light and heat adjusters, rain conductors which Mr. Paxton has invented for that outside, and condensed moisture ducts within. purpose.

They are interminable rows of roofing, Enough has now been said to indicate so placed as to form in the aggregate a rather than to describe how each part of the plane; in other words, they are parallel rows building "plays many parts," and how, conof the letter V done in glass, in endless sequently, incalculable saving has been effected ridges long drawn out," thus: Win time and money. It is hardly necessary to The apex of each "ridge" is a wooden sash repeat, that the interior of the edifice is bar, with notches on either side for holding the most expansive covered space in the the sloping laths in which are fitted the edges of world. That some idea may be formed of the glass. The bottom, or "furrow" bar- the excess of its capacity, we may mention, otherwise a rafter-is hollowed in the middle, that the largest covered area in England is to form a gutter, into which every drop of believed to be that of the Ravenhead Glass rain glides down from the glass, and passes Works, at St. Helen's, in Lancashire, where through the transverse gutters into the hollow the space roofed-in is three hundred and columns. These longitudinal gutters are thirty-nine feet, by one hundred and five feet, formed at the tops of the girders; for the or not one quarter so large as that section of roof is self-supporting. This is not all: in Hyde Park which Mr. Paxton has glazed over. converting a conservatory for plants into That a Palatial Exhibition building, proa resort for breathing beings, and a depôt viding a total exhibiting surface of twenty-two for articles emphatically "to be kept dry;" acres, and affording space for nine miles of internal as well as external moisture must tables, shall have been put up in four months, for be drawn off the breath of myriads of less than a penny farthing a cubic foot, would visitors, condensed against the glass, would in itself make 1851 famous in the history of otherwise return in continual Scotch mists. enterprise, if nothing else were to happen to That difficulty partly dictated the A-like form stamp it as pre-eminently "The Industrial of the ceiling. Mr. Paxton ascertained that Year." From it will at least be dated a new vapours ascending to glass inclined to a slope era in building. In a communication from of one foot in two feet and a-half, do not Mr. Paxton himself, which we are permitted condense in separate drops and descend to quote, he says:again, but slide down over the smooth surface. To receive them, therefore, he grooves each rafter under the inside of the glazing. Into these grooves the condensed breath of "all nations" will fall and be conveyed into the transverse gutters; thence through the coiumns into the jurisdiction of their honours the Commissioners of Sewers. We subjoin a section of the rafter, to show the "Paxton gutter," and to clench our explanation: A is the external gutter, B B the frames of the glass, c c the internal ducts. These ingenious rafters are cut out of solid wood, in a machine (invented by the inventor of all the rest), with incredible rapidity. In order that there may be a fall for the water to run off, each rafter is slightly curved; and, to correct warping, a rod of iron, with nuts and screws at each end, forms the string of the bow, so as to regulate its deflexion. For this ingenious expedient Mr. Paxton has taken out a patent.

B

"When I consider the cheapness of glass and cast-iron, and the great facility with which they can be used, I have no doubt but! many structures, similar to that at Darley, will be attached to dwelling-houses, where they may serve as sitting-rooms, conservatories, waiting-rooms, or omnibus-rooms, if I may be allowed the expression. I am now, in fact, engaged in making the design for a gentleman's house to be covered wholly with glass; and when we consider that wherever lead is now used, glass may with equal pro priety be substituted, I have every hope that it will be used for buildings of various condi tions and character. Structures of this kind are also susceptible of the highest kind of ornamentation in stained glass and general painting. I am not without hope, however, that glass will become almost universal in its use, and that the system will be extended for manufacturing purposes, as well as general cemeteries, and also for horticultural buildings, so that even market-gardeners will advantageously apply it, in the growing of We must now give proof that the floor is foreign fruit for the London markets. I even a ventilator, and a dust-trap. It is laid four go so far as to indulge in the sanguine hope that feet above the sward of the park. A series agriculture will be ultimately benefited by the of subterraneous lungs are thus provided, application of cast-iron and glass. In short, and air is admitted to them, by means of there is no limit to the uses to which they may louvres, fixed in the outer walling of the be applied; and we may congratulate our building. These being made to open and shut selves, that in the nineteenth century the prolike Venetian blinds, will admit much or little gress of science, and the spirit of manufactur air, which gently passes through the seams of ers, have placed at our disposal the application the open flooring, and circulates over the of materials which were unknown building. Finally, through the openings of ancients, and thereby enabled us to erect the floor, the daily accumulations of dust will be swept into the space below by a machine,

