New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-30
SKOBELEFF.
PERSONAL TRAITS AND REMINISCENCES on
THE SLAVIC HERO.

general European policy of Russia. While he lived
Bismarck had not completely checkmated IgnatieC.
The Pan-Slavists had heart and hand as well as
| head. An idea was never more fully incamate in
man than that of Pan-Sayism In Skobelcff lie had
points of contact with every stratum of Russian soc
ETY. and nationality. BY his warmth Of heart. hi,
childish faith. and simplicity of character he was
man OF The people. from whom his father sprupg: by
the elegance of his tastes his innate love of refine
ment, which he inherited from his mother bs
was formed to shine at Court; and by his
| manlness pluck, enduring power and sed.
| ulOusly cultivated Indifference to danger lie
was among soldiers the most sOdierIy. Mac.
Gahan. wEO knew him well, thought sometimes he
was little mad. The impression he gave me was
wholly different / used to admire the exquisite
adjustment Of his faculties and the truth of his in.
stinctS and perceptions. There was no New-Eng.
lander who took clearer view of facts than
| Skobelef. But he saw deeper and further than
matter-of-fact reasoners generally do. lie OWNED
with the sure eye of genius possibilities when Others
only saw insurnountabe difficulties. Skobecf
had a strong mental digestion for science and liter.
atGre. If he had not been a soldier he would
probably have been a great geographical
explorer and historian. There were few more able
strategiss. 1t was a great error to think he was q
mere daredevil warrior, like the theatrical Murat
The lamented general was no less man Of study
than of action, and extremely methodIc. ADpe-pie
order relgned in his lodgings He travelled about
with a small library of books of instruction, refer.
ence and amusement, or rather recreatye entertain
ment 1t contained neatly bound diamond editions
of the British, German and French classic authors
the margins Of which were covered with annota-
tons written in small distinct characters Wien
he bought standard work unbound he had several
blank pages added between the chapters IN the
binding for critical and other observations that
might suggest themselves.
One day IN Paris was about to take notes at his
dictation. lie handed me some English copy book
paper, and varied assortment of pencils, neatly
cut and steel and quill pens to choose from. Thae
paper" he said Il bought in Spain of statIoner
who wanted TO get out of the way of the Carlists.
1t was with me in Central Asia. l hate waste as
much as any skinflInt as if were living on board
a ship. 1 am particular about my pens. For
military work like a hard and finely pointed one,
that let's down the ink sparingly for reports take
freer one; and for writing letters, into which my
heart overows, prefer the goosequill. There isno
better medium with which TO express the feelings
and sensations People call me hea long. So am,
but not in the sense they imagine. have never in
my life butted against stone wall. La daring
much have nearly always succeeded
General Skobeeff has been termed bluff soldier.
appeared III The London Daily Aacs. The epithet
does not fit him. He was transparent. and when
not on his guard Ingenious bat he was not blum,
nor even frank, for unless III towering passion lie
would not tell dlsagreeable truth in plain man.
ner for the whole world. The Russian
hero was sensitye--and not only as regarded
himself but for other people. His courtesy was
open and spontaneous. 1t sprung from his heart
The habit of the best society from his youth up
toned down his individuality on the surface. Be-
yond what politeness required he did not stand on
ceremony, but had deal of suave dignity which
enabled him to command without appearing 20 DOM
mate. SkObeleif dressed carefully as II he only
pumed himself upon his outward appearance, but
was no fop. He wore Out Of uniform a dark blue
coat which was an ample fit. buttoning over his
waistcoat. In summer the trousers were light and
III winter dark grey. His boots were perfect fit
and though strong-soed, elegant. From the moment
he left his dressing he never gave thought for
the rest of the day to his clothing His hands were
shaped like those of cavalier In Eandyke's pOr-
traits Although, except in the evening, they went
ungloycd, they were white and smooth. The senseof
touch was so developed i'll the fingers as to be a
cause of suffering when coarse things had to be
often handled
Though devout believer in God as revealed by
the Greek Church, and in the Czar-the only lay
man who enters the Holy of Holies-he had phlo-
sophical and well-bred liberation for all forms
of dissent and unbclief. He did not extend
his yeneratiou for the Car to the
Czarina SIX Emperors' wives in succession
had been Germans. That enough to account
tor the liberties ne took in speaking of them.
Catherine ii. had one virtue. She dropped her
mother tongue and only spoke French and Russian.
SkobeleT detested all the results Of Germanism IN
Russia except liedT and cartography. Germans,
he said, reduced their women TO the low level OF
domestic drudges. and bad no respect for feminine
intellect. Russian women, in his opinion, had
greater minds and hearts than Russian men.
HIS eyes used 10 fill with tears whenever his mother
was the theme of his conversation. She was
assassinated by an officer of his staff whom
he had sent to escort her Bulgaria
Believing in vicarious expiatlOn. he since her
death used for the good of her soul to impose on
himself severe notifications. The more he morti-
fed himself the more he thought about her. HIS
auserties were kept secret from all but very H.
innate friends
Skobeleif told me that he was in sympathy with
neither English constitutionalism nor American
democracy; but he admired the quiet daring OF tho
Americans and loved in them their reverence Tor
women. He thought the old American lady moro
agreeable being to contemplate than the young.
Old English QqakereSses he pronounced pIi NOS
wOrshipful." The staring, stuck-up BRUSH
peeress who clipped her words ard
was half choked by her RS" was his pet aversion
The English woman whom he most admired was an
old Quaker lady who had a daughter MARI ed n
some Danubian town where he was quartered, ana
used to lecture him on the sin OF soldering lef
sweet eloquence and venerable manner affected
him and alarmed his conscience, which he lulled oy
resolving To consecrate himself 10 the emancipation
of his Slav brethren BY emancipation he did
not mean a change of masters. Skobeeff did nos
want any sub-Danubian state TO be annexed 10
Russia. His idea a Slav federation based Oh
brOtherly love and elective ailnltics.
General SkObeeif was very handsome but hai
not a statuesque face The forehead seen in front
was the shape of truncated cone rev ersed Ii was
very high and the head bulged out all round nj the
top. In repose the bright blue eyes were dull ana
dreamy Under the influence of passion or qucK