The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1873-03-28
The Russian Army,
A REVIEW OF THE GARRISON AT ST,
PETERSBURG by THE CzAR.
[London STANDARD letter.

ly hour the troops began arriving,
and by ten O'Clock were massed
in the large open space opposite the
Palace, down the Fevski, aud along
great Moskowa street. 1t was dill
fcult to judge of the number, as
one could not get upon any van.
tage ground to look down, but |
believe that about $4,000 troops
were present. Tho general public
betrayed no interest whatever in
the Inspection Those who hap
poned TO be passing when the En-
peror came along paused, but there
was no crowd whatever, even upon
the foot-path, where alone the pub
lie were permitted to stand. This
apathy was principally due to the
fact that inspections Of troops are
not uncommon, partly also to the
fact that the thermometer was on
y II few degrees above zero. This
last fact, however, can not count
for much, AS on Sundays one may
see thousands Of spectators stand
ing in the cold for hours, watching
the trotting races on the Neva. One.
can only assume, therefore, that
the Russian public do not care for
military spectacles. And yet the
sight was well worth seeing, The
solid masses ofintantry, the heavy
squadrons of cavalry, and the
strong force of artillery, to say
nothing Of the presence Of the En-
peror himself and his staff in the
very heart Of the town, would
have attracted large assemblagc
Of sight-seers, in any other city in
Europe. The staff officers Were all
in their new uniforms Il gray
great-coat, with Il helmet almost
identical with that Of the Prussians.
The regimcntal officers also had
the gray grcat-coats, but their
hcad-gear resembled that Of their
regiments. All the men wore their
great-coats, which detractcd much
from the gayety Of the scene. The
Emperor and his staff were all
dressed alike in the new uniform
and the absence Of bright colors
and waving plumes made the scene
a very dull one in comparison with
Il review upon the same scale--l
will not say in England, because
we could not collect the troops
but in France OF Italy. The En-
pcror simply rode down the front
Of the masses Of men. There was
no music played, but the troops
presented arms, and each regiment,
as nc passed, at the word Of com
mand, gave n cheer. TWAS u short
sharp cheer, in three syllables--
The first one, then pause, then
the two short sylablcs run onto one,
| have high dea of the Russian
army, but it is impossible to say
they looked smart, The scabbards
of the cavalry, their spurs, the
brass butts other pistols, the bits
Of their horses, were all dull and
dingy. In no case could the cav
airy have approached in appear
ance the men of our own army; the
lances of the lancer regiments, for
example, are almost as thick as
tent-poles, and the flags are clum-
sy and badly fastened on. Then,
too, under their caps, which arc in
the shape Of the French kepis, the
lancers were sort of black pad,
coming down over the cars, and
fastened under the chin--oNcellent,
no doubt, for warmth, but scarcely
adding to appearance. The ar
tiIlery, too, are very lightly horsed,
and the whole harness and equip,
ment is of dingy black, altogether
unrelieved by any metal whatever.
The guns are of very light.colored
bronze, and are polished to an en-
tent which would DO most obiec-
tionable in action. In point of ma
terial, nothing could be more en-
cellcnt than the Russian army but
they certainly have no advantiti-
Gus advantages IN the way of an.
pearance. The mon evidently suf.
tcred II good deal from the time
they had to remain formed up in
the cold. They were, however, al
lowed when standing at ease to
jump as they pleased, and the re.
suit was . perpetual bobbing up
and down, which had y curious Of
feet. Wonderfully good-tcmpered
and full of fun are they. / noticed
an artillery regiment in the Novski
after the Emperor had passed. The
men were ordered to dismount, and
some of them could scarcely walk
so numbed were their feet from the
cold. In n short time, however,
all foil to work wrestling and buf.
feting each other in u way very
funny to a looker-on, and with
much laughing and fun the men
Suoceeded In rns1orinn Tia nrs,..