The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-11-19
The Russian Bayard.

Michael DimltritCh SkObeleil was born on
the goth of September 1913 and had thus barely at
tanned his thirty-nnth year. lie did Of an
old OF noble Russian family though his father %
general, and had won considerable reputation as a
cavalry commander In the campaign against Turkey
Ia 1854. Baron stuart, Russian Minister Bucharest
himself, as his name indicates, Of a Scotch descent
Informed a common friend that the elder SkobeleH
was the grandson of scotch emlgrant 10 Russia,
skObie by name. | remember asking young Skubceh
as 10 the truth Of this report, whereupon lac replied
~ believe there is something In II, hut make little
account Of genealogical trees Mere family never
made man great. Thought and iced alone not pedl-
gree, are the passports 10 enduring fame. 80 Young
-kODeleft general education received mainly ut
home on the paernal estate of spasskae aud at Mos
COW, under tho superlntendence VI MS mother aud
with the assistance Of tutor Of French nationality.
skobeleh warmly attached 10 his tutor, who re-
NAMED as friend OF the family, at SpasskaJe, TIL
the close Of his brilliant pupils too short life. had
frequent opportunities Of meeting with this excellent
Possessing little Of the spTghtlnesS of his race
he was reserved shy, aud uuObtugiye IN the presence
OI strangers uul tt tHWt'tt frank and animated IN
conversation, which displayed, though not pedanti-
caly, ls profound learning and varied reading. II
was eas- 20 see under what influence skObelef had
developed the taste fpr letters which he had Inherited
from his mother About feet inches iu
height Wel-pTupOIuUned, square shpuldeTed, hu had
a FIRMLY Knit body, muscular and 1.-THE rather than
stout, clean limbs, viii free and graceful movement.
MS hand was not large but slnewy win the nervous
grip denOtlng ready decision aud warmth of heart 4
woman would have described his face a6 handsome,
and n was manly IN every linelment. With short
peaked, fan almost golden wikefs the cleln-ahlypu
chin ana Wcl-Cut mouth, almost covered by long
llky mustache, indicated great hTmuess of purpose
strength ni VIII lllb NOSE WAS liiEt straight
finely nodded and not too prominent, The flexible
uusril5 dlated IN the excitement Of battle ur AMI
mated discourse; this ana the flashing Hight Of his
bright blue eyes being the only indications OF the
volcanic energy OF the mau. He forehead was Lofty,
rounded rather than broad, and MS head, covered
with short, SILKY, golden hair OF tne uOme shape
on foot his tan aud graceful presence, his free open
aud courteous manner TiYeted attention, one felt
lustluCtiyey that he was face 10 face with King
among men, He was the best hOr6omau ! ever taw
hestride a thoroughbred and his splendid personal
Tearing AT the head al a column Of cavalry the
central figure OF brilliant stan fully realized one's
idea Of the knlghtly character. HIS mount WAS %
white on light gray thoroughbred, Ia q campaign
hu had always three femOunts OF thC white Chargers,
which bred on bis own estate AZ Spasskaje. His
attachment 10 bis horses as That Of Arab, aud
next TO cruelty 10 mon nothing reused him more than
lnalteuton on cruelty % his equine fayOrites. lie
admired the English thoroughbred as the most
perfect Of the Oquue species and declared that the
4, aud the horse Of the Ukraine. From his white
uniform and white charger he received among his
Turkish foes the name Of Max Pasha. Wherever the
hTe hottest the combat most deadly there was
The AJAX, on White Pasha, ana Ss0heeH came 10 bs
regarded by the BuperstitOus Turkish suldieTy as %
species Of demon WITH charmed life. This Teputa-
ton, By tho way, was not confined 10 the Turkish
army, though with the simple Russian soldiers his
charmed NE believed 10 he due 10 tue special ln-
terposition Of saint Denetrius. A Sister OF Mercy
who nurse In one Of the field hospitals In the
rayine close " the LoyachR road al PleYLa told me
that q wounded soldier whom she tending Lad
sOemnly assured her that nothing could hurt the
efal. The bullet which had shattered his arm had,
he said, FIRST passed clean through the General, but
al usual without inlufiug MIN IN the 6ightssi -.
W. KmnaJd Rose H tks torialghHy Reglsw,