the

of Mr. Paxton's, in Derbyshire.
*A conservatory on the new plan, attached to a hous

such structures as would have been deemed comfortable couch; or a piece of bread-the impossible, even in the early part of the pre-gift of a woman nearly as poor as himselfsent century." worse than nothing. He slept without nightmare, and rose sufficiently refreshed to enable

THE MODERN SOLDIER'S PROGRESS. him to look at the eighteen or twenty miles that yet lay before him as less than half a day's journey.

PART I-INITIATION.

MAURICE SAVAGE was one of a family of That half day's journey was got over-with seven children, whose parents were poor a little limping, it is true, but still accomcottagers in Wiltshire, and lived-as poor plished-and Maurice found himself in London, cottagers contrive to live-on the lowest quite at liberty to select any employment that wages for the hardest labour. The father's presented itself for his choice. But an awkstrength and the mother's health failed ward ploughboy, barely eighteen years old, is them utterly before their eldest girl was not exactly the person to find employment twelve years old, and they both died the moment he asks for it, in a city where, within a few months of each other, leaving according to the popular belief, “ one half of their family on the parish. Seven fresh in- those who go out in the morning have no mates in one day were a serious pull on the certain knowledge that they shall get a meal funds of a union so heavily burdened with before they return at night." paupers as Wallington; but Mr. Broadcast, the overseer, was a man fertile in expedients and prompt in the execution of his plans; and before a week had gone by since he first heard the formidable announcement of "We are seven!" he had contrived to draft four out of the number in such a way as to relieve the parish from much of the threatened expense, and so to dispose of the others as to make it fall lightly on the rates.

He accordingly passed, the first four-andtwenty hours of his visit to the metropolis, without food, or the slightest means of procuring it, and might have repeated the programme, to the catastrophe-starvation; but just as he was thinking whether it would not be as well to return to Wiltshire, chance threw him in the way of a recruiting party, very gaily decorated with ribbons of every hue, and having that devil-may-care expression on their The three eldest, who were girls, gave their countenances, which proves so irresistible unpaid services to neighbouring farmers, by both to youth and maiden. To encounter a whom they were employed chiefly in house- young fellow like Maurice, with famine in his hold work. Maurice, the fourth, was initiated eyes, and thirst, long unslaked, on his dry lips also into the mysteries of a farmer's life;-strong tokens of the ardent recruit-was a but as his age did not admit even of turnip-godsend to Sergeant Pike who commanded pulling, he began literally at the beginning the party, and who, at the moment, was very and officiated for the first year or two as a much put to it to make up a batch of recruits. scare-crow. In this capacity, when he didn't He accordingly invited Maurice to “step in go birds' nesting, or blackberrying, or fall and "take a pot," to which bread and cheese asleep-occurrences which were not rare-he were speedily added, and then, in military figured with a certain degree of respectability. phrase, the Serjeant at once broke ground. To trace his agricultural career through the This gallant individual did not, it is true, several phases of cattle-driving, swine-tending, find Maurice altogether unprepared for the potato-digging, hay-making, sheep-washing, proposition which he made him, to accept the mowing and reaping, till he attained the dignity of a ploughboy doing a ploughman's work, would be beside the purpose of this narrative. We find him at eighteen years of age in the capacity just mentioned.

