Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-26
The Fanta site Suwarroyy-


Suwarrow affected great simplicity of life
and coarseness of manners. A heap of
fresh hay with a sheet spread over it formed
his bed alike on the march, in the fortress,
at home. He could not sleep without abun-
dance of fresh air; and if the windows
would not open he would break every pane
of glass in them, and even order the frames
to be taken out, saying that he did not fear
cold. Before throwing himself down to
rest he seldom took off his boots spurs, or
military accoutrements; sometimes when he
wanted either to refresh his exhausted ener-
gies or pamper his tired flesh, he might tempt
the drowsy god by unfastening one spur.
Lest he should slumber too long he always
carried dunghill-cock with which he always
shared his bedroom, and whose shrill clarion
sounding at his always summoned the
warrior in good time to the duties of the
day. stI hate idleness," said he land that
bird, " pointing to the cock, lis very pune
tual in waking me.' So highly did he appre-
ciate the services of the bird that, in emula-
ton of it's virtues, he would go to the door
of his tent and, instead of ordering the drum
to beat or the bugle to sound, initiate its
cries as signal that the camp was to awake.
His own imitation of the growing of the
cock was the bugle call for the march.
He drilled his troops in his shirt-sleeves,
and often rode in front of the army on
bare backed horse, with no other clothing
than shirt. Summer and winter alike he
rose at in the morning and took bath, or
rather had bucketfuls of cold water thrown
over him by his servants. Thereafter he
breakfasted; dinner was served at g.; and
breakfast and dinner alike consisted of the
coarse black bread of the common soldiers,
which in his case was washed down by deep
draughts of brandy. During these repasts
an officer stood by, and, at his discretion. in
formed Suwarrow that he had eaten and
drunk enough, and that the servants would
fho hraa and hntfIQc
whose orders dare you interfere with me,
sir ?'' Suwarrow would exclaim. ''By the
orders of Marshal Suwarrow." '1f SO, he
must be obeyed." He had issued general in
structions to his subordinates to command
him, in his own name, to desist from doing
anything likely to lnjure his health. he
owned neither villa, nor plate, nor carriage,
nor books, nor iveried servants, nor pic
lures nor rare collections of any kind and,
when he came to St. Petersburg, slept in the
cart which all his days, on the march and IN
triumphal entries, was his favorite vehicle. For
twenty years at stretch he never used
looking glass for the purposes of the toilet;
nor did he ever cucumber his person with
watch or money. In his day personal clean
iness. even among the ladies of the Russian
nobility, was not held in much account and
Suwarrow was often seen to take on his shirt
and bid his soldiers hold it to the fire, adding
that it was the best method he knew for kill
ing certain unclean parasites.
In conversation, his tone, especially to his
equals, was abrupt and imperious; whom he
met, and was introduced to- he received with
a cannonade of questions, the one following
the other in rapid succession. AS test of
military fitness, presence of mind self-rei-
ance and force of character, it was by no
means an unsatisfactory one. All those
whom he confused or embarrassed. he des-
pissed as fools. What would a stranger think
when saluted by a grim, snuffy old man,
made up exteriorly of dirt and jewels, with
the man uttered in imperious tones, "How
many stars are there in the skies ? You don't
know; what do you know How many trees
are there in the forest, or fishes in the lake?"
And or your confessing ignorance in
a conciliatory manner how would you
like to have scornful and filthy