for the officers, where they meet at all times, and talk, or look over the newspapers and the army-register, which constitute the chief of their reading. The Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment received Bennoch and me with great cordiality, as did all the other officers, and we sat down to a splendid dinner.
All the officers of the regiment are Irishmen, and all of them, I believe, men of fortune; and they do what they can towards alleviating12 their hardships in camp by eating and drinking of the best that can be obtained of all good things. The table service and plate were as fine as those in any nobleman's establishment; the dishes numerous and admirably got up; and the wines delectable13 and genuine,—as they had need to be; for there is a great consumption of them. I liked these Irish officers exceedingly;—not that it would be possible to live long among them without finding existence a bore; for they have no thought, no intellectual movement, no ideas, that I was aware of, beyond horses, dogs, drill, garrisons14, field-days, whist, wine, cigars, and all that kind of thing; yet they were really gentlemen living on the best terms with one another,—courteous, kind, most hospitable15, with a rich Irish humor, softened16 down by social refinements,—not too refined either, but a most happy sort of behavior, as natural as that of children, and with a safe freedom that made one feel entirely17 at my ease. I think well of the Irish gentlemen, for their sakes; and I believe I might fairly attribute to Lieutenant-Colonel Stowell (next whom I sat) a higher and finer cultivation18 than the above description indicates. Indeed, many of them may have been capable of much more intellectual intercourse19 than that of the mess-table; but I suppose it would not have been in keeping with their camp life, nor suggested by it. Several of the elder officers were men who had been long in the army; and the Colonel—a bluff20, hearty21 old soldier, with a profile like an eagle's head and beak—was a veteran of the Peninsula, and had a medal on his breast with clasps for three famous battles besides that of Waterloo.
The regimental band played during dinner, and the Lieutenant-Colonel apologized to me for its not playing "Hail Columbia," the tune11 not coning22 within their musical accomplishments23. It was no great matter, however; for I should not have distinguished24 it from any other tune; but, to do me what honor was possible, in the way of national airs, the band was ordered to play a series of negro melodies, and I was entirely satisfied. It is really funny that the "wood-notes wild" of those poor black slaves should have been played in a foreign laud25 as an honorable compliment to one of their white countrymen.
After dinner we played whist, and then had some broiled26 bones for supper, and finally went home to our respective huts not much earlier than four o'clock. But I don't wonder these gentlemen sit up as long as they can keep their eyes open; for never was there anything so utterly27 comfortless as their camp-beds. They are really worse than the bed of honor, no wider, no softer, no warmer, and affording not nearly so sound sleep. Indeed, I got hardly any sleep at all, and almost as soon as I did close my eyes, the bugles28 sounded, and the drums beat reveille, and from that moment the camp was all astir; so I pretty soon uprose, and went to the mess-room for my breakfast, feeling wonderfully fresh and well, considering what my night had been.
Long before this, however, this whole regiment, and all the other regiments29, marched off to take part in a general review, and Bennoch and I followed, as soon as we had eaten a few mutton-chops. It was a bright, sunshiny day; but with a strong east-wind, as piercing and pitiless as ever blew; and this wide, undulating plain of Aldershott seemed just the place where the east-wind was at home. Still, it acted, on the whole, like an invigorating cordial; and whereas in pleasanter circumstances I should have lain down, and gone to sleep, I now felt as if I could do without sleep for a month.
In due time we found out the place of the North Cork Regiment in the general battle-array, and were greeted as old comrades by the Colonel and other officers. Soon the soldiers (who, when we first reached them, were strolling about, or standing30 at ease) were called into order; and anon we saw a group of mounted officers riding along the lines, and among them a gentleman in a civilian's round hat, and plain frock and trousers, riding on a white horse. This group of riders turned the front of the regiment, and then passed along the rear, coming close to where we stood; and as the plainly dressed gentleman rode by, he bent31 towards me, and I tried to raise my hat, but did not succeed very well, because the fierce wind had compelled me to jam it tightly upon my head. The Duke of Cambridge (for this was he) is a comely-looking gentlemanly man, of bluff English face, with a great deal of brown beard about it. Though a pretty tall man, he appears, on horseback, broad and round in proportion to his height. I looked at him with a certain sort of interest, and a feeling of kindness; for one does feel kindly32 to whatever human being is anywise marked out from the rest, unless it be by his disagreeable qualities.
