Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-06-12

WARD NOME; WITH CHART
NTY, MINNESOTA, 7
RUSSIA'S CAVALRY.
The ''''''"''" s.s,:;;. e sHs ;:'''-''"'r''o"'
Writing under date of May 9. of 4 re-.
view held at St. Petersburg in honor of
the visit Of the Emperor Of Germany to
the Gar, the correspondent Of tho London
Daily News says:
The great attraction of the day was
the cavalry, and that far surpassed any,
thing which I have never seen. The two
elements Of excellence were, of course,
tie horses themselves, and tho horseman N .
ship Of the riders. Can anybody explain
the peculiar charm about Russian horses '
Without presuming to answer my own
question, think l may point out that one
secret with trainers here seems to. be to
educate the herse; TO make him trust.
worth, faithful ambitious; sad to dispense
with oil these cont-ivanees which, in
more civilized countries, crush the spirit
of the poor beasts. In what other coun-
try can ono see horses hke those which
dash along the Nveska, sqsfree, and fresh,
and graceful? In what other country do
they have such glossy skin, such swan.
like necks, such delieate limbs ? And in
what other country do they offer such ma
terial for cavalry? Ono must reflect, too,
that Russians of certain class are born,
like Arabs, in tho saddle. The horse is a
member Of the family, brother, COM
panion iu every adventure. The Russian
Government had, therefore, good materi
al; but it has employed it we'll, and the
proof is the superb horseman who to-day
gallop along by Kaiser Wilhelm and his
German officers. Tho Russian cavalry has
the ordinary divisions found in all con-
tinental armies-namely, hdsears, dra-
goons, cuirassiers, uhlans, &c.-as well ~
some species peculiar to itself. pass
over the folmor, and only Call attention to
the horses. These sleek and muscular
beasts had evidently been selected a. care
fully ae the mon themselves. For each
battalion they were all Of ona color-now
. glossy black. now rich brown, now q
light gray-and the uniformity seems to
extend even to their size, shape and mo.
ton. The effect was singularly striking.
The Tcheck and Cossack cavalry have
been so often described that there is moth
ing new to be said about their appear
ance. The detachment which took lpart
in the ceremonies of to-day wore bright
red jackets and q sort of fur hats Of the
same color, and rode chestnut ponies.
On their backs carbines were strapped,
and in their hands they carried long red
lances. They led tho cavalry division.
The firs: circuit Of the cavalry was merely
for inspection; the second was for evolu-
tions. How patiently the Cossacks went
through the first, and how eagerly they
entered the second! The ponies, even
trembIed with enthusiasm. Az the caval-
cade approached the Emperors, the riders
settled firmly in their saddles, loosened
the reins littla, aud the word is given
Like a flash of Lightning, and simultane.
ousiy, the horses shot of, and before tho
spectators have caug ht their brea,h are
halfway around the square. What an
pace! If horse should
the rider would never mount
again.
The Cossacks crouch low in the saddle,
and shout like 6snds; while their long
glittering lances, stretching out hoizonta1-
ty far beyond the horses, are terrifying
even to friends and non .combatants. The
Germans do not spare their plaudits.
They love the uhlans who trampied down
the Turc0s, and the Bismarck CuirasGiers1
who rode into the jaws of death ut Mars
le Tour, but nothing like these unearthly
horsemen from the plains Of Russia. Let
me not do negative injustice, however, to
the rest Of tho cavalry. After the second
turn around the fold the whole body
formed ut the rear, opposite the Emperors
and the amphitheatre. The front stretched
the whole length of the field, somewhat
longer-to use comparison which many
English readers will appreoiate-than
tom the Seine to the foot Of the Champs
de Mars, and several regiments deep.
There were probably $4,000 in all-the
cuirasciers with their white COATS and
heavy black horses, the hussars with
their pixies, the mounted grenadiers and
the dragoons,and at the wings the reckless
Cossacks again. The Grand Duke Nicho-
las waved his sword, and the entire force
moved toward the Emperor and the spec.
tators. At first II was a light trot, then
aa easy gallop, thea faster and faster, Till
one could only see thousands Of glittering
uniforms and superb horses dashing mad
ly toward the crowd. Nearer and nearer
they come, aud ever at she same terrific
pace. 1t will be death for the imperial
party who ore ON the ground below I!
Suddenly the Grand Dukes sword flies
up again in the air; the officers pass the
word along; still the $1,000 horsemsn
shake the earth. The Grand Dukes sword
falls, and tho mighty mass comes to stop
as if transixed by an electric shock. Per.
feet silence reigns. The long line of cav
airy is as calm and steady a. the marble
palace itself, and far back through the
centres all is tranquil. That was q glor.
ious sight, and worth . journey to St.
Petersburg to SEQ. I shall never look on
such spectacle again.