40 

KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 

the “ Reserve,” had passed the exercises, a grand 
gala day was fixed for the glorious Review 
—(generally a Thursday)—and a glorious hot 
day it usually was; and after the grand Review, 
a certain number of “ Militaires” annually formed 
the ‘‘Camp de Thun,” or the “‘Camp de Biére.” 
At these gatherings, the young “ Militaires” 
were initiated in all the tactics of warfare, during 
a period of from fourteen to twenty-one days. 
Now the position of these “‘ camps’’ is most gran- 
diose compared to Chobham; and Montbenon 
(close to Lausanne, ) is superlatively magnificent. 
Any one who has visited this spot must, I think, 
be impressed with the surpassing grandeur and 
richness of the scenery. I am not going to tres- 
pass on your pages with any description thereof ; 
but if you, my dear friend, could fancy yourself 
on the plain at Chobham, and then suddenly 
transported to Montbenon, you (who are such an 
admirer of nature) would be perfectly bewildered. 
Here let me remark, that like many other dogs 
and men, I wished to see a little of military evo- 
lutions, and also to hecome acquainted with them. 
Who knows that a day’s military amusement may 
not be beneficial even toa dog! Well: without 
asking permission, L sprung over the wall of our 
“Campagne,” and strolled up to Montbenon, 
“dabbling” with every bird and butterfly that 
crossed my path. Arrived at Montbenon, it was 
decidedly a pretty sight ; and here do you know, 
I met so many friends! It was everywhere— 
“ Bon jour, Fino!” “ Bon jour, Drole!” A cake 
was given me here, a nice bit of cold meat there. 
Presently, however, arrived the ‘ Colonel Féde- 
ral” V. , and I made him a very respectful 
wag of the tail. Then the “Préfet,’’ Monsieur 
. I knew him well, a jolly little gentleman, 
with a fierce red ‘‘ Boucane”’ and fiery whiskers. 
Shortly after, arrived Mr. A , the Syndic, a 
very haughty, cowardly gentlemen, who, in 
time of need, was invariably on a@ visit to his 
friends; very unlike his noble successor, Mr. 
, who was always at his post. 
The Review went on famously. The day was 
excessively hot. The crowds were exceedingly 
great. IL amused myself by watching and admir- 
ing all these various manceuvres. At last the 
order was given to “ form a square;” and wishing 
to get a correct view of this performance, J 
slipped between the legs of some of the “ Mili- 
taires ;” and from tbe rapidity of the ‘‘ manceu- 
vres,”’ suddenly found myself in the very centre 
of the square, with the aforesaid Colonel V : 
the Préfet, and the Syndic. Well; I admired 
the caparison of the charger of Colonel V: 
as well as the green and white scarf of the Syndic 
and Préfet ; and I was in hopes of hearing the 
Colonel give orders to make way for my “non 
militaire” person—especially as I had not got on 
my uniform; but it appears that such orders do 
not accord with the ideas of gentlemen brought 
up to the military profession, and sol waited in 
vain. 
The music now began to sound very martially 
in my ears ; but having no taste that wey, I looked 
around to see how best to escape, when I luckily 
discovered ‘‘ Francois.” I made a bolt and a leap 
at him. He, like a great donkey, burst out 
laughing ; but military etiquette prevented his 
affording me a passage. [nearly floored him, how- 








ever. Hereupon, Captain T——t shook his sword 
at me, and I sprung backwards ; giving a gentle 
gripe on the heel of the Syndic’s charger, which 
sprung suddenly on his hind legs, and nearly 
capsized the worthy rider. This afforded great 
amusement to the crowd. The Syndic, however, 
waxed awfully wrath, and I anticipated the 
point of his sword would claim acquaintance with 
my ribs. Luckily, I ran straight against ‘‘ Frere 
Jean,” who, with his usual kindness, patted and 
coaxed me. Upon seeing this, the Syndic whis- 
pered afew words to the Colonel, and then ad- 
dressed ‘“ Jean’’ sharply. 
‘Hist ce votre chien, Jean?” 
“Non, Monsieur.” 
‘‘ A qui donc ?—est ce que cela vous regarde ?” 
The Syndic’s color changed from a pale sallow 
to a deep crimson, rage bursting out at every pore. 
Jean took out his tabatiére—and stroked his 
nose. The Syndic again rebuked Jean. Jean 
showed the point of his ‘“ serpetta ;’’ and with 
his usual coolness, replied, ‘‘tenez, Monsieur le 
Syndic ; voyons voir, cela pour—rait—al—ler— 
trop—loin. Je vous dirai deux mots plus tard.” 
The colonel interfered; and with some difficulty 
succeeded in restoring order and harmony. At 
length, it was agreed that I should be dismissed. 
One of the Syndic’s party had however picked 
up a large stone, with the intention of crackin 
my unfortunate skull. Jean had watched him, 
and stepped forward just as he was going to 
apply it against me. 
“Crapaud que tues,” said Jean; ‘‘si tu 
bouges, je te fends la téte sur le champ.” Again 
the Syndic interfered ; “‘ what is it?” 
“Rien du tout, Monsieur le Syndic,”’ says Jean. 
“ Pallais seulement lui faire dire sa priére.” 
The Syndic thought it better to pretend not to 
hear, as he had discovered through means of 
the Préfet, with whom he had to do. 
“Va t’en, brave Fino,” said Jean, making 
way for me; “Je viendrai vider une Botoglia 
ave toi ce soir.” 
I looked thanks to my ever noble friend, and 
walked away; Jean laughing and stroking his 
nose all the time I was in sight. As for the 
poor Syndic, he looked furious; and doubtless 
with any other man would have put in execution 
the law which would have consigned Jean to 
two days’ imprisonment, Weil, I was quietly 
walking off, when I saw a number of muskets 
“en piquet,’’ and two or three piles of little 
drums I was again curious to know what this 
meant ; when I found it was a party who had a 
short repos, and luckily recognised our farmer, 
“David le Dinde.” ‘“Heigho!” said I, 
“David, what’s all this about?” 
‘¢Nous sommes au repos” replied he, grin- 
ning like a Cheshire cat; with his broad mouth 
wide open, and staggering like a reeling peg- 
top. (He had been indulging rather copiously in 
the favorite beverage of the jolly god.) 
Au repos!” said I. 
“Quai, Fino, ouai da” he replied; when, 
without intending him any harm, I naturally 
leaped up to him—simply intending to express 
my affection. This, unfortunately, caused him 
to lose his equilibrium; and he fell backwards 
on one of the pretty pyramids of drums, which 
bounded off in every direction. 


