Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-23

Archibald Forbes in Youths Companion.
The Russian soldier in the field IL q man OF
many virtues. At home in peace, indeed. he
has but one vice to speak Of He will get drunk
when he can, and keep drunk as long as he
can.
Drink does not make him dangerous, but
simply adds to his child-like amiability. He
tumbles about badly, but quietly picks him.
self up, and staggers on till the next tumble
sets in. He is eager to hug every one he meets,
and his enthusiasm for kissing and calling al!
the world brother, when he is in his cups, would
be groteSQue were 1t not degrading.
The Russian soldier neees no iron-handed dis
cipline to keep him in order. He is docile by
he addresses as .liitle father" as If he were q
child: He Is contented in hardship; heat takes
no effect on him, and he has become well Injured
his susceptibility to homesickness.
When the Russian armies were lying In front
Ss mt tina. Long weary
OF Berlin, thousands of soldiers actually died OF
nostalgia, or Inconsistencies Dependency OF
mind lowered the bodily tone, and they seemed
simply to fade away.
The Russian soldier, when the homesickness
Is not upon him, is a right merry-hearted fellow.
All day long the camp re-echoes to the voice of
song. Russian vocal music is real singing not
the horrible croak, alternated by ear-splftting
falsetto. which the Servians and Bulgartans i'm
sanely regard as vocal harmony.
Inc russian comic songs are full OF "snap''
ana yerve; and they always have rafting
Whue the singer accompanies the strains Of his
chorus with a ludicrously fantastic breakdown,
body The plaintive melodies vibfate with a
strange pathos, that swells the heart of the
listener, even though he may understand. moth
ing of the words. And the grand chant with
which the massive columns move forward into
the battle CLOVIS with the true fervor Of fighting
that Ss
violate their tenetss, and fight like men pos
rIa.
out book learning. Not above % per cent can
read, and still smaller percentage have any
knowledge of writing. Their religion, which Is
feryent, is mixed with superstition. But their
external devoutness is unremitting. They live
chiefly on SOUP thickened with q little meat.
much meal and anything that fortune may
offer on the march in the way of vegetables
This soup is made in large complexities one of
which cooks for each company; and when the
soup Is ready each company marches up to his
own particular kettle, every man with his pan
nfkin IN hand, into which the cook bales O
ladleful. When all are supplied, the compaty
reforms, and there is sung a long grace before
meat, which never knew omitted or curtailed.
even when. as on the Shipka Pass, the enemy s
bullets would be whistiing over the COOKING
ties ties. ('''>' ''''''''is ''sa'nS' Tue ke'-
Throughout every regiment is sprinkling OF
foreigners, whose loyalty is not to be relied on
but with this exception the Russian soldier is
whole-souled devoted adorer OF the car The
expression s;S constantly in his mouth regards
the future, just as clergymen are wont to saw
God willing" is "If God and the car will!''
They are to him the arbiters of his DESTINY .If
God and the car WILL have heard Russian
soldier say, "tilat return home. oh. how hannv
should be; but if they decree that must die
here in foreign land, their will be doner'
The bravery OF the Russian soldier admits of
no question. He is stupid, poor fellow, and re.
quires to be shown what it is wished that he
should do; he has no idea of initiative or of act
ing for himself on pinch; but ne may be relied
on to go forward while an officer stands up to
lead him, and he will hold his ground till he
falls. He may be relied on against falling a VIC
tim to panic; he Is too stolid and unimpressible
slaughtered in the morning, the other half
would sullenly rally and be ready to confront
the prospect of being slaughtered that same
afternoon. In the bloodiest battles of the old
world; Borodino Eylau, Friedland. and
the Pevna combats Of July and September,
1877, Russian troops have been combatants.
But the spectator OF a battle in which Russian
soldiers are participants always feels half sorry
tor them, half angry with them. They have no
lighting versatility or individual ingenuity: il
mas Wll!ed the misfortune, and they endure it
passively till the maneuVer sweeps AWAY ali
who have not fallen.
Unless there are ofticersto order him. the Rus
sian soldier has no more idea of helping toform
new 'front.' In such an emergency than he has
OF uSurplng the crown OF the great white czar
lie has not even that appreciation of the situa-
ton that would move him to run away
Russia Is the most Understanding country in
the world, and the United States the most
democratic, yet 1t is curious to note how In so
many things, the two assimilate AN English
or German general has to be approached
AUTOMATICALLY, through the medium of an aide
de-camp and by a letter of introduction The
casual stranger, like myself. could walk straight
into the tept OF Russian corps commander
ana receive a courteous greeting, Just as is ac-
corded to him should he enter the bureau of
Cen sherman, at Washington, or Of Gen. Sheri-