The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-04-21
THE COSSACKS.
The Lawless Men who Compose
the Cars Body Guard.
Russian Soldiers who do About
as They Please.

L
Petersburg only few soldiers IN the
streets, and the dashing Cossacks rid-
ing like mad on horseback are the lie
Of the military for the winter. The
Cossacks are the life guards of the ear,
and are the most interesting Of the
many characters in this strange country.
A genuine Cossack has no more ap-
probation or dread of danger than he
has of his vodka, a terrible rum, which
he drinks like water and which makes
intoxication at sight. He was the
original soldier OF Russia, the patron
detective and the prime spirit in max
ing republican institutions what they
are. He is devoted to the car, and Tor
his devotion has been knighted in the
highest degree. The acme Of the Rus
sian soldier is to become associated
with the service Of the crown and TO DC
located about the palace. When SOL
dier is stationed in the vicinity OF the
palace and it becomes known to that he
has been recognized by the car, his
reputation has reached the zenith. and
he instantly becomes the admiration OF
the entire people. To get promotion
en- suite-that is, into tho direct service
of the czar-is to acquire the highest
honor a million Russian soldiers aspire
to.
In all tho wars Russia has fought
from her organization, the Cossacks
have figured most conspicuously. They
especially did the bloody work when
Napoleon came over from France in
1912 and attempted to conquer the
empire. The great French general
found his men falling like hail when he
was unable to strike back, the enemy
always beng under shelter. 1t was con-
tinuous bush whacking till the retreat
beran. when the CossackS role out
A 700 on horseback and shot down in
cold blood almost twice their number
in Napoleon's ranks. For centuries
these people have been the predominant
inhabitants or both sides of the NolGa,
and the first to take up arms ii all the
Crimea against intruders. Nearly hall
q century ago the car rewarded thc
the tribe by making I'll Cossacks in his
service his special life guard. Alto
cethcr the most brutal and ignorant,
the Cossack is thus given the most con
spicuous position in all this great army
Whcaever you see Alexander III. you SCI
q swarm of Cossacks about him, riding
over pedestrians, slashing their sabre
in the air, and holding high and arbi
trary authority. They have complet
privilege and exercise it to the fulles
=. extent.
\ Cossack soldier is granted CON
pletc immunity against punishment 10
all but the highest crime, which Is muir
der in cold blood. If he wanton!y mur
ders an innocent and unoiTendin9 citizc
or companion he is court martialed an
. probably imprisoned for three or 81
. months, hut it is extremely difficult t
y convict him when once arrested. He
- furnished horse, clothing and ration
;, when stationed il a city, but is give
:, no salary, and rations only when /
cannot forage. About one-fourth
= them are thus supplied by the hands
the car, while nearly hundred tho
: sand OF them are privileged to go abo
the country and il the name of the CT
pillage and plumber They hold l
o. strangers, commit burglary somctim
q and demand at the haads of the poop
rs the best there is to live upon. 1t
C. useless to make complaints CT their de
% relations, as they are iegaiizcd. I
N people have TO keep the car and qua
,st his life; they must protect him and
,. his interests, and he holds that tn
as nav Just as we'll do some of their az
for for the empires preservation direct
OF by maintaining a band OF maraude
Is. as to do it indirectly through the chs
in mel OF the treasury. 1t does not foil
that because soldier is life guard
must be at the side Of the one he is C
re- ployed to protect. His field is in any 81
by he can locate effort to injure the emp
the or its car He is a secret or public Diet
ity tive, or a soldier, according to hispurpo
re- or desires. He goes about, when
my under direct orders, in the uniform o
so soldier or the dress OF civilian.