The Shasta courier., 1872-06-08

much the character of a spaniel in lions
cage-admiring, ev,n while mockiDg his
formidable patron; behaving towards him
with half-waggish, talfafecfionate tamil
iarity perpetually offending, aud per-
petually forgiven. Suvorof comes before
US as an uncrowned king, one whose
authority needed no outward symbol; an
autocrat of natures making full Of rough,
hearty familiarity that was in no danger
OF brooding contempt, and surrounded BY
men who enjoyed the bouhomie, while they
dreaded the displeasure Of the little, pug.
nosed. grimy man, who was in their eyes
the Incarnation Of earthly power and
grandeur. = s>s
1t must be owned. however that, in his
own peculiar vein OF pleasantly, the old
marshal more than once met with hi,
match. One of his favorite jokes was to
confuse man BY asking him unexpected
ly, "How many stars are there in the sky r"
On one occasion he put this question to
one of his sentries, on bitter January
night, such as only Russia can produce.
l be soldier, not whit disturbed, answered
coolly, "Wait little, and Ptell you )"
and he deliberately began to count, "One,
two, three" etc. In this Way he went
sravely on TO hundred, at which point
Suvorof, who was already half.trozen,
thought it time to ride off; not, however,
without inquiring the name of this ready
reckouer. The next day the latter found
himself promoted; and the story (Which
Suvorotf told with great gee to his staff
speedily made its way through the whole
army
On another occasion, one of his generals
OF division sent im sergeant with dis.
patches, at the same time recommending
the bearer to Suvoruf"s S noti, e. The
marshal, as usual, proceeded to test him by
series Of VIII mscal questions; but the
cate umen was equal to the occasion
"How tar is it to the moon Z" asked
Suvorotf.
Two of your Excellency's forced
marches" answered the sergeant
"If your men began 10 give way in
battle, W at would you do?"
"Id tell them that just behind the en-.
emy' line there was wagon-load of corn
brandy"
Surprising you were blockaded, and
Lad no provisions left, how would you
supply yourself?"
From the enemy {"
"H.w many fish are there in the sea 2"
GAS many as have not been caught"
And SO the examination went on, till
Suvorotf, finding his new acquaintance
armed at all peints at length askt as a
foal poser, "What is the difference be
tween your colonel and myselfY
81 he difference is this" replied the
soldier coolly my colouel cannot make
ME captain. but your Excellency has only
to say the word"
Suvorof, struck by his shrewdness, kept
his eye upon the man, and in no loDg
time after actually gave the specified
promotion.
Suvorof always affected the utmost
orevity, both in speaking and writing; the
terseness OF his dispatches being almost
unrivalled. The correspondence with Prince
Poteukiu, relative to the assault of Isnlail,
is unique in military history. Potemkin,
copying the brevity Of his general, wrote to
him thus: Marshal, you will take Isnail
within three days, at whatever cost
PoTEMKIN. The day after the letter
arrived, suvorotf carried the town by
storm, with a loss Of fifteen thousand men
to himself and thirty thousand to the
enemy; summing up the fea ful tragedy
IN one, dogged coupet. which, literally
translated, luDs as follows:
Praise to God, and praise to thee
lsmai's ta'en, and here be-"
The anecdotes of the great marshal's
eccentricities-his habit of wandering
about the camp in disguise, his whim of
giving the signal for assault by growing
like cock, his astounding endurance OF
heat and cold. his savage disregard of person
al comfort and neatness--are beyond cacu a.
ton but perhaps the most Characteristic
OF all Il his appearance in 1899 at the
Austrian court, then one of the most
brilliant in Europe. On being shown to
the room prepared for him Ia splendid
apartment, filed with costly mirrors and
rich fIlrniture), this modern Diogenes said
simply. "Turn out all that rubbish, and
shake me down some straw" An Aus.
trian grandee who came to visit him was
startled at these preparations, and still more
So at the first sight Of the marshars
baggage" which consisted of two coarse
shirts shirts and a tattered CLOAK, tied up
in bundle.
"Is that enough for winter?" asked the
astounded visitor.
'The winters the father of us Russiane,"
answered Suvorof with grin; 'besides,
you don't feel the cold when you're riding
full gallop."
"But when you are tired Of riding, what
do you do?"
"Walk"
"And when you are tired of walking?"
"Run."
"And do you never sleep, then ?" asked
the petri6od questioner.
"Soipe imes, when I've nothing better to
do" replied Snvorof carelessly; land
when | want to have very luxurious nap,
take off one Of my spurs"
The thunder struck Austrian bowed and
retired, doubtless considerably enlightened
Bin his ideas Of Russian general .s
1t is worth while TO chronicle (however
out of place it may appear in 8 collection
OF jests) ona more story of SuvoroE, that
which tefla how thl. c,rinn ys,ts,-oa oInaal :,