Somebody once remarked member of the Peking Legation guard that he was a wit amongst soldiers anda soldier amongst wits. The remark, in the particular in stance, was correct, so correct that the epigrammatist had to pay for having made it. Perhaps the Guard felt that a slur had been cact on soldiers in general, in which case, of course, it had reason for revenge. For in point of fact some of not the worst epigrams are soldier-made. Here are two from General Joffre.
Speaking the other day about Russia's efforts in the east he said '1 am not anxious that they should weaken their line here. As things are, the Russians will advance more rapidly. As for the enemy in front of me, I can look after them—je mien charge." After the vie'o-y of the Marne, one of the General's little house in the Ea Pyrenees." So might Cincinnatus have spoken in the old Roman days.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.