The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-23

likely TO get into the army a. well as nearly
all the strong minded women, the viragos,
the nnfaithfni wives and the unfortunate
females Who. Judged by the standards of
the country, are wholly unattractive and
undesirable ~ = part Of the household
furniture. Before . man can wed he
must send the lady Of his choice
10 the king, who. il il pleases
him. drafts her into the army without any
regard for the feelings of the despoiled
bridegroom. The army Is n convenient
receptacle for women whose husbands. for
one reason or another, desire To get rid of
them. II IL curious fact that while an
Amazon can never wed. married women
who enter one Of the regiments are a.
lowed TO maintain relations with ther hus-
bands. but all their female children are
Amsxons from birth. and the only future
before them Is the cell bate life OF the sol
der
Whenever the Amasons are on parade a
show corps - seen. composed OF little girls
10 or Is years of age. who march with toy
weapons. dance and sing. and live with the
warriors. but do not go on campaigns with
them until they are strong enough to han
die . hlntioek. They are the tmazons Of
the future. undergoing process of harden
ing discipline. brutalaxing alike TO mind
and feelings. which shall ft them 20 take
their places among the fierce women fight
crs OF nahomey.
Strange lives these women lead In the
streets of the capital and on the highways
OF the kingdom they are more isolated from
the other SET than any nun. The man who
darcs tn keep the road when Q squad
oil amssons approaches pays for his
temersty with his life. The well known
tinkie of the amazon bell makes proclama-
ton 10 all the male creation that n Is high
time so skarry down the bywsys or ingiors-
ously retreat TO avoid meeting the kings
warriors. skcrtchly said IL made his blood
boil 10 be compelled TO stink out Of view
like thief whenever he heard that osiious
bell: and tho rsoadest moment Of his life
vas when he was able boldly to face these
assonsshcd dsmsels. and thrust before their
eyes the kings lion stick. which showed
that he had ~ good right 90 his ma iesty s
Highways a. any amazon, and could even
stare her cut of eonntenaaee II IL afforded
htin amusement OF course on pubic oc-
casions. when the amazons are ont
Tor exhibition purposes. all the world
may look At them. bus al other
Zines IL hehooves the lords 81 ere
alton. from the crown prince % the hum
hless slave TO take TO the woods Il they see
these mighty beings approaching.
fhe fair usfrsosx OF naholney have no
menial drsdgsry Ia dun the tine edge II
their martial spirits Women captured in
var. and not . few females too OF their
osn people. are cocks and water carriers
| and hexsss nj harden for the Amazon regi.
naenss. She IL indeed lucky soldier
whom the king promotes 10 the most
sscsed precincts OF the palsce. for she be-
comes ere et the Leopard wives. aud has
| privileges nos conceded Ia the rest OF the
Fova hoasehold. Perhaps. however. she
has yeaFninrs rev and then for the cd
lsse. when she shossstered = maskei, dressed
/ la uniform ct sarieessed eosors, incaua.
| ing Jacket. skirt. cross STRAPS nsd leather
ammunition bag. and staggered along the
rad sa1as all the gentlemen ~ the king
ssoFn sranpcres for dear lite Rarsoa ssys
| the framing cE the Amssons hexsss la theta
bold, Tree manner. and = swa rrer in their
gait which has no resemblance o. the cowes
and aaassae bearing al sncsf negro women.
fnder~n1ent ard favored as sa@ar posi-
tien IL In sorae respects. life Is not exactly
p~ssnnsAl psente tor the three Amazon
rsxsa~ns<. II they are ros drilling s-
ssnvsns or nshssns fsss shs kiag, they are
| spt 10 hx scattered Tar .na wssie on haass
ies ivory. or ia esfssx sass scdlng 10 Aas