New-York tribune., 1877-09-01
c1RpFrKYJGHTs AT THE FRONT.

Rose-Ieafed Sybaris can laugh in her sleeve
if she will. When the Russians crossed the
Pruth. late in April the hedges were pink with
flowers and the air was filled with perfume.
A nation of love-makers was beginning under
the acacias and oleanders and lime-trees its
round of Summer Irritation. Bucharest wore a
languid smile and was lulled by Lydlan meas
ures. Life in the gay capital was an unendlhg
rehearsal of the balcony scene In Romeo ana
"Juliet" Inpalace and cottage and In the smell
paths of the public squares dark-eyed MAIDS
were listening to the compliments OF their caVa-
liers, and the Dightingales were singing. Ihese
were the slaves of pleasure. AS elanguage which
they spoke had the soft cadence OF the Latin
tongue without its vigOr, so they lnherlted 'he
luxurious vices of the ancient Romans Without
retaining their hardy virtues. The peasantry
as well as the jeuneSse d0r6e were steeped III
effeminacy. Diplomacy and politics were %
dreadful bore to them in warm weather, ana as
for inTopendence, it might be good thing IL
some other nation would do the fighting tor
them. So long as nothing was expected OF
them. they hailed the opening OF hostllitles
with delight. They would not have to fight
or to fatigue themselves unnecessarily lhey
would merely look on and be entertained
while others were bleeding and dying; ana IL
they grew weary of military pageantry' they
could go back to their love-maklng. 90 they
clapped their hands and were very much
amused when the Don Cossacks, with glitter
ing lances. and the Russian Infantry
men with mOnstrous knapsacks marched Dy'
The invaders in their turn despised them as
nation of carpet-knights One OF the hrst
nleasantries over which the Russian soldiers
chuckled in camp was an incident at Olur-
ceyo. where several companies of Roumanlan
soldiers were stationed. An officer who wished
TO test the courage Of his command had
cannon fred unexpectedly and the whole gar
rison scampered out of town toward Buchar-
est. The Russian staff were never weary OF
cracking Jokes at the expense of these rose
leaf gentlemen, who looked so well in Rou-
manian uniform, who danced so beautifully
who firted so desperately and VINO never
dreamed of anything more serious than a dress
parade.
The irony of defeat has blunted the edge OF
these tests. The battle of Pleyna and the
terrible struggle in the Shipka Pass have thrown
the Russian staff into panic, and the carpet
knights of Roumana have been summoned to
the front Prince Charles has bridged the
Danube above NikopOlis, and force OF
25,OOO Roumanian troops is now threaten
ing the rear and flank of Osman's VIC
torious army. The day of dress-parades
has passed; the eve of battle has COME
Roumania lies like rose between the hammer
of the RomanOff and the anvil OF the Porte.
But pressure on all sides is what weak and
luyurious nation like Roumania needs 1t VIII
train her statesmen in diplomacy, her soldiers
in valor, and her people in citizenship. If the
present war does not end prematurely, Europe
may gain several States. Ii Russia wins In the
end. after struggle which will leave her,
painting and bleeding, at the mercy of Europe,
she will not be able to dictate the terms of
peace Roumania, Bulgaria, Servia and Bos-
MIA may be celeased from vassalage to the
Porte without being converted into outlying
Russian DrOVInCes,