Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-09-05
A RUSSIAN GENERAL.


himself to the rude spirits with whom he
had to deal, without losing one jot Of his
authority.
What Napoleon was to the French,
Souvorotf was to the Russian army now
jesting with soldier, and now rebuking
"a general one day sharing Il ration OF
black bread beside a bivouuc fire, and the
next speaking MS an equal to princes and
potentates. In fact the two great spon-
sors OF Russian wit form most pictur-
esQue contrast. Balkairetf was very much
the character ola spaniel in lions cage
-admiring even while mocking his for
midable patron, behaving toward him
with half wagglsh, half ailectionate IA
miliNrity, perpetually forgiven. Suvor-
of comes before us rs an uncrowned
king, one whose authority needed no out
wand symbol; nm autocrat OF natures
making, full of rough, hearty familiarity
that was in no danger Of breeding con-
tempt, and surrounded by men who en-
joyed the bonhommie while they dreaded
the diSpleaSure Of the little pug nosed +,
griiny man, who was in their eyes the in
caination of earthly power and grandeur
1t must be owned, however, that in his
peculiar vein of pleasantly the old mar
shal more than once found his match. ~
One OF his tavorte jokes was to confuse a
man by asking him unexpectedly
" How many stars are there in the
sky ?"
On one occasion he put this ques-
ton to one OF his sentries on bitter Jan
uarv night such as only Russia can pro
ducc. The soldier, not whit distulb bed, ,
answered cooly
" Wait little and III tell you," and
he deliberately commenced to count,
One, two, three" etc.
In this way he went gravely on to u
bundled, at which point Souvarof, who
was already half frozen, thought it high
time to ride off, not, however, without in
quiring the name Of this ready Ieckoner
The next day the latter found him. elf
promoted, and the story, (Which Souva-
rolf told with great glee to his staff
speedily made its way through the army.
On another occasion one Of his generals
of division sent home sergeant with
dispatches, at the same time recommend
inc th., bnn r,,r to C,n,,,,,, ~. ,.,t;,.. III,
marshal, rs usual, proceeded to test him
by series Of whimsical questions but
the catechumen was equal to the occa-
aiuu.
How far is it to the moon ?" asked
SuVoroF
Two of your eXcellency's forced
marches" +" answered the sergeant.
Supposing you were blockaded and
had no provision left, how would you
supply yoursef?"
From the enemy"
How many fishes are there in the
sen ?"
As many as have not been caught. -"
And so the examination went on, till
SuvuIoh, finding his new acquaintance
armed ut all points, at length asked him,
a> final poser
What is the difference between your
colonel and myself ?"
"The difference is this, sir" replied
the soldier, coolly, my colonel cannot
make me II captain, but your eXcelency
has only to say the word"
Suvarof, struck by his shrcwdncss,
kept his eye on the man, and in no long
time actually gave him the ,pecfed pro-
motion.
The anecdotes Of the great marshall
ccccnticite- hi, habits OF wandering
about the camp in disguise, hi, whim Of
giving the signal for assault by growing
like u cock, his astounding endurance OF
hrnl aud cold, his savage di-regad OF
personal comfort and nentucss-are be
yond calculation, hut perhaps the most
Characteristic Of all was his appeurance
in 1899 at the Austrian court, then one Of
the most brilliant of Europe.
On being shown to the apartment pre-
pared for him, "a splendid room with
rich uniture and costly mirrors) this
modern Diogenes said, simply
"Turn out the rubbish, and shake me
down some straw"
An Austrian g,andoo who came to Wis
it him was startled at these preparations,
and still more so at the light of the mar
.hal's baggage" which consisted OF
two coarse shirts and tattered cloak.
"Is that enough Tor Winter ?" asked
the a,toui-hed visitor.
"The Winter is the father OF US Rus
sian-," answered Suvaioff, with grin +;
I" besides you don't feel the cold when
you're riding at full gallop."
"But when you're tired Of riding what
do you do ?"
Walk"
"But when you're tired of walking"
run"
" And do you never sleep, then 2" ask
ed the petriied questiouer.
Sometimes, when I've nothing bet
ter to do" replied Suvorof, careessly
and when | want to have a very laxur-
ious nap, take off one Of my spurs"
The thunderstruck Austrian bowed and
retired, doubtless considerably enlighten-
ed 10 his ideas OF a Russian General.
"I'D hate to be in your shoes" said a