IN MEMORIAM.
[To THE EDITOR OF THR "Spacre:r0a.1 Sin,—There has recently died of disease in South Africa in my old battery a gunner, =toted and unknown. In December, 1899, this man was by some mistake called up with the Reservists, in spite of the fact that his time was up, —i.e., that he had by that date completed his seven years with the Colours and five with the Reserve. There were one or two other instances of time-expired men being called up; with one accord they represented their case to their com- manding officer, and were duly sent home again. But this man, although the Queen had no claim whatever on his services, left his civil employment, and with his eyes open, with full knowledge of the hardships of a soldier's life, among strangers and in a strange battery, he went out to fight. No abnormal rate of pay, no delirious banqueting,s were his : and even if he were to escape the dangers of war, there was no certainty of an early return. There was nothing worthy of special note about the man. He was not an exceptionally smart or keen soldier, and he had no exceptional influence with his fellow-men; he was, too, quite unconscious that there was anything remarkable in his conduct. But to my mind there is only one word that can adequately describe him, and this word, I know, has been used and abused of late ad nauseam in the world of politics. He was a patriot.---I am, Sir, &c., C. H. B.
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