The Military Mentor; Being a Series of Letters Recently Written by a General Officer to His Son, on His Entering the Army Comprising a Course of Elega (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1804 Excerpt: ... LETTER XXVII. ON TRUE AND FALSE 3LORr. THERE is a species of false glory, which, though both dangerous and ridiculous, is common among military men: I mean, the wish to be distinguished in the corps for expence and parade. The man of rank thinks himself degraded, if he does not make a more considerable figure than those of his comrades whom he deems inferior to him. He that has money, and whom therefore our present degeneracy of manners places nearly upon a level with the nobility of the kingdom, fancies that he cannot maintain the newly acquired consequence of his family, but in making a brilliant display of his wealth. The other officers, too, readily perceive that the public almost always proportions its respect and esteem to the greater or less extent of this display; and every day hear it said, that sucjl-aone makes a great figure, and lives m style, without reflecting how little these lofty expressions contain. They would do well to remera ber, however, that this object of admiration is commonly the man, beyond all others, the least qualified for the army; that he who makes what is called a figure, is no other than a spendthrift, who ruins both his health and his fortune; 'and that he who lives, as it is termed, in style, has frequently recourse to means the most dishonourable to support this appearance, and is perpetually on the rack to conceal from his comrades the disgrace which he dreads, and which his creditors are justly preparing for him. A young officer, without wisdom or experience, thinks he shall be despised by his corps, if he does not pursue the same course as his comrades; and this ridiculous apprehension plunges him into debauchery and misery. Despise this false glory, my son: this is not the passion of those officers whom I wish you to...