Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-06-04

Graphic sketch Of the CONNER RussIan
Soldier : His Appearance, Habits and
Belief, 7a gr Hf.W rf.t..D -
From recent English volume we publish
the following sketch Of the Russian soldier;
He is a sulky, sullen, stupid-lookipg fell
low, with a pale blue complexion, like that
produced by what the doctors call the FAD
ministration" Of nitrate of silver In cases Of
disease. Poor wretch elooks like felJn,
for he has been treated all his life as q hound.
He has a short straight nose, the nostrils of
which are turned outward, and seem like
two small holes in bis face. He has little
round eyes, but he is too stupefied by i'll
treatment to have any expression in them,
though he is in the FIRST flush Of youth and
strength. His hair is of rusty bay or red
dish brown. IL does not dare to curl or wave,
. and sticks out in points and notches, as if 10
despair Of doing right turn which way IL
will; He is square built powerful, man,
appears susceptible Of neither pain nor plea
sure; to have no respect or love for himself.
He seems to have neither reason nor instinct.
He Is q machine ready toobey q touch Of the
impelling rod, or to have something within
him which hears and acts at the hoarse shout
ofcommsnd, but of himself he does nothing.
He has no will, no energy, no pride of craft.
If you speak to him suddenly he starts and
Ihk6S IN dltltuuc QI uEllltu dtNbHNAons lb
will not finch or stir for blow, but his eyes
darken and his thick lips close. on -.-
r9 20 7sH HIS HABITS. Hl --
He is dirty in his person and habits, but
not untidy or slovenly F.; for he seems always
on parade. God only knows what thoughts
pass through his mind, for he never utters
any. He appears profoundly impressed with
his own insigniicance and inleriority to
every one who wears a good coat, and he
| bows down abjectly before bit Of gold lace
/ and a sword, whoever wears them.
He has no soldierly love Of pleasure. he
| loves drink, indeed, and he will sit silently
soaking the raw spirits as loug as be can get
any, but the liquor has no Frightening effect
on him. He is as impassiye in his cups as
when sober. He may drink himself blind
deaf, speeehless, motionless, but he can moi
drink himself gay. If an officer told him to
walk down precipice, or drink q glass oi
speedy poison, the idea of remoDsTance OIL
disobedience would never occur to him. lie
would do either as merely part Of his
allotted task in life--the object for which he
was born.
HIS BELIRF.
| He has been told that French and Englist
are impious hereties, q sort of plausible
devils in human shapei he believes it de
voutly, for he has no reasoning powers, NJ
opinions. He believes that he will ineu
divine wrath by holding communion will
them; that they will poison him If he eat
their food; that they Will torture instead o
healing him, if he is wounded; that thei
medicines are death in disguise, their benefit
a mockery, their kindness a device of tn
evil one. He does not think these thing
distinctly, and one after the other; but sue
: is the general confusion impressed on his at
! iect mind. His clothes are i'll. made an
scanty; they are so thin that they seem a
: outside; broad white band is slung owe
J his right shoulder and descends to his lei
! hip; this sustaiDs his sword-it is not yer
! good one. .-.L .... a..
! The mass Of the Russian army are of oours
badly armed from the organized system
peculation which exists in every department
Indeed, the Russian soldier has perhaps neyC
: had full meal of wholesome food even in h
, lifetime. He was robbed before he was borl
like his father before him, and he has bee
9 robbed ever since. First, by the baron az
the disponent; since, by every one who h'
T had to do with him. In the army he has hs
to digest the last sublimated essence of ro'
2 I, berry for in Russia the commander-in-chi
J, robs the generals, and the generals, aft
' their degree, rob the colonels, and Il
$ colonelsIob the majors, and the majors II
the captains, and the captains rob the lie
tenants, but all rob the soldier togethe
Russia presents, perhaps, the only examp
:. in history of o country governed by mil
y tsfy despotism, and ip which the soldie
!. have been successfully kept in the same sta
q Of slavery as the rest of the community.