INDIAN SOLDIEES AND SOLDIEKING 375 



The months go by, but * still I have 2000 questions to ask 

 you/ one of which is : 



How do your men compare with the Hampshires in 

 conduct and bearing ? It appeared to me that the soldiers 

 of the Indian army were of a different type from ' Tommy 

 Atkins,' more proud of their service, with more self-respect 

 and better manners. 



And later : 



I shall be glad to hear how you get on with your men:- 

 Natives are just what Europeans make them. 



Later again (1906) the point is put rather differently : 



Native soldiers in India always look so dignified, as 

 if they were models of self-respect, though individually 

 they may be * badmashes ' of a pronounced type. 



Hooker's own philosophy of life comes out strongly in 

 discussing the ' dulness ' of a military routine career. His 

 son was eager for greater activity ; meantime the alternative 

 counsel was to make regimental life interesting. 



This depends more on yourself than on your surroundings ; 

 an active mind by seeking finds interests and occupations 

 where a common mind sees nothing but boredom. Please 

 remember that your dullest duties can be made interesting 

 to me. 



And he believes that in most cases the dulnesses of regi- 

 mental life are due to lack of intelligence or education in 

 English boys and officers. 



To this may be added another saying apropos of the 

 need of frequent manoeuvres. True that generals thus learn 

 their duties in war ; but much more 



the best of all schooling for those beneath them, down to 

 subalterns, is to witness their blunderings and mistakes on 

 the field. . , . Wellington said he had any number of 

 Generals who could get 10,000 men into Hyde Park, but 

 not half a dozen who could get them out again without 



