The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-03-25

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The continental correspondent Of the
London Times thus describes the troops
that Denmark has sent into the feld :I
"The pswerr Of endunnce of this stout
Northern race saFpss all belief They
are out ihsA weather. as thoroughly q,
home in suow and ice as in rain and NJ nd.
There are no unworthy descendants Of
those Cimbrians who astonished The Ro,
I'mans of Marius SO MANY years since BY
sporting half naked in the snow and max
ing slcdges of their shields to slide down
the icy slopes of the Alps--a rehearsal Of
the frollcs they we're won't to indulge in al
their northern home. Those whom the
coluds have drenehed in tie night. the
wind, please God, will dry by day
l have often praised tho length and width,
the thorough fitness and comfort Of their
great overcoa;s; they are made of coarse,
spongy cloth. however; they must drink
in the moisture greediiy, and only let it
off leisursly. | have no great faith in
theis thick Weliingto ton boots either; and l
would rather see foot soldiers supplied
with the good light shoes and tight gait
ers Of the Zouase. No mere shoe leather
can be proof against many hours trudg-
Ing in deep snow, and the boot, which is
at all times too hot and hard for pedes.
trian exercise. is besides apt to become
reservoir in very heavy wet Soaked. or
nipped, or numbed as they may b.,
however, these Danes always eyince the
same degree Of manly impsssability,-
They stand, they lie, they march as they
arc hidden. never apparently, needing any
of the scourges with which Heaven may
please 10 visit them. Their mutual good
nature, their Difference to their officer,
their good will and courtesy TO all men,
never belle themselves on the road or 10
barracks, under canvas or in citizen quar-.
ters. There is no instance, | believe,
OF complaint against any OF them. The
fact is they are oil educated, highly CIV
ilized men. They have self-respect aud
dignity which stand them instead OF the
most efficient discipline; a-d they are
treated by their snperiors with familiar
frieudliness which could only be safely
shown to men who know their places
Their usual demeanor is not gay, not
boisterously gay, l should say. Their
march is steady and silent, alws,s in
compact masses, hardly saw any VOL
untary straeglers or laggards even ia The
disastrous retreat from the Dame work
They seem 10 have natural instinct Tor
order; they iAll into their ranks as i, we're
by mere force OF gravity. They may be
relied upon for stone wall 6rmness, |
believe, for uDshaken forsltude under The
direst trials. Anything like dash and
impetus. what the French call ,tan, Is
not, should think, 10 be expected OF
them. There Is, let it be understpol, /,
nothing like gloom or sullennes., nothing
of the hang dog look about them. They
indulge IN song at times, crack their
joke, aud have their subdued talk to while
away the weafiness of their long Danish
miles; but, on the whole. they are q
quiet, earnest, imperturbable set To see
one of their squadrous of dragons walk.
ing their horses at sober pace, sitting
on their saddles bolt upright, demnre
mute, each with a china pipe hanging
from bis mouth. the pipes as like e4ch
other as ii they we're part and parcel of
their uniforms. is remarkable sight
refreshing. edifying'