AS RECRUIT. 23 



the best examination, but still had to wait four anxious 

 weeks for the royal permission to enter the army, and 

 when at the end of November it arrived, I could not 

 immediately be admitted, because I had only been 

 born on the 13th of December 1816, and so had not 

 yet passed my seventeenth year. I, however, was 

 allowed a special drill-sergeant, who strenuously drilled 

 me in civilian dress in the Cathedral square. 



My performance soon gained the approval of the 

 severe bombardier, although there was one point 

 which almost drove him to despair. I had extremely 

 curly light -brown hair, that absolutely refused to 

 conform to the military regulations , which required 

 that the hair should lie evenly on the temples. On 

 inspection-day the captain had expressed displeasure at 

 the disorderly hair of the recruit, and in consequence, 

 all conceivable experiments were instituted to conceal 

 in a measure this military blemish. The sediment of 

 a favourite Magdeburg beer seemed to be most effective. 

 I was obliged to order many a bottle for the purpose, 

 as unfortunately only the sediment could be of any 

 use to me. After repeated applications I succeeded 

 in rendering my hair tolerably smooth, but after an 

 interval it showed symptoms of revolt, and usually 

 on parade to the horror of the bombardier certain 

 rebellious locks persisted in protruding from the even 

 layer. 



Despite the great exertions exacted, and the rough 

 and apparently harsh treatment at the hand of the drill- 

 sergeant. I still look back with pleasure to my time 