The troops, from twelve to fifteen thousand, now fell into marching order, and went to attack a wood, where we were to suppose the enemy to be stationed. The sham-fight seemed to me rather clumsily managed, and without any striking incident or result. The officers had prophesied33, the night before, that General K———, commanding in the camp, would make a muddle34 of it; and probably he did. After the review, the Duke of Cambridge with his attendant officers took their station, and all the regiments marched in front of him, saluting35 as they passed. As each colonel rode by, and as the banner of each regiment was lowered, the Duke lifted his hat.
The most splendid effect of this parade was the gleam of the sun upon the long line of bayonets,—the sheen of all that steel appearing like a wavering fringe of light upon the dark masses of troops below. It was very fine. But I was glad when all was done, and I could go back to the mess-room, whither I carried an excellent appetite for luncheon36. After this we walked about the camp,—looked at some model tents, inspected the arrangements and modes of living in the huts of the privates; and thus gained more and more adequate ideas of the vile37 uncomfortableness of a military life. Finally, I went to the anteroom and turned over the regimental literature,—a peerage and baronetage,—an army and militia38 register, a number of the Sporting Magazine, and one of the United Service, while Bennoch took another walk. Before dinner we both tried to catch a little nap by way of compensation for last night's deficiencies; but, for my part, the attempt was fruitless.
The dinner was as splendid and as agreeable as that of the evening before; and I believe it was nearly two o'clock when Bennoch and I bade farewell to our kind entertainers. For my part I fraternized with these military gentlemen in a way that augurs39 the very best things for the future peace of the two countries. They all expressed the warmest sympathies towards America and it was easy to judge from their conversation that there is no real friendliness40 on the part of the military towards the French. The old antipathy41 is just as strong as ever,—stronger than ever, perhaps, on account of the comparatively more brilliant success of the French in this Russian war. So, with most Christian42 sentiments of peace and brotherly love, we returned to our hut, and lay down, each in his narrow bed.
Early in the morning the drums and bugles began the usual bedevilment; and shortly after six I dressed, and we had breakfast at the mess-room, shook hands with Lieutenant Shaw (our more especial host), and drove off to the railway station at Ash.
I know not whether I have mentioned that the villages neighboring to the camp have suffered terribly as regards morality from the vicinity of the soldiers. Quiet old English towns, that till within a little time ago had kept their antique simplicity43 and innocence44, have now no such thing as female virtue45 in them, so far as the lower classes are concerned. This is expressing the matter too strongly, no doubt; but there is too much truth in it, nevertheless; and one of the officers remarked that even ladies of respectability had grown much more free in manners and conversation than at first. I have heard observations similar to this from a Nova-Scotian, in reference to the moral influence of soldiers when stationed in the provinces.
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1
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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2
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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3
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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6
crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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7
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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8
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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9
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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11
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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12
alleviating
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| 减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的现在分词 ) | |
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delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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14
garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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15
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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16
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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17
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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18
cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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21
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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22
coning
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| 形成圆锥形；舌进；堆锥四分取样法；水舌形成 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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24
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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laud
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| n.颂歌；v.赞美 | |
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26
broiled
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| a.烤过的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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28
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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29
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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30
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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32
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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33
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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35
saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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36
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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37
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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38
militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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39
augurs
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| n.（古罗马的）占兆官( augur的名词复数 )；占卜师，预言者v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的第三人称单数 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
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40
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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41
antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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42
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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43
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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44
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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45
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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