22 SPORTING AND 



having to take a weary march of twenty 

 miles through deep dust, and frequently 

 heavy sand ; the poor sufferer groaning in 

 spirit, and making many good resolutions, 

 which are strictly carried out until he meets 

 a convivial friend the next night, when the 

 same farce is enacted again with the same 

 results. It appears to me that soldiers are 

 the most thoughtless people on the face 

 of the earth ; I have often studied their 

 character, and must confess that I am 

 completely puzzled. They are kind, 

 liberal, and generous to a degree; but, 

 on the other hand, they are the most 

 improvident creatures in the world, and I 

 believe they would persist in drinking a 

 glass of brandy if they were assured they 

 would be dead an hour after it. This 

 recklessness kills many of our brave 

 fellows, and indeed, if it were not for this 



