A clerk wrote something in a book. This finished the ceremony. The doctor did not bother about such trifles as examining the lungs, heart or eyes. He was for simplifying things. Monsieur le major decided with a short look in each case, as the other men took their turn. Three men were refused. An old woman could have diagnosed their condition at a glance—they were cases for a hospital, and their doing military service was absolutely out of the question. The man with the varicose veins, however, was at once accepted. Bon! I could see how happy he was over his good fortune, and I envied him. The man had hope….
Before a small window in the wall we new recruits waited, half an hour, an hour. At last the window was opened and the corporal put out his head.
"Snedr!" he called.
Nobody answered.
"Snedr!!" he yelled, getting angry.
Still no reply.
Finally the lieutenant appeared beside the corporal, and looked over his list.
"Oh," he said, "the man does not understand. Schneider!"
"Here!" answered one of my new comrades at once.