Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-06-28
THE RUSSIAN ARMY.
4 Spring Review in the Champ de Mars at
st. Petersburg.

4 Spring Review in the Champ de Mars al
st. Petersburg.
If you wish to see military Russia in
Ill its glory and epic luxury you must
lake your place i'll the first days OF
April on one of those tribunes which
rise at the extremity of the Champ de
Mars on both sides OF the imperial pa
siiion. Society meets there to assist
at the grand spring review. All the
Guard is massed before us-20, 600
men at least. and perhaps more.
Other States may pride themselves on
military force equivalent to this,
but none can show force so magnifi-
cent and picturesque in aspect. All
the races and all the arms OF this
varied empire are about to defle be-
fore our eyes. from those noble Chew
alier Guards, who seem to have been
resuscitated from the romantic Middle
Ages. down to the Kirgheez of the
Asiatic steppe, who are still pagans.
"Attention!' Thousands OF voices
command. The Emperor He APP
pears yonder at the corner of the
Champ de Mars. The moment he is
seen all the flags fiutter, all the bands
Join in one formidable chorus to send
heavenward the sounds of the ma
tional hymn. God save the Tsar"
The Emperor arrives at IA gentle gall
Top. Behind him follows an escort
which makes many hearts beat
amongst the fair public OF the
tribunes 1t is u gathering of the
most llustrious names and the
finest horsemen of the Russian no.
bility. AL 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 kept salutes the fez
of the Mussulman hey. 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 accom-
panies and envelops the imperial pro
| cession. The traditional salutations
are exchanged between the Tsar and
his soldiers "Good-day. children. .
We are happy to do well 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 plato0ns Of the
| Asiatic csc rt, eastern and wild Russia.
Mussulmans from Khiva and Bokhara,
Georgian princes, Tcherkesses. Per
SLAMS. Mongols and Caucasians, These
| primitive warriors, armed with lance.
and steel maces, wear long coats o
mail over their brilliant silk dresses
furs of great price, damascened helm
cts or Tartar caps, This is the van
| guard OF the hordes Of Attila, the con
cession made in the regular army t,
legend and fancy. Then come tn,
compact masses of the regular army
tho infantry first of all---Preobrajens
| ky, Finland Chasseurs, and soldiers o
the Paul Regiment. with their larg,
copper hats in the form of miters -
such as were worn by the grenadier,
of Frederick the Great. In accord
ance with an old tradition, all men W. h,
have fiat noses are recruited for thi
regiment. The lines of cavalry follow
the infantry like living walls of bras,
and steel. Then come the light troops
Red llussars. Grenadiers and Lancers
and finally swarms Of Cossacks, gal
looping on their little ponies. SWEEP
along from the extremity of the Cham
de Mars at full speed, stop and turf
short at the foot of the imperial tri
bune These troops perform the ex
ercises Of the Arab fantasia lie dowi
on their saddles. lean over to tn
ground without quitting their stirrup
and pick up the lance or pistol tina
they have thrown down before them
The artillery closes the march. TIL
batteries. admirably horsed are car
lied along at full speed by bacl
chargers rs fine as the finest trotters
As the last cannons disappear, rat
Ting over the pavement behind tn
trees of the Summer Garden, the cour
and its guests go TO breakfast in tn
palace OF the Princes OF Oldenburg
which faces the Champ de Mars; an
the foreigner who follows the Emper
or-his eye still full of his heroic Wis
iou---wonders how man can resist tn
intoxication of such power gathere
in his hand and the temptation whic
must come upon him to let loose thi
superb force against the world, "
comte Eugene Melchoir de Vogue, i
| Hnrnor,s Morngipa