The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-06-14
STROUDSBURG MONROE COUNTY, PA. JUNE

the rudiments of Russian education and
many are taught trades. After having
acquired thorough knowledge of militia
ry exercises and soldiers duties, after
few years service they sometimes obtain
furlough, in virtue of which they enjoy
the privilege of exercising some handi-
craft for their own benefit, though they
must of course be ready to join their reg
iments at moments notice. For such a
permit or "pass" they must pay the gov
ernment FIVE silver roub!es annually.
They are drilled into trades as they are
taught the notes to those who are selected
for military bands and the manner in
which these rude peasants execute the
most difficult musical compositions after
few months training (and hard practice)
is really astonishing.
The manner in which the soldiers draf-
ted for the artillery are trained to that
arm is not little original. When they
hear the canon fred for the first time they
tremble with fear To conquer this weak
ness in those who most exhibited it, they
are tied astride upon gun, which is then
fired off. This experiment once or twice
repeated never fails of the desired effect.
The length of service is twenty five
years, to reckon from the eighteenth year
of the soldiers age so that he is entitled to
his discharge after having attained the
age of forty three He has always some
money to receive in the shape of arrears
Of pay, SO that if he be a careful man he
may commence life, for which it is not too
late at that age. But unfortunately the
the Russian whether soldier or civilian,
whether freeman or slaye) is too much ad-
dicted to drinking to do any good. Old
soldiers are provided for by the State in
the way of inferior employments, such as
messengers, servants, house guardians,
and the like. On the railway between
Moscow and PeterSburgh some thousands
are employed to keep the road clear, act
as guards, policemen, etc. Private fami-
lies prefer them as servants, as they are
civil, sincerely attached to their masters,
and more honest than Russians generally
are.
At the second coronation of the late
Emperor at Moscow, in the year 1852
he having reigned twenty years-one
of the Imperial Princesses obtained his
promise to reduce the term of service
from twenty-five to fifteen years. This
promise was not kept by the Emperor
Nicholas, nor is his successor in position
at present to grant such an indulgence to
the soldiers.
All mobiles must serve in the army
Indeed, it is chiefly from that body that
the army is officered. Military rank itself
confers one of the fourteen degrees of
of nobility. No pains are taken, by means
preparatory education in the pnblic in
stitutions, and subsequent study and prac-
tice, to obtain efficient officers, but with
some exceptions, the Russian officer is not
equal to the officers of the other nations.
What the common Russian soldier is to
the French, Prussian or English soldier,
so the Russian officer is to the French,
&c, officer. The German and Swedish
provinces of the Russian Empire furnish,
good officers, Russia Proper few or none.
Their besetting sins are extravaganza;
they indulge in excess Of every kind
They are much addicted to gaming, and
this is carried to such excess, that caval-
ry officers have been known to gamble
away the horses belonging to their regi-
ments. The extravaganza of some, and
the miserable pay of all, cause much en-
barrassment and much poverty. Many
military officers are so poor that they will
stoop to almost any action by which they
can put few roubles in their pockets
A considerable number of poor officers
are employed in government Offices, and
it is by no means difficult to obtain from
them, with the use of a bribe, most i'm
portant information on matters which it
is the interest of the government to keep
secret. By such means copies are obtain
ed of most important documents. Great
caution and good deal of management
are required in opening negotiations with
the employees, who may perhaps be gov
ernment spies, or agents of the secret po-
lice.
Such, then, are the military resources
of Russia, and we trust that enough has
been shown to Justify the application of
the old proverb, that al! that glitters is
not gold. The only superiority of the
Russian army consists in its numerical
strength, man for man, as compared with
the armies of the other European powers
IN otjter respects ii as dcclaeclly, and cery
greatly interim: