A full-blown second lieutenant was endeavoring to display his great knowledge of musketry. Sauntering up to the latest recruit, he said:
See here, my man, this thing is a rifle, this is the barrel, this is the butt, and this is where you put the cartridge in.
The recruit seemed to be taking it all in, so the officer, continuing, said:
You put the weapon to your shoulder; these little things on the barrel are called sights; then to fire you pull this little thing, which is called the trigger. Now, smarten yourself up, and remember what I have told you; and, by the way, what trade did you follow before you enlisted? A collier, I suppose!
No, sir, came the reply; "I only worked as a gunsmith for the
Government Small Arms Factory."