Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-02-27

Wnat the STATS gave them, they
clawed their way up quickly to the |
top. There catching hold of the !
bar, they doubled themselves up
in a curious way, turning a back
somerset and lying at full length
on their backs upon the roof, with
their arms against their sides. At
the next command they stretched
out their arms, caught hold of the
bar, threw up their legs SO as to
turn reverse somerset, and SO
clawed their way down again.
Besides this they are taught to
perform all their evolutions on g.
run; 9 style which has been adopt
ed at West Point Theyare taught
to swim holdingtheir musket and
cartridge-box above the water; to
jump from height upon a ledge
where there is barely standing
room, with their musket in their
hands and all their accoutrements
upon their back; to walk in the
same way along beams, both square
and round, and along the irregular
shaped trunks Of trees across
bitches or ravines; each man is
taught to use his musket and bayo-
net as vaulting pole; and to climb
up his comrades shoulders so as
to scale a wall twenty-five feet
! in height.
In the recent accounts of the
Zouayes we are told that they also
employ in battle la Sarate, or
TIE art of kicking. Having often
heard Of this, one day asked the
teacher in the gymnasium at Par
is if he knew it.
/. ooh! yes"
-"Will you give me a specimen
of it?'
! Very well, place yourself in a
position as a boxer"
j | did SO, and he advanced to-
ward me with his hands q little out
from his sides, like a wrestler
ready to take hold in any way.
"Now | can kick you on your
forward leg, and break the bone
or hurt you. While you are dis
turbed by that, or, in case you
draw it back, l can raise my foot
to your stomach CT your chin"
"Well, suppose you should kick
at my chin, | would catch your
foot. Then what would you do"
"Well, try it."
t { He kicked and | caught his foot,
but while l held it firmly he turn
ed, threw both hands on the ground
to support his body, and instanta-
ncously brought his other foot so
nearmy nose that | let go his 9TH
er foot IN a moment. 1s
THAT is very clever. Is there
any parry to tEat?'
"Ohl yes. That is very simple.
You do what | did, and I'll show
you"
| kicked; he caught nv foot: |
turned, threw myself on my hands,
and thoughtof course to kick with
my other foot; but he simply put
one foot firmly against the thigh
of my other leg, and | was power
less. There was in his move
ments also the same startling IA
pidity. The kicks were like fash
es Of lightning, and the hands con-
stantlyready fora grapple OF a blow.
From what l saw | have a most
respectful dislike to Ia Sarate. or,
as we would say in English, Old
Shoe.
1t Is impossible to cultivate the
body to any great extent without
also thereby cultiyating the mind.
Quick and intelligent action of the
body brings quick and intelligent
consciousness Of individual power,
and this feeling is fostered by the
general regulations of the army;
no French soldier is ever struck;
his person is sacred from all blows.
An amusing story about this was
once told me by an ex-soldier:
81 was with Soult in the retreat
from Spain. We had just crossed
the Adour and were forming on
its bank, when an officer, provoked
at the stupidity of a soldier,
struck him with the fat of his
sword. The soldier instantly,
brought his bayonet to the charge,
and the officer ran, pursued by the
enraged soldier all along the line, !
until some officers stopped him
and sent him to his place" t
of he had killed the officer.