Connecticut western news., 1889-05-15
THE CARS ARMY.
A Grand Sight at St. Peters,
 burg.
Armed Men Reviewed By the
 Emperor.

emperor.
 If you wish to see military Russia in all its glory and epic luxury you must take your place in the first days of April on one of those tribunes which rise at the extremity of the Champ de Mars on on both sides of the imperial pavilion. Society meets there to assist at the grand spring review. All the Guard is massed before us-20, 900 men at least, and per haps more. Other states may pride themselves on military force equivalent to this, but none can show force so magnificent and picturesque in aspect. All the races and all the arms of this varied empire are about to defle before our eyes, from those noble Chevalier Guards, who seem to have been resusci- tated from the romantic Middle Ages, down to the Kirgheez of the Asiatic steppe, who are still pagans. Attention!" Thousands of voices have transmitted the same word of con- mand. "The Emperor" He appears wonder at the corner of the Camp de Mars. The moment he has seen all the flags 1utter, all the bands join in one formidable chorus to send heaven ward the sounds of the national hymn, "God save the Czar." The Emperor arrives at gentle gallop. Behind him follows an escort which makes many hearts beat amongst the fair public of the tribunes. It is gathering of the most illustr1ous names and the finest horsemen of the Russian nobility. All the armies of the world have contributed to form this staff. The Hungarian magnate rides side by side with the Japanese military at tache, the French kepi salutes the fez of the Mussulman bey. The Master passes along the front of his troops; the Empress follows in an open barouche. At the approach of their Majesties the band of each regiment resumes the hymn with wild fury-a hurricane of harmony, which accompanies and en- velopes the imperial procession. The traditional salutations are exchanged be- tween the Czar and his soldiers: Good day, children" "We are happy to do we'll for your Imperial Majesty"
 The sovereign stops before the trib- une of the Grand -Duchesses; he gives the signal, and the march past begins. At the head are the platoons of the Asi- atic escort, eastern and wild Russia, Mussulmans from Khiva and Bokhara, Georgian princes, Tcherkesses, Persians, Mongols and Caucasians. These primi- tive warriors, armed with lances and steel maces, wear long coats of mail over their brilliant silk dresses, furs of great price, damascened helmets or Tar tar caps. This is the vanguard of the hordes of Attila, the concession made in the regular army to legend and fancy. Then come the compact masses of the regular army, the infantry first of all- Proebrajensky, Finland Chasseurs, and soldiers of the Paul Regiment, with their large copper hats in the form of mitres-such as were worn by the Grana- diers of Frederick the Great. In ac- cordance with an old tradition, all men who have flat noses are recruited for this regiment. The lines of cavalry follow the infantry like living walls of brass and steel Then come the light troops Red Hussars, Grenadiers, and Lan- cers; and finally swarms of Cossacks, galloping on their little ponies, sweep along from the extremi- ty of the Champ de Mars at full speed, stop and turn short at the foot of the imperial tribune. These troops perform the exercises of the Arab fantasia-lie down on their saddles, lean over to the ground without quit ting their stirrups and pick up the lance or pistol that they have thrown down before them. The artillery closes the march. The batteries, admirably horsed, are carried along at full speed by black chargers as fine as the finest trotters.
 As the last cannons disappear, rattling over the pavement behind the trees of the Summer Garden, the court and its guests go to breakfast in the palace of the Princes of Oldenburg, which faces the Champ de Mars; and the foreigner who follows the Emperor eyes still full of this heroic vision-wonders how man can resist the intoxication of such power gathered in his hand and the temptation which must come upon him to let loose this superb force against the world. .-Harper's Magazine.
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