What Maurice longed for was to do as his elder sisters had done-get up to London. They had all found "places," and why should not he likewise? He did not aim at being a butler all at once, or even at the situation of

a

short cut to fortune which is so obviously within the reach of every private soldier in the British army; for where is the country lad to be found, who has not indulged in the splendid vision, whether impelled towards it by the love of glory, or the perfidious conduct of "Nancy ?" But the notion was too indistinet for any practical application, till the certainty of its realisation was set forth in the glowing language of Sergeant Pike. A few valet. But what he wanted was "to pints of beer, a red-herring, or "soger," as he better himself," and he conceived that London facetiously called it, an exordium on the light, was the best place for him to make the easy, ge'tl'm'ly duties of the soldier, a attempt in. He rose with the sun one fine glass or two of hot whiskey and water,-a summer's morning, and disregarding the for- brief allusion to the Duke of Wellington's mality of leave-taking, employed his legs to career,-"his luck, you know, may be yours such good purpose, that before the sun or mine to-morrow," and then came the inset he was well-nigh fifty miles from Wal-evitable shilling which, from a mere hawlington, on his way to the golden metropolis. buck, converted Maurice Savage into a full He had no bed to go to, and his supper private in Her Majesty's service. was somewhat of the scantiest; but he had Medical inspection and attestation over, our not been so tenderly nurtured as to make Wiltshire recruit was forthwith despatched, him think the lee of a haystack a very un-I with some ten or a dozen other aspirants for

66

glory, under proper charge to the head-quarters had a happy manner of applying his jokes, of the regiment quartered at Manchester. which were a perfect comedy to every body A few years before the enlistment of Maurice but the individuals, the immediate object of Savage, a tedious, toilsome and comfortless them; and whether he was busy with his remarch would have formed the introduction to cruits, or taking a hand at "Fives" when his military duties, with amongst other evils, parade was over, there was sure to be a large a facility for desertion, in the event of the hot audience of men off duty,--and now and then fit having passed away; but the railway obvi- an officer, a little apart from the rest,—to enated all these inconveniences, and instead of joy the fun. Maurice Savage was a frequent being twelve days on the road, the journey theme for Corporal Rattler's wit; was now performed in half as many hours; lent itself to all sorts of allusions-none of and the recruits arrrived at their destination them complimentary-and his personal apperfectly fresh, and quite of opinion that a pearance gave them additional point. The outsoldier's life must be a pleasant one, since at line of the Corporal's tuition might run thus: the very outset they were allowed to ride in carriages!

