"<What about our French marines?' I asked, jealous for the reputation of my countrymen.
"More children, my dear Sir,' was the reply. 'I will back Russians or Americans against any of them and give you the odds of three to one.'
"Remembering the amiable Cossack who disposed of sixteen glasses of rum at my expense without the least difficulty, I did not venture to take the bet.
"This remarkable power of absorption is the wonder and anxiety of the commanders. General Voyron's tactics are now employed against his own troops instead of the Chinese. He keeps them in barracks as long as possible, organised instructive excussions to the various palaces in the Imperial city, and showers imprisonment on hardened offenders. It is of no use. The distillers of Scotch whisky and absinthe are winning all along the line. I am convinced that the position of a nation in the order of civilisation is determined by the number of gallons of alcohol it can put out of sight. Look at England leading. the way, while the Turks, who drink nothing but water, bring up the rear! IF even an international entente comes to be signed I fear the signature will be shaky:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.