2 OCTOBER 1959, Page 32

!the bpertator

OCTOBER 4, 1834

IN France and some of the German States, the regular employment of the military in public works is prac- tised: it is found that even the strongest governments will not be able much longer to exact from their industrious subjects the means of supporting armies in idleness. Even with a view to their efficiency in time of war, it would be wise to accustom the soldiery to harder labour than boot-cleaning and musket- polishing. But it is derogatory, we suppose, in the opinion of martinets, to the military profession to be employed in labour which has for its object any thing less dignified than the cutting of throats or the destruc- tion of cities.