Kinglake says that the Russian Grand-Duke Constantine, contemplating his beautiful toy-regiments, said that he dreaded war, for he knew that it would spoil the troops.

The simple fact is, that a soldier is like the weapon he carries; service implies soiling, but you must have it clean in advance, that when soiled it may be of some use.
The men had that year a Christmas present which they enjoyed to the utmost,--furnishing the detail, every other day, for provost-guard duty in Beaufort.

It was the only military service which they had ever shared within the town, and it moreover gave a sense of self-respect to be keeping the peace of their own streets.

I enjoyed seeing them put on duty those mornings; there was such a twinkle of delight in their eyes, though their features were immovable.

As the "reliefs" went round, posting the guard, under charge of a corporal, one could watch the black sentinels successively dropped and the whites picked up,--gradually changing the complexion, like Lord Somebody's black stockings which became white stockings,--till at last there was only a squad of white soldiers obeying the "Support Arms! Forward, March!" of a black corporal.
Then, when once posted, they glorified their office, you may be sure.
Discipline had grown rather free-and-easy in the town about that time, and it is said that the guard-house never was so full within human memory as after their first tour of duty.