The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-17
4 RUSSIAN GENERAL

1lt nlOIlIo lolu VI lllb NiltDIdlCu nus
sian Marshal Suyorof display better than
whole pages of description the wonder
full way in which he contrived to adapt
himself to the rude spirits with whom he
had to deal, without losing one jot of his
authority.
What Napoleon was to the French,
Suvoroif was TO the Russian Army; now
jesting with soldier, and now rebuking
general one day sharing ration of
black bread beside bivouac fire, and
the next speaking as an equal 10 princes
and potentates. In fact the two great
sponsors of Russian wit form most pic
turesque contrast Balkairef was very
much the character Of a spaniel in Ii
on's cage-admiring even while mocking
his formidable patron, behaving toward
him with half waggish, half affection
ate familiarity, perpetually forgiven.
SuvOrOff comes before us rs an uncrown-
ed king, one whose authority needed no
outward symbol; an autocrat of natures
making, full of rough, hearty familiarity
that was in no danger of breeding CON
tempt, and surrounded by men who en-
ioyed the bonhommie while they dread
ed the displeasure of the little pug-nosed,
grimy man, who was in their eyes the
incarnation of earthly power and gran
deur.
1t must be owned, however, that in his
peculiar vein of pleasantly the old mar
shal more than once met with his match
One of his favorite jokes was to confuse
man by asking him, unexpectedly
"Ilow many stars are there in the
sky%
On one occasion Inc put this question to
one of his sentries on bitter January
night such as only Russia can produce.
The soldier, not whit disturbed, answer
cd Coolly--
"Wait little and I'll tell you;" and
he deliberately began to count, Zone,
two, three" etc.
In this way he went gravely on to Il
hundred, at which point Suvoroff, who
was already half frozen, thought it high
time to ride off, not, however, without
inquiring the name of this ready reck-
oner.
The next day the latter found himself
promoted, and the story (Which Suvoroff
told with great glee to his staff speedily
made its way through the army.
On another occasion one of his gener-
ais ofa division sent home a sergeant with
dispatches, at the same time recommend
ing the bearer to Suvorofs notice. The
marshal, as usual, proceeded to test him
by series of whimsical questions; but
the catechumen was equal to the occa-
sion.
"How far is it to the moon ?" asked
SuvOroff.
1.-TWO ofyour excellency'sf forced march
es," answered the sergeant.
"Supposing you were blockaded, and
had no provision left, how would you
supply yOurself?"
"From the enemy"
"How many fish are there in the scar"
"As many as have not been caught"
And 80 the examination went on, till
Suvorof, finding his new acquaintance
armed at all points, at length asked him,
es final poser
"What is the difference between your
colonel and myself?"
"The difference is this" replied the
soldier, coolly: my colonel cannot make
me captain, but your excellency has
only to say the word"
Suvoroff, struck by his shreWdness,
kept his eye upon the man, and in no
long time actually gave him the specified
promotion.
The anecdote Of the great marshaps
eccentricities-hi habits of wandering
about the camp in disguise, his whim Of
giving the signal Tor assault by growing
like cock, his astounding endurance Of
heat and cold, his savage disregard of
personal comfort and neatness-are be-
yond calculation, but perhaps the most
characteristic of all was his appearance
in 1893 at the Austrian court, then one of
the most brilliant in Europe.
On being shown to the room prepared
for him Ia splendid apartment filled
with costly mirrors and rich furniture)
this modern Diogenes said, simply
Turn out the rubbish, and shake me
down someBtraw."
An Austrian grandee who came to visit
him was startled at these preparations,
and still more so at the first sight of the
marshals baggage" which consisted of
two coarse shirts and tattered cloak
tied up in bundle.
us that enough for winter?" asked
the astonished visitor.
''rhe winter is the father of us Rus
slams" answered Suvorof, with grin
"besides, you don't feel the cold when
you're riding full gallop."
"But when you're tired of riding, what
do you doW
walk"
@But when you're tired of walking2"
"Run."
"And did you never sleep, then2"
asked the petrified questioner.
Sometimes, when I've nothing better
TO do" replied Suvorof, carelessly; and