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."