The New York herald., 1874-11-09
An immense Power for War,
but in a Poor C0ndi-
tion for Action.
Three Great Difficulties-Poverty,
Ignorance and IneMciency.
QUEER SCENES m BARRACKS QUARTERS
The Cars Relations to Germany and Asia
Can the Muscoyite Go To India!
LONDON, oct. Is, 1874.

LONDON. Oct. ls 1874
Some years ago. wnen was living IN Russia ID
IN oncial capacity, my house was IN the nelgnoor-
hood oil the infantry barracks in one OF the largest
cities OF the south. During the nerce meats OF
summer in the south OF Russia there Went up
stencil from those barracks which was absolutely
pestilenria II the wind set in the direction OF my
house the windows had 10 be closed and the rooMs
fumigated. When passed the parracks on horse
back, as ] rode daily TO my ONCE in the city,
went by at hand galop, with my handkerchief
to my nose. l have never seen so filthy place.
Outside, indeed, the barracks were whitewashed,
and the long range OF buildings which contained
them looked clean and even stately, but within
we're all the pagues OF Egypt. The olactory
nerves could distinguish no adherence between q
soldier and polecat. Being determined to visit
the barracks, however, In detail. went one day
with the captain on duty, who was making his
rounds while the soldiers were at mess; and
think that their food stunk worse than them
,elves. Though we were in a corn country, where
wheat was plentiful and cneap-so cheap some
times that it was not worth shipping, and was
lett 70 rot in heaps when there had been good
harvest in Europe-the bread or these soldiers
was blacg and moudy. Their meat was putrid,
and was the ofal and refuse OF the market,
Enough the province also exported much cattle,
lno meat might have been bought wholesale ior
about four cents pound. The inevitable result
Of this diet was much lever and dysentery. The
soldiers died ike flies in autumn. and those
who lived were slckly and out OF condition.
spoke to Field Marshal Luders on the subject.
He was very brave ana kind-hearted man, VINO
was moreover. The most pop ular general IN the
Russian Army, and / enjoyed che honor OF his
friendship; but he only shrugged his shoulders.
and did not seem to think that anything could be
done or needed TO be done about these barracks
and the most miserable herd OF human beings
which they contained. who were deprived OF all
The necessarles and decencies OF life.
MORALE IN BARRACKS.
The moral character OF the poor fellows was sucn
IS might have been expected from their condition.
They were common thieves. 1t was dangerous to
meet then Ii The dark, Tor they often comm tted
robberies on the highway, and sometimes MUIR
dels. They were, however. rather pilierers than
highway men or assasslns, and they provled
about the neighborhood like iamisheo wolves. II
q chair was LETT out in my garden at night, or
If any object worth cent could be seen at q bal.
cony or through an open WINDOW In an empty
room, it disappeared. There was no reason to ask
what had become OF 1t; every one knew 1t had
been stolen by the soldiers to be used Tor rewood
Dr 10 be turned into little money. II cloak or q
cushion was lett lor q ie " minutes on the seat OF
q carriage. or II tie carriage lamps were loose,
they were stolen by the soldiers.
THE COMMAND.
The officers, in their way, we're as bad as the
men: dirty fellows In uniform were forever calling
npon me to borrow rouole, or, In other words to
beg Tor aims. Their pay was pitifully small, and
no man under the rank Of q colonel, unless some
youngster ofgood family In light cavalry regiments
was recognized as q member OF good society.
Most OF the subaltern oflcers wore neither shirts
nor stockings. They had their uniforms and
mintary great-coat, and taey lived In those
clothes, never undressing or going 10 bed, or
having any beds TO 60 TO. The common name for
woman OF the town was s'captaiu's daughter"
or captains wife," Well-to-do tradesmen had
"a great o horror OF these supalterns as oil the
worst sort ofrogues, succeeded IN getting
Into debt they could not be compelled to pay.
Several Of the weathier merchants however, mad
halt score Of them hanging about their ware
houses, and used them to run on errands for their
wives and children. They would DO ANYTHING
poor creatures Tor lew cents, and their only
pleasure IN this world was to get drunk whenever
Lhey had opportunity OF SO doing. They we're ac-
customed to ferocious treatment from their supe-
f1ors, and remember that on one occasion, when
had given lieutenant something TO do. and ex-
pressed displeasure at his having taken money TOR
} service which he had not performed, the de.
raded gentleman len suddenly upon his knees
and put the palms OF his hands together in att-
tUde OF suppncation, as one 10 whom the posture
had become familiar by long use.
PAuPERIzEp AIDE IN GREAT TROUBLE.
Even the Governor Generals ades-de.camp were
sometimes queer customers, and preyei upon
tradesmen as hawks swoop down on sparrows.
One OF Them who was a. colonel had contrlved to
get in debt so deeply with an inukeeper. at whose
expense he had lived for q long time, that the Inn
keeper repeatedly threatened TO complain to the
Governor General The Colonel implored MIN not
to DO So for the Governor General was a stern,
nigh-hearted, honorable OLD soldier, and would
certainly take unpleasant action toward q swim.
ding ade.de-camp. But at last the inDkeeper' ;
patience was worn out. He had suffered himself
to be put Oh from urging his claims by so many
false pretences that finally he could not and would
not believe a word that the Colonel said to him.
So he dressed himself IN his best clothes and
erals house al the time which His ExceIency
set apart Tor receiving petitions. OF course the
first person he met In the Governor Generals
snteroom was his debtor, the aide-de-camp, On
there the old scene or supplication and entreary
began again. The Coonel said he would serve the
innkeeper like dog Tor the rest OF his lie II he
would only withhold his complaint; that he wonld
pay every rouble he owed the next day or that
day, In ten minutes he said everJ ching and did
everything which apparent despair could suggest
70 induce the innkeeper to go away. But the
man was logged and angry, and ne held resolutelJ
to his purpose. ''Well." concluded the Colonel de-
jectedly. 81 you are determined 10 ruin me must
introduce you to the presence OF His Exceliency,
and heaven help US BOTH" He then took the inn
keeper respectfully by the sleeve and led him into
the inner chamber where the great man sat. 1t was
Just after the commencement oil the present reign,
when the military despotlsm which had weighed
30 heavily upon Russian thought during the rule
or the Emperor Nicholas mad somewhat relaxed,
and Il the Governor General had q weakness 1t was
certain new born desire Tor popularity. The
Colonel his aide-de-camp, knew Of this bent in his
chiefs mind or at least suspected it, and there
fore, having saluted the Governor General with
more tnan the usual stiffness and ceremony, he
pointed to the innkeeper ana said, MAY 1t please
Your Excenency, tnis poor man, who has recently