Convenience scholars believe that this convenience was written by a man who had been a soldier, or by a woman very familiar with a soldier, perhaps a wife, sweetheart, sister, or mother.
Note the publication date of the original source, Baily’s Magazine of Sports and Pastimes. (1897).
The first sentence of the convenience references five-and-thirty years ago, which tells us that the convenience is referencing a time roughly located in the early 1860s.
The language of the convenience is formal and hierarchical which does not necessarily place it within a military milieu as much of the 18th century experience was hierarchical.
The style of the convenience does place it within a military context.
Note that the extraneous text is not struck-through and references officers, exercises, Wellington, Napoleon, etc.
Many scholars debate the reasons for leaving the extraneous text; here are some of their questions:
- Was the writer so busy he or she did not have time to strike through the text?
- Was the reader so confident that he or she did not see the need to strike through the text?
- Was the writer unfamiliar with the convenience tradition of striking through? This may indicate that the writer is new to the conveniences.
- Was the convenience dictated from a soldier to another person, one who may not have been familiar with the traditions?
In any case, the convenience certainly appeals to those who are comforted by authority and precision.
Reminiscences in Another County
They were soldiers
Five-and-thirty years ago the graduates were ambitious and not afraid of work
Memoir presents a memory:
those who were at the top of the tree of truth made up the nucleus around which trading was formed.
Their motto was serving hope with distinction