his name

"Now then, Mister Savage,-we 're not in the woods to-day! There's broad day-light This idea was slightly modified the next upon us;-let's see if we can't teach you a day, when they were formed into a squad, and little civi-li-sation! Up with your head,the process of "setting-up" began. The first nobody's a-goin' to take your scalp; straighten glance at a batch of recruits from an agricul- them knees, you shall go to prayers by-andtural district, is not particularly re-assuring; by, when your limbs is supple enough! don't to knead and mould the clods into shape, clench your fistes as if you'd got tommyhawks appears almost a hopeless undertaking, at in 'em, Mister Savage! Shut that mouth! least to the uninitiated; but Corporal we didn't come on parade to catch flies;Rattler was an experienced hand, and had we're not cannyballs, Mister Savage, we're dealt so much in stubborn materials, that not! Now then, hide that there belly! the word "difficulty" found no place in his bellies ain't of no use in the army, besides be vocabulary. The men were there to be drilled ing contrairy to the articles of war. I shall and made soldiers of, and it was not his fault have to keep you here till tattoo, though I if he did not turn them out perfect. Corporal suppose you're tattooed already, Mister Rattler was a fine, soldierlike fellow, standing Savage, &c., &c," with more of the same kind six-feet-one in his stockings, straight as an to an indefinite extent, indifferent enough to arrow, and flexible as an eel; he had "the read, but sufficiently amusing to hear, when gift of the gab" to a surprising extent, was it served as a running commentary on the smart" in all his movements, and knew his awkwardness of the young soldier. duty thoroughly. There was only one draw- By dint, however, of much drilling, this back to his many qualifications, but that was awkwardness gradually wore off, though the a fatal one; he was given to drink. But for ordeal was severe for a youth, who was natuthis propensity, he might long before have at- rally disposed to prefer idleness to work, and tained the rank of Serjeant-Major of the regi- who had entered the army for the purpose of ment, with a very fair prospest of a commis- "taking it easy." At daybreak the Reveille" sion; but the canteen within the barrack-yard, was beat-probably by Addison's spectral and the public-houses outside, neutralised all drummer for unless he who did it, handled his advantages, and got him so frequently the drumsticks in his sleep, it was difficult to into disgrace that advancement was out of the imagine that the regularity of the warning question, and the rank of Corporal, which he was not supernatural. At this sound there was allowed to hold, was solely for the pur- was an immediate stir in the barrack-room, pose of giving him authority with the recruits and woe betide any lazy recruit who laid he was employed to train. The kindest re- down his head for another "forty winks" to monstrances, as well as measures of no slight dream of the paternal pigsty, which haply he severity, had been resorted to by the adjutant might never see again; the water for the and the commanding officer, and no man was morning ablutions would have been applied more penitent for his faults than Corporal in so liberal a manner as at once to convince Rattler, nor more prodigal of promises for the dreamer that "cold pig" was a reality. future good-behaviour. But, unfortunately, To dress as quickly, but at the same time as the "invisible spirit" of drink overcame all, carefully as possible, was the first thought, and instead of what he might have been-a but before the toilet was quite finished each model to imitate-he became an example to man made his bed after the military fashion, shun. No permanent command, involving a rolling up his paillasse, folding the bed-clothes separate responsibility, was, therefore, ever separately and laying them on the top, with entrusted to him; but his services were a prescribed neatness, which soon became too valuable as a drill to admit of his being displaced in that capacity; and a constant supervision being at hand, no harm was likely to accrue from giving him such employment.

Corporal Rattler was a master of slang, and

habit; and then the iron bedstead itself was pulled out from the wall and turned over, giving room for the men to move, and allowing the air to circulate freely. Until practice had made him perfect, Maurice Savage found it no easy matter to be quite ready to fall in,

when, a second time, the drum beat for the Maurice was required to have his "Bally een, "Assembly." He then scurried out to the cheest advanced, coke-heed appasite laft grine, parade, and took his appointed place in the and lat the waght of the bodie rast upon the squad; a minute inspection followed, by that taes," a passage of arms which, for want of awful inquisitor-general, the Sergeant-Major comprehending the language it was described (a functionary who, in a moment of relaxa- in, he was far from rendering either graceful tion, permits the "non-commissioned" to call or effective. So, also, when he was told to him Major" only); and if a single button mind his "prymin' and loddin' peseetion," of his fatigue jacket were undone, if the but-the instructions which were to render that tons themselves were not as bright as rotten-position valuable, might have attained that stone could make them, if his forage cap were object much sooner if there had been a dragonot put on at precisely the proper angle, if the man at his elbow to translate broad Scots clasp of his stock were dull or unfastened, into honest Wilts. Under the auspices of and if, moreover, he were not perfectly clean | Sergeant Mac File, a military education was from head to foot, adieu, for that day at least, the pursuit of knowledge under very great to all chance of recreation, unless he happened difficulties-under those of Corporal Rattler, to take delight in confinement to barracks, difficulties existed, but they arose from the with a few hours extra drill. But whether nature of the subject,-his system was exthe drill were extra or regular appeared much plicit enough, and was enforced by methods, the same sort of thing to Maurice Savage, which needed no foreign interpretation. for except during the brief period allotted for meals, his impression was that he was always at it. A vision of Corporal Rattler, with his sharp tones, and short flexible cane, was ever present to his imagination; and, to say the truth, it did not require any violent exercise of the imagination to conjure him, at any moment, before the unhappy recruits in all the physical identity of six-feet-one.

same way that Abernethy did his patients.

