Morning journal and courier., 1882-08-24
The sweet country cousins; oh,
Remfni isce nces of SkobeIeff.

Paris Correspondence New York Tribune
 Gen. Skobeleff has been termed bluff sol dier, in the admirable neurological sketch of him which appeared in the London Daily News. The epithet does not fit him. He was transparent, and when not on his guard, ingenious, but he not bluff, nor even frank, for unless in towering passion he would not tell a disagreeable truth in plain manner for the whole world. The Russian hero sensitive-and not only regarded himself, but for other people. His courtesy was open and spontaneous It sprung from his heart. The habit of the best society from his youth toned down his individuality on the surface Beyond what politeness requir- ed he did not stand on any ceremony, but had deal of suave dignity which enabled him to command without appearing to domi nate. Skobeleff dressed as carefully if he only plumed himself upon his outward ap pearance, but was no flop. He wore out of uniform dark blue coat which was an am pie fit, buttoning over his waistcoat. In sum- mer the trousers were light, and in winter dark gray. His boots were 8 perfect fit and though strong seled, elegant. From the mo- ment he left his dressing table he never gave thought for the rest of the day to his cloth ing. His hands were shaped like those of a cavalier in Vandyke's portraits. Although except in the morning they went ungloved they were white and smooth. The sense of touch was so developed in the fingers as to be 6 cause of suffering when coarse things had to be often handled.
 Though devout believer in God as reveal cd by the Greek church, and in the Car the only layman who enters the holy of holies-hs had a philosophical and welt bred toleration for all forms of dissent and unbe- lief He did not extend his veneration for the Czar to the Czarina.
 Six emperors' wives in succession had been Germans That was enough to account for the liberties he took in speaking of them r1kh T l,I H%x, her mother tongue and only spoke French and Russian. Skobeletf detested all of the results of Germanism in Russia, except lie der and cartography. Germans, he said, re- duced their women to the low level of domes tic drudges, and had no respect for feminine intellect. Russian women, in his opinion, | had greater minds and hearts than Russian | men. His eyes used to fill with tears when ever his mother was the theme of his conver | sation. She was assassinated by an officer of his staff whom he had sent to escort her tc | Bulgaria. Believing in vicarious expiation he since her death used for the good of he1 l soul to impose on himself severe mortified l tions. The more he mortified himself the more he thought about her. His austerities were kept @ secret from all but very intimate l friends.
 | Skobeleff told me that he was in sympathy with neither English constitutionaism nol American democracy; but he admired the quiet daring of the Americans, and loved ir them their reverence for women. He thought the old American lady more agreeable be ing to contemplate than the young. Ol6 English Quakeresses he pronounced "mos wershipful" The staring, stuck up British peeress, who clipped her words and was half choked by her R's. Twas his pet aversion The English woman whom he most admired was an old Quaker lady who had daughter married in some Danubian town where ht
 was quartered, and used to lecture him on tho sin of soldering. Her sweet eloquence ant
 venerable manner affected him and alarmed his conscience, which he lulled by resolving to conseorate himself to the emancipation O
 his Slav brethren. By emancipation he dit
 not mean & change of masters. Skobeleff dit not want any sub Danubian State to be an
 nexed to Russia His idea was Slav con
 federation based brotherly love and cleo tive affinities