When
the lists in various cities had to be closed, the young men who had not
been accepted turned away with tears in their eyes, and telegraphed from
regiment to regiment, hoping to find one where there were still
vacancies. Where the sons of the wealthy renounced the pleasures of
youth and the comforts of their homes to accept the hardships of war in
serving the Fatherland, the poor and the poorest appeared in like
degree. In families having four or five sons subject to military duty a
youngest son, not yet liable for service, volunteered. The year 1870,
truly a proud year in our history, saw nothing like this.
A thing that raised the national enthusiasm still higher was the
appearance of the troops in brand-new uniforms, complete from head to
foot. The first sight of these new uniforms of modest field gray,
faultlessly made, evoked everywhere the question: Where did they come
from? On the first day of mobilization dozens of cloth manufacturers
appeared at the War Ministry with offers of the new material. "We don't
need any," was the astonishing reply. Equal amazement was caused by the
faultless new boots and shoes of the troops, especially in view of the
recent famous "boot speech" of the French Senator Humbert.
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