The day, at last, came when the Mac File ciog was no longer a stumbling-block, and Maurice Savage was reported fit for duty. Six months had greatly changed him, not only in his outward appearance, but in the "moral" of that individual. It is true he had still a red head, but it was clipped very close, and, in a manner, absorbed by the blaze of his regimentals; the number of freckles had not At length the goose-step was abandoned, diminished beneath the influence of out-door the pacing-stick laid aside, and the time-keep- exercise; but, while the hue of health was on ing bullet returned, with the string attached his cheek, their presence was of little conseto it, to Corporal Rattler's pocket. Maurice quence, as the fac-simile of his countenance Savage had achieved the difficult arts of was not wanted to adorn a hair-dresser's shop. standing upright, of balancing himself-like On the other hand, his features had begun to a crane on one foot, of stepping out fairly express some of the intelligence which was with a pointed toe and raised instep, of facing working within him, and the ungainliness, to all the points of the compass, by whole, half which had been a reproach, was quite gone, and quarter movements, of turning round-thanks to the rough practice of Corporal upon himself-like the late Lord London- Rattler, who treated his recruits much in the derry-of keeping step without kicking his front rank man; of doing all, in short, that a Maurice Savage, as we have already intisoldier is made to do before arms are put mated, had not reclined upon a bed of down into his hands. When these feats were ac- during the above-mentioned six months, complished, he was introduced to "Brown neither had his couch been rendered uneasy Bess," and many a weary hour he passed in by too many rose-leaves; but, if he slept hard, that lady's society, acquiring a knowledge fatigue made his sleep a sound one; and, if of the various purposes, ornamental as well as he took more exercise than he had bargained useful, to which the musket can be applied. for in the outset, the result was an appetite Occasionally, when there was a demand else- of the most enviable description-for it was where for Corporal Rattler's services, or when one that was always satisfied. And this perchance, that worthy was himself under a allusion brings us to a question of some incloud for "inebriation" (as the pompous terest with regard to the mode of living of Sergeant-Major, who never used any but the thousands of our unmilitary countrymen, finest words, always called it), a Scottish in- who have an equal stimulus to hunger with structor, one Sergeant Mac File, would incul- the soldier: equal-nay, better means of gracate the mysteries of the "Manual and tifying it; but who-not acting in concert, Platoon." This transfer was not very favour-having, in short, no mess"-eat their food able to the pupil's rapid progress; for where- in an ill-prepared state, with little profit to as the word of command or instruction from their health, and very little enjoyment. Corporal Rattler, was always brief, clear and intelligible, that which fell from the lips of Sergeant Mac File, was shrouded by a dialect which kept the listener perpetually on the tenter-hooks, to understand him. Thus, in

A shilling a-day "-says the old song

"Is very good pay;

It's double a taster

The King's a good master," &c.. &c.—

order to "present arms," a movement, not and out of the shilling a-day rather more than without grace or effect, when well executed, two-thirds are deducted for the soldier's daily

sustenance. But this sum, which we will of each workman who provides his own call eightpence-the odd halfpenny in the dinner how and where he can. stoppages being placed to the account of The dream of an easy life in the army had "washing "-provides him with everything been almost dissipated by six months' drill, but he strictly requires in the way of meat; and not quite. The comparative freedom which an extra penny for "beer-money" supplies the old soldier enjoyed, was looked upon with him with "drink." This "eightpence "gives envy and yearning by Maurice Savage, behim a pound of good bread, half of which he fore his name was included in the roster of eats at breakfast with a canteen-full of tea or effective men. But when the experience of a coffee, according to the nature of the mess, few weeks had made it clear to him what a and the other half he disposes of with his soldier's life, even in "piping time of peace," "pound of flesh," which is not eaten after really was, he came to the conclusion that, Shylock's receipt, but rather more à la Soyer, one way or another, he was as much worked in the shape of well-boiled meat and good in his military capacity as if he had stuck to soup, and accompanied by potatoes, onions, his bucolical pursuits, though the work was and other vegetable condiments. If anything of a different description. Like the ploughremains out of the eight pence, which, when man or the common labourer, his work was prices are high, is a somewhat rare occur-cut out for him as soon as he opened his rence, an evening repast of tea or coffee is added, with such a portion of bread as may have been saved from the preceding meals. That this meal ought not, however, to be a rarity, but a regular thing, will be admitted by all who consider that, unless he provides himself, the soldier has nothing to eat from one o'clock in the day till eight the following morning,-a fast of nineteen hours.*

