The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-06-20
chinamen as Soldiers.


possible power in Central Asia, render
the consideration of the fighting quail
ties of that people subject of much
interest. Cinnamon are generally cred
tied with large share of the Oriental
failing of cowardice. But this, like
MANY popular ideas, is dissipated by OBJ
seryation and inquiry. It is true that,
in the civil wars, which from time to
time disturb the peace of the empire,
the combatants on both sides often show
decided unwillingness to fight. Nor
is it possible to deny that on more than
one occasion the imperial braves ;"
have run away rather than face the
Armstrong; and rifles of European
armies. But a moments reflection is
sufficient to prove that this apparent
pusillamirnity need not necessarily be
put down to personal cowardice. Every
one who knows the way in which civil
wars are conducted in China is aware
that it is often to the advantage of the
imperial commanders to avoid general
actions, lest they should put an end to
state of anarchy from which they and
their troops reap rich harvests, while in
surgents. on the other hand, are gener-
ally of such ridiculous battles as we
have lately heard of in Kweichow,
where, after wasting great quantities of
powder at long distances, the troops on
either side have been hastily withdrawn
after losing two or three men apiece.
OF course, as the men feel that their
commanders are not in earnest, they go
into battle as much prepared to retreat
as to fight. Such training would de-
moralize the best drilled and equipped
soldiery in the world, and to neither of
these qualifications can Chinese troops
lay claim Their arms, except in the
case of the regiments which have lately
been AIMED with European weapons,
are of the most inefficient kind, and the
troops themselves without discipline
and destitute of all barrack-yard train
ing, have no more cohesion than a COM
mon mob. A we'll directed volley from
hundred MIME rifles, or a few Arm
strong shells bursting in the midst of a
squadron of horse or battalion of in
fantry, is enough to dispense their COM
ponent parts.
But circumstances alter cases and
there are qualities in the Chinese char
acters which would justify the belief,
even If experience had not proved It's
truth, that they might furnish good and
efficient soldiers. In the first place,
they attach a very small value to life,
they are capable of sustaining a great
deal of fatigue, they are temperate in
their mode of living, and exist on daily
rations which would not satisfy English
soldiers for q single meal The fact
that Cinnamon are to be found who are
willing, for a consideration, to take the
place of condemned criminals on the
execution ground, proves with what
slight terrors they look upon death. In
letter, descriptive of the lombard
ment of Canton, Times correspondent
expresses his wonder at the indifference
to dangers shown by the citizens. 'eThe
strange Chinese" he says, actually
seem to be getting used to it" (the bonn
bardment.) ''Sampans, and even cargo
boats, are moving down the river like
London lightermen in the ordinary ex-
ercise of their calling, people are COM
ing down to the bank, and watch the
shot and shell fly over their heads"
And in a foot-note he relates, among
others, the following incident Sc In a
room opening upon the river family
were taking their evening meal within
two hundred yards of the Phlegethon,
which was keeping up constant dis
charge of shells, all of which passed
few feet over their heads. The light
was SO strong that the interior of the
room was visible in all it's details, the
inmates were all eating their rice as
though nothing particular was happen
ind outside"
When either fighting behind walls, or
when properly organized and led, this
fearlessness makes the Chinaman a
formidable antagonist. The correspond
ent quoted above, when speaking of the
coolie corps employed at the taking of
Canton, says: "Oh, those patient,
lusty, enduring coolies It was valu-
able legacy which Colonel WetheralI
left us, the coolie corps. They carried
the ammunition on the day of the as
sault close up to the rear of our
columns and, when a cannon shot took
off the head of one of them, the others
only cried Ely yaw r and laughed, and
worked away as merrily as ever" At
the capture of the Taku Forts in 1860,
the behavior of the cooie corps attached
to the allied forces excited the admira-
ton of both armies. They carried the
scaling ladders for the French up to the
walls of the forts with the most perfect
GOODNESS and alacrity, and performed
the scarcely less dangerous duty of re
moving our wounded from under fire
and bringing up ammunition to the
front with great steadiness. And on
this, as well as on other occasions, they
showed none of the uneasiness under
fire so often observed among European
troops, but received and executed the
orders given them by their officers with
as much presence of mind and precision
as though the shot and shells flying
about them were SO many drops of rain
Pail Mall Gazette.
MIRRORS. The amalgam, or tin foil.
which is spread on plate glass to form
mirrors is readily crystalized by the rays
of the sun. A mirror where the sun can
shine on it is usually spoiled. 1t takes
granulated appearance, familiar to
housekeepers, though they may not be
acquainted with its cause In such a
state the article is nearly worthless the
continuity of its surface is destroyed and
it will not reflect outlines with any APP
proach to precision. Care therefore
must be exer cised III hanging. If any
of our readers have mirrors which ascer-
tain whether the direct sunlight strikes
them. If thus exposed, they can be
saved from further injury by simply
changing their position. The back, as
well as the front, mustbe protect ed.
"A pair of newly-arrived Britishers
being about to undertake their first
sleigh-drive in New York were asked by
the waiter whether they would have one
or two 'tbuffaloes, meaning robes, of
course. Believing that he spoke of
horned-cattle of unknown temper they
modestly replied that as they were new
to the work, one buffalo would suffice to
begin with.