universal soldiering！ I like to think that they will guard the liberty of their manhood even beyond the point of prudence。
A lettered German； speaking to me once of his year of military service； told me that； had it lasted but a month or two longer； he must have sought release in suicide。 I know very well that my own courage would not have borne me to the end of the twelvemonth； humiliation； resentment； loathing； would have goaded me to madness。 At school we used to be 〃drilled〃 in the playground once a week； I have but to think of it； even after forty years； and there es back upon me that tremor of passionate misery which； at the time； often made me ill。 The senseless routine of mechanic exercise was in itself all but unendurable to me； I hated the standing in line； the thrusting…out of arms and legs at a signal； the thud of feet stamping in constrained unison。 The loss of individuality seemed to me sheer disgrace。 And when； as often happened； the drill…sergeant rebuked me for some inefficiency as I stood in line； when he addressed me as 〃Number Seven！〃 I burned with shame and rage。 I was no longer a human being； I had bee part of a machine； and my name was 〃Number Seven。〃 It used to astonish me when I had a neighbour who went through the drill with amusement； with zealous energy； I would gaze at the boy； and ask myself how it was possible that he and I should feel so differently。 To be sure； nearly all my schoolfellows either enjoyed the thing； or at all events went through it with indifference； they made friends with the sergeant； and some were proud of walking with him 〃out of bounds。〃 Left； right！ Left； right！ For my own part； I think I have never hated man as I hated that broad…shouldered； hard…visaged； brassy…voiced fellow。 Every word he spoke to me； I fe