SOUTH CAROLINA 207 



part solely from the very general impulse to fist- 

 fights. However repulsive certain disadvantages and 

 difficulties inseparable from war may be, there is on 

 the other hand so much that is tempting and dazzling 

 that men will never cease to be attracted to the fame- 

 promising enterprises of war. Without being tedious 

 in this matter, I may mention a trifling circumstance, 

 how remarkable it was that those very officers who 

 complained with such bitterness of the losses their 

 military service had brought upon them, showed the 

 greatest pleasure in their military uniform, their 

 cockades, and their swords. Many who had gone into 

 trade, still retained the outward appearance of officers 

 and the title. Even older and serious persons showed 

 this preference. An esteemed lawyer here always ap- 

 peared in public in black velvet, but with a white cock- 

 ade to his hat, and a ribbon-knot on his sword, for he 

 had been a General, but was now again managing cases 

 at law. This liking for military show is everywhere a 

 temptation, but in America and among Americans is 

 all the more surprising, since there they profess on all 

 occasions a hatred for soldiers, or wish to appear as if 

 they hated them. It may be that from the difficulty of 

 recruiting the American army, inferences have been 

 drawn as to the disinclination of the people for mili- 

 tary service ; the number of the people being every- 

 where still inconsiderable, the means of getting a com- 

 fortable support are easy, less tedious than what 

 may be expected from a soldier's life. But when once 

 the population has increased and there is a superfluity 

 of people it will be easy enough to bring soldiers to- 

 gether without any great compulsion. 



