Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-06-15
MR.. SMITHS EXPERIENCES IN RUSSIA


the Star, We must still announce that q mem.
Der of tho distinguished Smith family, and a
New York City Father at that, recently paid
visit to St. Petersburgh for the laudable pur-
pose of looking after contract for ship timber
Mr.. Smith does not inform Us how he pros
pered in the contracting line but he does in
form the American public what Smith thinks
Of the present and future prospects of Russia.
The New York Erening Post is the fortunate
medium Of his Russian revelations. The Posi-
says:
s'His observations in Russia have Convinced
him of the determination and the ability OF
the Russians to sustain the war in which they
are now engaged in the face of the most ener-
getic operations Of the combined assailants
Some fourteen hundred thousand men are al
ready under arms, available at any momeni
for the purposes of the Gar, all in the most
perfect state of discipline.
ut was Mr.. Smiths fortune to witness re-
view of sixty thousand of them under the super
vision of the Emperor, on the parade ground
near St. Petersburgh. Previously to marching
20 the field, he states, the soldiers pass through
the ca;hedrals of the capital, receiving there
the last rites Of the Greek religion. They are
thus prepared to throw away their lives il
battle with a Willingness which resembles the
fAnatical recklessness Of the disciples of Mo-
| hammed"
The annexed extract shows the liberality of
Russian officials in the most favorable light
"Demidoff has already voluntarily prefer.
ed to the Emperor the gift of million Of
rubles, equivalent to $4,000 Another 10
bieman has done the same, while the variou:
officers in command have insisted on Offering
the half of their salaries for the public ser.
vice. Even the most delicate ladies in TIT
upper classes are engaged In performing such
mental duties as the scraping of lint tor the
soldiers who are about entering the field Of
war"
To bring the case home to us, just think
say in case of a war with Spain-of Secretary
Marcy working for $4,000 a year, and the
clerks in the Departments nobly refusing t,
take more than half psy for their services
| But to continue our extracts:
| "Mr. Smith states that the principal caus,
of the advantages gained by the allied force
! over the Russian, was their practice OF takin:
| the Russian officers as the first marks for thei
bullets. The Russian armies, wi bout thei
| leaders, are utterly powerless, ard can b,
| shot down like so many cattle. They hav,
learned nothing except to obey the uiders o
their superiors
We shrewedly suspect, after reading TIL
above, that the worthy Alderman is NOR,
familiar with mock turtle than militar,
mannuvres.
| "Mr. Smith, while residing in St. Peters
burgh, was treated With grea. consideration
by the magnates of the empire, and was electet
| by them member of the g English Club :"
| club so called from the adoption of the Eng!is!
system Of club rules, to which the Empero
| and his sons belong"
Mr.. Smith forgets to tell US that the Englisl
have dropped the ''club," and are now afte
the Gar with sharp stick According t
Mr.. SIS account, the American Ministers a
the principal European Courts are RUSSIA
to the backbone" We are inclined to beliey
that such discreet diplomatists as Buchana
and Mason must have come TURKEY over tn
New York alderman. We make room for tn
following extract, and the last
son Easter Sunday he was surprised in tn
street of st Petersburgh by Baroness Of hi
acquaintance, who, after presenting him wit
an egg fashioned of beautifully ornauente
glass, deliberately kissed him on each side O
| the face aud then on the mouth This .aIo
pie was copied by several other of his lad
acquaintance among the most noble a! / re
fined In the capital"
This smacks Of domestic annexation. 4 .,in
New York City Father in the public rect
of st. Petersburg! Honors are fast clus. rim
around the Smith family. May their 200
fortunes be tempered with true republic hu
mility.