11th of
December was one whose zealous determination to serve his country caused
not a little emotion in those who heard his story. He was a reservist
belonging to the Seaforth Highlanders, who was absent when called up. He
had been in France, and only arrived in England twenty-four hours after
the troopship which brought out his regiment started. He therefore
proceeded to Southampton, paid his passage to Cape Town, and went on to
the front at his own expense.

Of course, this is a solitary example of devotion to duty, but there are
thousands which might be recorded. Millionaires rushed from their
palaces, from the lap of nineteenth-century luxury into sober kharki,
with all its accompaniment of bully beef and muddy water; bridegrooms
tore themselves from winning brides, and scurried from the altar-rails
to sacrifice their lives--at that moment more precious than at any other
time--for the honour of the Empire. Not only "Dukes' sons," but a Duke
indeed joined in the magnificent mob who clamoured to fight for the
great cause. This impetuosity of gallantry had even its comic side, for
deserters came from hiding ready to face shot and shell rather than be
out of it; small boys tried spurious dodges to bring themselves to
"regulation" height; and many fibbed right royally as to their ages!
Some even, when rejected, were found stowed away after the transports
had put to sea! "Trifles these," some prosaic readers will remark.
Possibly, but to others such trifles made confirmation "strong as holy
writ" that the martial majesty of our mighty nation was never more
grandly evident than in the declining years of Victoria's reign!

The glorious work done by Cape Colony in aid of the Empire may be
appreciated in viewing the following figures, which show that nearly
6000 South African volunteers were called out for service during the
month of December:--

Prince Alfred's Own Artillery, Cape Town, 120; Cape Garrison
Artillery, Cape Town, 450; Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles, Cape
Town, 1000; Cape Town Highlanders, Cape Town, 500; Prince
Alfred's Guard, Port Elizabeth, 600; Uitenhage Rifles,
Uitenhage, 200; Kaffrarian Rifles, East London, 400; 1st City
Volunteers, Grahamstown, 500; Queenstown Rifle Volunteers,
Queenstown, 300; Kimberley Regiment, Kimberley, 650; Diamond
Fields Artillery, Kimberley, 120; Frontier Mounted Rifles,
Cathcart, 200; Komgha Mounted Rifles, Komgha, 100; Transkei