eover, an abundant
leisure, and appears to have ample time and means for participating in
the advantages of a residence in London--for frequenting gin-palaces
and music-halls, for observing the beauties of the West End and
cultivating the society of appreciative housemaids. To a ragged and
simple-minded rustic or to a young Cockney of vague resources all
this ought to be a brilliant picture. That the picture should seem to
contain any shadows is a proof of the deep-seated relish in the human
mind for our personal independence. The fear of "too many masters"
weighs heavily against the assured comforts and the opportunity of
cutting a figure. On the other hand, I remember once being told by a
communicative young trooper with whom I had some conversation that
the desire to "see life" had been his own motive for enlisting. He
appeared to be seeing it with some indistinctness: he was a little
tipsy at the time.

I spoke at the beginning of these remarks of the brilliant impressions
to be gathered during a couple of days' stay at Aldershot, and I have
delayed much too long to attempt a rapid and grateful report of them.
But I reflect that such a report, however friendly, coming from a
visitor profoundly uninitiated into the military mystery, can have but
a relative value. I may lay myself open to contempt, for instance,
in making the simple remark that the big parade held in honor of the
queen's birthday, and which I went down more particularly to see,
struck me, as the young ladies say, as perfectly lovely. I will
nevertheless hazard this confession, for I should otherwise seem
to myself to be grossly irresponsive to a delightful hospitality.
Aldershot is a very charming place--an example the more, to my sense,
if examples were needed, of the happy variety of this wonderful little
island, its adaptability to every form of human convenience. Some
twenty years ago it occurred to the late prince consort, to whom so
many things occurred, that it would be a good thing to establish a
great camp. He cast his eyes about him, and instantly they rested upon
a spot as perfectly adapted to his purpose as if Nature from the first
had had an eye to pleasing him. It was a matter of course that the
prince should find exactly what he looked for. Aldershot is at but
little more than an hour from London--a high, sunny, breezy expanse
surrounded by heathery hills. It offers all the required conditions
of liberal space, of quick accessibility,