Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-08-06

The old traditions Of the unsoldierlike
and diaorderly aud unclean habits OF the
Coasaoks during the occupation Of Paris,
IN 1915, by the Russian army, are not
borne out by the experiences OF special
correspondent OF the New York Herald,
sent out 70 join the expedition against
khiya. He says:
What a change il was from the Bash
kris and the peasants, and how hxuri.
ated In the fresh, white bread aud cream
Of the nd.hearted old Coaaack, who set
before me the best he had How clean
and neat everything waal ! have known
something OF the Cossacks before, aud
every one ] have seen since on my jour
ney has only confirmed my earlier i'm
pressions; aud | Am convinced that
Russia can boast no better, Drawer,
kinder and nobler race than these same
Cossacks, whom Western Europe holds
up as an eternal bugbear and an exam
pie Of all that is brutal aud savage.
Perhaps | am wrong in calling the Cos
sacks race. They were originally
pure Russians, more daring and more
enterprising than the rest who wanted
always 10 be on some border foray, or 10
engage ia some bold enterprise, where
they could show their pluck aud receive
its rewards. They were thought to be
too bold aud daring not 10 be somewhat
dangerous 10 the government, and ac-
cordingly they were cOlonized every
where along the frontier, and TO them
became Joined the rash and enierpri2ing
youth from all Russia Read the French
accounts Of this race 10 see how bold
and simple the Cossacks were three cen
turtles ago: hear Of the conquest Of 81
IBERIA by the Cossack Yermak TO find out
how they fought; and then 90 TO the
Don, the Terek, the Ural, Orenburg aud
the steppe, and see the same men. You
will hear at Irghhz how, four years ago.
seven Kossaeks cut their way through
fifteen hundred Kirghiz, by whom they
we're surrounded, aud at Fort Alexan-
drofsky how City Cossacks made n sor-
tie and a forced march aud put to flight
five thousand Khivans. The PECULIAR
ties of individuals have, after two cen
turtles, become permanent IN race
where every man is brave, persistent and
enduring, and where neatness and econ
omy are the characteristics OF the women.
In crossing the steppe wherever the post
horses were we'll kept up aud IN good
order. there found Cossack, civil and
polite, ready TO attend on me and hasten
my Journey. Wherever there was a
Cossack woman the station was neat and
orderly, and | had clean dishes, fresh
eggs, milk, good bread, and sometimes a
dainty little meal.
"The Cossacks were never serfs, but
always boosted OF the proud designation
of Volry Kozak - Free Cossak. This
inherited freedom is one great cause OF
their immense superiority TO the mass OF
the Russian peasantry. The men all
serve in the army for three years, iGr-
nishing their own horses and equipments,
and retain their rifles at the explratioh
of active service. There they learn
habits of order and discipline. Though
practically free from service after this,
they are nominally only on furlough, and
are liable TO be called out in case OF war.
As light cavalry and skirmishers the
Cossacks are excellent; and their Ill
fame as marauders comes down to us
only from the olden time, when every
mans hand was against them, and when
ali soldiers were much alike in these
respects. These men are intelligent,
and the great majority Of them can read
and write. They are the Americans OF
Russia, the pioneers Of her civilization,
and whenever Russia has hard and steady
work to be done along her borders, there
she sends her bold and faithful Cos
sacks"