Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-05-29
W. ID. WALLACH.
THE ZuUAVE.
The French Zsuaye In the Crimea


Mr.. Willis, in last weeks Home Journal, re-
produces some passages from a recent work of
an English officer on the War in the Crimea,
not yet republished here. In these days Of
military preparation and imitation of the
Zouaye drill the writer's description Of the
French Zouave in the Crimea is readable
A CURIOUS STUDY.
"The Zouave is a small, fne- featured man,
rather loosely put together. He has that ex-
preston of face which prepares you at once
for any cool, intrepid, harmless piece Of im-
Pudence. l say harmless, for among friends
he is sOft-hearted as q woman, perhaps more
so He is a braggadscio, but full of kindliness
and devoid of envy. He will believe of others
stories to the full as marvellous as he relates
OF himself, and give them entire credit for any
species of impossible adventure to which they
may lay claim. His mind is at once shrewd
and imaginative, yet singularly free from
pieion. The stupidest strickster might win
his faith and deceive him; and to do 50 even
with subsequent impunity, for he does not
know what 1t Is to bear enduring malice In
spite Of this boyish simplicity, however, he is
unmatched In invention and resources. He
would live, and live well, where ingenuity
itself would starye. He would succeed where
wisdom and experience incarnate would fail.
He Is brave to rsshness, unselfsh to chivalry,
unexactng, good -humorod, ready to oblige or
assist others TO degree that is inexpressibly
graceful and winning. But ne must be hu-
mored. for he believes in himself, but if you
put him out he will begin to talk about LIE
Sc!Gat francois, roys--UOus,' and then no.
Thing In the world is to be done with him till
ne ls paclhed word, however, will pacify
him. believe single kindness would touch
his generous heart more than years of wrong,
injury or ingratitude.
= He Is curious study, but the more you
think OF Elm the more he will amuse YOU and
the more you will learn to love and admire
hlm-the reckless, provoking gallant, sharp
witted daredevil
HIS TRICKS
He is the good -humored despair of his
officers. He will submit 10 no discipline and
he dehes punishment. In fact, it is a positive
temptation to him to do wrong even where
there is no other. He is grown up eamin,
street boy dressed in mans clothes, and
longing to forget his dignity, and have a game
at Pitch-and-tOss, or leap-frO2. He is an art
ful dodYer, mssquerading with his tongue In
bis cheek, and laughing at the company
9 he has strange, wild, rakish good-na-
tured face; the longer you look at him the
more you believe in bis good nature, and doubt
OF everything else about him. He is dirty to
degree, and even slOvenly, except at par
hcular times, when his dress becomes strangely
attractive and brilliant. His immense nous
taches are rusty from want of care-One turns
up and the other turns down If you are a
person In authority he will begin to twirl
these when you talk to him, as ready re-
source to cover his confusion at being detected
In somo escapade. lie is always in a scrape
yet you cannot be angry with him-that is al
together impossible; for his troubles are as ab-
surd as those of an Irishmsn at fair, and his
dolngs, however reprehensible, are sure to be
mixed Up with some irresistible piece of fun
which absolutely strikes you speec bless before
you can begin reprimand. While you are
preparing to speak to him in a voice Of thun-
der, he suddenly chokes you with laughter at
his keen wit, or astounding unconscious impu-
dence, or his consummate acting of absurd
contrition.
- You internally acknowledge that your DIG
nifty as commanding officer can only be pre-
served by biting firmly into your cigar, and
retiring, as promptly az possible to a place
where you can conveniently give play to your
rlsible muscles without bringing discipline and
the interests Of the service into open con-
tempt The rogue understands this perfectly,
and In spite OF his assumed basAfulness no.
thing Is so reassuring to his mind, when he has
been at any mischief, than u summons into the
actual presence of his commanding officer; he
knows that the game is won then for it would
be shreWd colonel, indeed, that caught him
tripping.
HIS RECKLESsyEsS
Though ready and useful soldier when
any real fighting is TO be done, he is quite
hopeless on parade. He has a genius for any.
Shlng you like, except the theoretical part of
his profession. Perhaps he knows, far too
well, that campaigning really Is to attach much
Importance to 1t, and secretly votes drilling
and reviewing bore Of no common magni.
tude he would do anything in the world for
an officer who knows how to lead him; but
drilling and orderly conduct are really too
much for him.
His dwelling, whether tent, or barracks. or
hovel,is perfect marvel Of muddle and strange
cOntriyances. he has none Of the neatness,
precision and art Of slowing away things which
lv characfari,ar a
he has done with anything he throws it down
and forgets ali about il, though he may want
1t sgsin ten minutes afterwards. He will ap-
ply things In the most remarkable manner,
and without the smallest regard for the pur-
poses for which they were intended; he would
think nothing Of drinking brandy out of
powder flask, and keeping ammunition in
sauce psn. He would carry a outlet in his
turbin, and a pair Of shoes in a basket, with
out the least idea of unftness Of place in either
ease; and his vanity would prompt him to give
away outlet, shoes, basket and all, in mere
gaiety OF heart, and to show his excellence as a
fOrsger.
He is wonderful as a cook, tailor, cobbler,
vasherwoman; but he usually applies all these
gifts for the ben6t Of any body but himself To
please ricaRdIsye, or an officers wife, who
knows how TO mansge him, he would sit up all
night, and give up petit souper to mind her
baby. He would turn carpenter, blacksmith
housemaid, far her, with equal energy, good
will and success He would risk his life to Gull
her Z nosegay under the enemy's guns, or to
bring her some coffee from . shop in Sebasto-
pol.
''Goiug into Sebastopol, indeed, is his IA
vorite exploit Just Row 1t is idle to attempt
to look after him; so be disappears in the most
mysterious way whenever it suits him He
dresses himself in some Russian uniform, found
on the field Of battle, and j1ining some DESERT
er. With whom he has contracted sudden but
sfectionate friendship, they lay in wait and
bids their time. When there is q sortie, they
Join the retreating Russians and enter the tow n
with them. If they are interrogated, they
feign to be drunk or stupid; their Russian com
panicns get them out Of the scrspe, for many
ofthem return sound and unharmed with some
indisputable trophy Of their daring; bat many
others, probably, fall victims in some way to