The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-04-02
The Terrible Tcherkesses-

The Tcherkesscs--th term now most
used in Europe to designate the differ
ent Caucasian tribes-are wild, bel
licose, and rapacious nation. The
Tcherkess is warrior in his very soul,
sly, cruel, and blood-thirsty. The suf-
ferings of an enemy awaken in him
only sensual smile of enjoyment. He
tortures his prisoner, kills him, and
mutilates him terribly. How many
loved comrades have / found with their
arms twisted out of joint. and other
parts of their bodies cut off and stuck
in their mouths! The Tcherkess is not
fanatic, but be is great fatalist; and
now he is in the Russian service be at
tacks with the same ruthless ardor and
blood-thirstines the Mussulman with
whom thirty years ago he used to fight
side by side against the Russians. He
always seeks to attack his enemy on
the sly, but when he does not succeed
in surprising him, he dashes upon him
and displays prodigious courage.
Tcherkess boys are trained from their
tenderest years to ride and handle
weapons. The Tcherkess horseman
will rush at full gallop into small
courtyard, and not turn his horse un-
til he strikes his nose against the wall.
In the same way he will gallop toward
a precipice, and turn his horse only
when his forefeet are over the abyss.
All the Tcherkess games and dances
are of warlike nature. One Of the
most picturesque sights one can i'm
agine is a Tcherkess fete, when these
tall, dark-skinned men, handsome and
muscular, with their swords and pom
iards drawn, execute their favorite
dance, the "Lesginka, around fire,
which, with its red glare, lights up
their strong features and illumines the
surrounding woods. and rocks. A
favorite game is to leap on horseback
over the fire when the flame is at its
highest. All the natives of the Cau
caSus carry arms up to the present day.
and the Russian government finds it
prudent not to interfere with this
usage. Still it must appear strange to
one who travels for the first time in the
Caucasus to find himself surrounded by
people who are all armed to the teeth.
Doubtless the Caucasus is ;,aci6ed, but
travelling there is not completely safe.
The Tatares and Kurds in the southern
Caucasus, and the Jangouches in the
northern districts, often indulge in
brigandage.
In European warfare the Tcherkesses
are very useful on outpost duty and as
skirmishers. Even in open battle they
can make very successful charges. In
the last Turkish campaign it happened
once that trench occupied by the
Turks was attacked BY a battalion of
infantry, but the deadly fire prevent
ing them from reaching the intrench-
ments, order was given to the JAN
gouche militia to mount to the attack,
and they simply dashed upon the enc
my like hurricane, leaped over the
defences, and massacred the Turks in
side.-Harper's Magazine.
A Brain-Racking Situation.
Did YOU ever have three clocks in
your house, all running on different
time? If you want to have a block of
five and tiftccn-puzzle on your hands
day and night, week in and week out,
try the three clocks.
I'm sorry, num-" said the servant
girl of lady who had three clocks, no
two of them keeping the same time,
I'm sorry, mum, but l will have to
give you u weeks warning"
What's the matter, Mary? Isn't
the work light and don't you get good
pay?" inquired the lady.
''Yes, num-" sobbed the girl, "but
those three clocks of yours give me the
headache. I'm always ahead and al
ways behind at the same time. l get
up too early in the morning and stay
in bed too long at the same time. It's
dreadful. I discovered last night that
the three clocks were chasing me all
around the house, trying to kill me.
I'm sorry, mum. but I'll have to go"
The trouble was only compromised
by the lady running the three clocks
on the same time and presenting the
girl gold watch to run Oh whatever
time suitini her best.
Several calculating machines receiv-
ed the gold medal at the Paris exposi-
ton.