eyes in the morning. Instead of a team of horses he had a set of accoutrements to look after, belts to pipeclay, pouch to polish, knapsack to pack, and arms to keep in order -a harder task at first than yoking Boxer and Badger. Instead of turning over a nineacre field at his own clod-hopping pace, he had to traverse the same extent of ground in ordinary, in quick, in double, in every variety The soldier's dinner is, however, a good of "time," with fourteen pounds' weight of one, and ought to be so; for, besides that musket and bayonet on his shoulders, and the provisions are always good, military cooks more than double that load on his back in serve their apprenticeship, to that as well as the shape of a full knapsack, folded great to other duties; two men per Company being coat and canteen; in that condition, in short, off duty, for that purpose, at intervals long which is known as being "in heavy marching enough to give them some knowledge of the order." Not always, of course, but often art. There are various superintendents to enough to convince him that "playing at have an eye upon the cooks' proceedings; soldiers was as serious a pursuit as whist the old hands who have dabbled in the ling at the plough, let the clay-soil be as stiff mystery; the quarter-master serjeant, who as you please. Then there came guardweighs out the materials for it; and the mounting-with breakfast between, where officer of the day, who inspects the kettles the full private had the advantage of the before they are removed from the kitchens, ploughman, if not in quantity, at all events besides attending afterwards, when the messes in quality and comfort-but the duty involved are actually served out, and ascertaining that all is right, by personal observation and particular inquiry.

With regard to a body of workmen in a factory, or other large establishment, why, we ask, should not some such system be adopted as prevails in the army? A quarter-master might easily be found to purchase provisions at wholesale prices; cooking places could always be obtained, and persons honest and skilful enough procured to prepare meals of an excellent description; and those at an individual cost far less than the daily outlay

*We are glad to perceive (while this article was being written) that advantage has been taken of the existing low price of provisions, and that the condition of the soldier serving in the Colonies, with regard to the stoppage exacted for his ration, has, very recently, been under the consideration of the Government, and that it is intended to reduce the rate from five-pence, at which it stands at present, to threepence-halfpenny. The necessity for this step has been made apparent in the evidence taken before the Committee on Army and Ordnance Expenditure; and

in mounting guard, though not so laborious as carting manure, was more particular as well as more fragrant. A day's work in the fields is, after all, but a day's work, while mounting guard is an occupation which not only includes the day but the night also. To say nothing of the loneliness or remoteness of the post, the fact of being on sentry for eight hours out of the twenty-four, and half that time in the dark, under the heaviest penalty if sleep should be indulged in, was not so agreeable in practice, as turning in to the loft or flock-bed and snoring till daylight. When it happened also, from the nature of the garrison, the number of sick in hospital and other causes, that the troops have only three or perhaps two nights in bed, the pleasure of guard-mounting is not very greatly enhanced in the estimation of a heavy sleeper.

However, without pursuing the contrast the effect of lowering the cost of the ration of one pound between military and agricultural pursuits of meat and one pound of bread to threepence-halfpenny, any further, it may be enough to say that will be to leave to the soldier abroad eightpence-halfpenny, Maurice Savage found that the former ga

out of which he will provide himself with other articles of food conducive to his health and comfort.

him quite as much to do as the latter, and