The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-03-13
The Russian Daredevil, Who Made the
Sensational speech When Drunk.

From the New York Herald.
Our St. Petersburg correspondent sends the
following: "Gen. Skobeloff's speech was not
delivered seriously. The gallant young SOL
der loves champagne, perhaps too we'll, and
it was under its influence he made his silly
speech. If we went to the root of matters
how often should we find Europe up in arms
and exchanges panic-stricken for causes not
much more serious! Exaggerated importance
having been given the Skobeloh incident by
the comments of the German and English
press, | think it as we'll to reduce the affair to
its original and insignificant pr portions. No
one was more astonished at the COmmOtion
caused by the generals loose after-dnner rant
than the Russian statesmen were. Gen. Sko-
belof is no weighty politician. lie is SOL
der, only 80 years old, who has not had time
yet to understand that the commander of an
army has more responsibilities than mere
sub Lieutenant. The day after the famous
banquet the affair was dismissed here with
the comment that Gen. Skobeleff had been
talking nonsense again. Knowing the youth
hero well-he is more youthful, perhaps, by
the by, than heroic-I paid no attention at all
to his toast. Nor did he give much more
heed to it himself. Two days later he went
dDIOlu Will TIC lllSOuCldilCC VI d SCliOOlDOy
who runs off after playing practical joke on
some one. The Russian government has as
scribed the speech to its proper source
sparkling Roederer. Count Kalnoky, Aus
trian minister of foreign affairs, knowing St.
Petersburg well, can not have been alarmed
by it. The moral of the whole story is that it
is a mistake to promote men, however bril-
liant, too rapidly. Gen. Skobelof is a bril-
liant soldier, but he has never been regarded
as a statesman. Connt Kalnoky and Gen.
Schweinitz guage Skobeloff's importance very
exactly, and you need not attach much weight
TO the rumors afloat of diplomatic ruptures."
In connection with Gem Skobelof the Pail
Mall Gazette reproduces some interesting
"reminiscences of his career. The story of his
exploits in the Bulgarian campaign includes
all that was most exciting in the war which
brought the Russian army within sight o the
minaretS of Stamboul. From the day when,
ito show the stuff he was made of" he swan
his horse across the Danube while Gen. Ora
gominof was forcing the passage at Simnitza
to the time when he could with difficulty be
restrained from marching into Constantinople
as soon as the British fleet entered the Sea of
Marmora, he was the most prominent actor in
the drama. He became the Legendary hero
of the campaign, and in the minds of the
common people he almost monopolized its
glories. He was always in the forefront of
the hottest battle; four horses were shot I'M
der him in ten days, but he was only wounded
once, and after being in constant eXpecta-
ton of death for months. he returned home
safe and sound. His white uniform was to
his soldiers as the white plume of Henry Qua
tire at the battle OF Ivry. 81 have heard the
soldiers speak OF him." says Lieut.. Greene,
Gas general under whom they would rather
fight and die than fight and live under an
other" They had often to de-sometimes
so per cent. of his command persisted; but he
spared no expense to minister to their wants
and supply their needs. His division was the |
best fed, and best clothed, and best armed in
the army. He was always with them in the |
most exposed positions in the fight, sleeping |
with them in the trenches and looking after |
all their necessities in the camp. SIN Short"
says Lieut.. Greene, she succeeded SO thor
ouehly IN making himself one with his division
that his men responded to his thoughts as
readily as the muscles obey the will. doubt |
if more thoroughly ideal relation between
general and his men has existed since the days
Of Cromwell"
His custom of wearing white, as if to court
the bullets of his enemies, his reckless per-
sonal bravery, and the strange custom Of his
Of always going into battle in his ceanest
uniform and fresh under-clothing, covered
with perfume and wearing diamond hilted
sword, in order that, as he said, he might die
with his best clothes on" gained him the
reputation of wild daredevil, which some
lines obscured his real capacity as general,
In reality they only showed how thoroughly
he had OWNED that secret of power which lies
n fascinating the imagination as well as of ap-