The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-30

handed swords club fashion over the heads of
the Saracens. The latter used the cmeter-
the most effective sword for emitting ever de-
vised. With straight sword you can make a
hack: but in order to slice your adversary, you
must saw with it. csmeter on the other
band, being curved and wide and heavy toward
the end. slices by the mere fact of striking.
Readers of The Taisnan " will recall the
feat of the Pagan monarch who responds to
King Richards coup de force of chopping bar
of iron in twain with single sword. blow by
slieing stuffed cushion in two with stroke
of his cmetcr. The Cimeter has always been
the favorite type of weapon in Oriental coun-
tries. and its principle is adopted in the United
States cavalry saber, which is curved for the
sake of the cutting stroke in a charge On the
contrary, the infantry sword is straight, being
meant for thrustug. The artillery saber is
meant for cutting only. aud is considerably
more curved than the cavalry saber, which is
intended also for thrusting.
1t IS stated bya military authority that there
are few war customs which do not have their
origin aud explanation in the artificial promo
ton of courage. This is even true MS to the
details of costume. Tho Emperor Valerius
MaxImus is said to have adopted red uniforms
Tor the Roman soldiers, in order that they
should not be frightened by the sight of their
own blood. To this day children in England
are told that this is tho reason why French SOL
hftl5 wear Itu NtDuhtEs. anu FIeUCN CHlilIeh
are taught the same thing regarding the red
coats OF tho British. Bearskin hats were orig
inally adopted by the French curassiers TO
make them look taller and so scare the enemy
These cuirasscrs each carried into battle =
handful of hand grenades, which they throw
about. IL was long time before soldiers be-
came reconciled to tho use of such explosives
regarding which Chevaier Bayard remarked
that 10 was "a shame that a man of courage
NhDnit bp K ilip6 nv sueh paf1 rin gtru.
mcGi."
The ancient Romans often practiced the arti-
fee of looking fierce on the field Of battle in
the skins Of bears. For the same purpose they
put on their flags, shields. and helmets figures
OF frightful birds and beasts. and from this
origin sprang crests and armorial bearings.
The Cimbri defeated by Marus wore on their
helmets the heads of great animals with
their mouths open. to intmidate the Romans.
And in the 18th century ii was the duty OF
pages in England TO keep the knights armor
very bright, so that their breastplates and
shields might shine like mirrors and give them
as terrifying an appearance as possible
The primitive use of what is now the sash
worm by officers in the army was TO carry tho
wearer, when wounded, of the field. 1t was
very wide, and the task was performed by two
fellow soldiers, one taking one end and the
other the other The army glove is the CANT
let OF the ago of armOr-Ouly that In those
times the leather was sewn all over with pieces
OF metal There are many curious suFVivals
in military cvolutions and the manual of arms.
For instance, when you present arms, il means
that you do honor 10 the person saluted by
Offering to give up your gun To him. The idea
of the salute is that you throw the load ont of
your gun as token of amity. Formerly sa-
lutes were fired with shotted guns. but by ac-
cldent Prince was killed in this compliment
airy way on one occasion, aud ever since then
blank charges have been used.