Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-11-14

THE SOLDIER AND HIS HORSE. Tho sol.
der who rides to the front falls in love with
the horse that shares with him tho hardshps
OF the camp and the dangers of the field. On
tho snowy parade the noble animal, like his
master, feels thrill of pride in his veins, and
then he is so impractical as 10 spurn the ground
with his tcet. He learns to keep time with
the music Of horns and the beating of drums :;
and he does not shrink back in alarm when
cannons belch forth their thunder. With sub
lime courage be goes where the hand of his
master guides him. He may suffer fatigue.
privation, but ne docs not cover in the face of
danger uuless craven sits upon his back. The
power OF will is great, and the man who is re-
solutc and bold in thought and action will in
fuso great deal OF his spirit into the animal
that carries him day by day. On the battle.
field, you scarcely know which to most admire,
the courage Of the horse that is not appalled,
;,y tho unearthly whisperings of balls, the
bursting OF shells and the grim presence OF
death, or the resolution Of the man who keeps
his scat 10 the saddle and rides into the thick
est of the storm. The two constitute strik-
ing picture Of heroism. The generous and
brave hearted soldier is certain to love the
horse that has shared with him the trials and
dangers of war. Together they have passed
through the whirlwnd Of battle, and neither
can forget while the memory Of the whirwind
lasts.
AT Pont-a-Mousson the French officers had
to dismount in order to continue their journey
by rail and they were obliged to leave behind
them the horses that served them so we'll
Buyers were scarce, and many excellent Barbs
sold for mere song. Herr Wickcde tell US:
MANY officers parted unconcernedy from the
horses which had faithfully borne them through
the fatigues and dangers of the war; but others
tenderly caressed their horses, and appeared to
fell the parting. One actually embraced his
charger, putting his arms around lis neck,
stroking and caresSlng it, and speaking to it in
all kinds OF endearinG terms. The horse seem
ed 10 understad his rider, aud was very wiunipg
and affecto1atc in his ways, as is frequently
seen in the East. At last the officer, after an
sheath, and plunged it into the horses heart,
killing it on the spot; then, without troubling
himself about saddle or bride, walked away
and entered the railway carriage with MS cou!-
radcs" trarical act but who shall say
that it was not born OF love. And there was
sublime courage as we'll as love in tho breast Of
the man who could torde his stecd in
the parting hour, shower kisses upon it,
and then with his own hand stab it to death.
lie could not take the horse into captivity
With him, but he could carry with him inside
OF prison walls tne memory VI Ills ialGnlul
charger; and he would have the memory paint
ed brighter and in more lasting colors with the
warm life. blood flowing from the heart. Rath'
or than surrender his idol into the hands of an
enemy, rather than give 50 courageous seed
up to a life of oppression and common drudge
ry, he would shatter and completely destroy it
before turning his back upon it forever. And
with Othello he could exclal[a
II kissed theo, ero killed. thoc."
DO not call this Quixotic, but rather think of
it as bearing some relation to the earnest affec-
tion with which the Arab regards his HORSE
The horse trusts tho man, and the man puts
faith in the horse, and thus they unite their
strength and courage. Were the truth known,
We venture to say that there was not moro
gallant or a braver soldier in all the armies of
France than the officer who surrendered with
Napoleon at Sedan, and who parted from his
war horse with kiss. and who plunged his
bright sword into the quivcring heart.-7urf,
Field and Fttrnl
81 ERMAN EXPORT OF KINGS. Tho thrones