Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1892-12-14
GREAT RIDERS.
MatchlesS Horsemanship of the
CosSaCks of Russia.
Soldiers Who Can Outride the
Circus Performer.

ihipi'cS /" thc Tartar tongue, has
gradually been brought under rigid
military rule, so that at the present
day the descendants of this restless.
warfaring race furnish The Russian
empire with one of the most valuable
elements of the national army. Their
career as freebOotcrs came to AN end
under hc reign Of Ivan W., and since
thqn tlfS hagr rendered excellent SER
vice as scouts and skhhMshcrs, and
their good offices in the protection Of
the frontiers from the Caucasus to
China are almost Invaluable.
They are lisht-armcd soldiers. apd,
according to n writer in the rost-Dls.
patch, above ali, artists on the horse.
they ride their horses as easily bare
back without saddle CT bride AS with
the usual equipments, and always a.
the briskC, trot or the widest gallon.
The "Djighitovka,' As they call their
military code, which prcscribcs the
many hazardous exercises practised by
the COssacks, is calculated to fit the
young cadets, the "Diighites,' for the
hardest and most periIous service rcn.
dered by this branch of the Russian
army. When the cadet has gone
through the intricacics Of the Diigli.
tovka, at which time lie has attained
his 2lst year, he has lost all sense of
difficulty or fear and enters upon his
active reg'mentaI service for four
years.
Among the most commonplace ex-
erciscs which the code prescribcs are
hurdle racing on the part Of the men
armed with sword and gun; shooting
in every imaginable position, as turn
ing backward in the saddle or using
the horse as bulwark to lire from
behind. The latter exercise is por-
tlcuarly interesting. The Cossacks
approach at a mad gOlIop, come TO
sudden stop and jump from thci.,
horses, while the latter, trained as
carefully as the men, lie down with
out word of command and protect
their riders with their tlanks.
The Djighilovka is divided into two
kinds of exercises, the arbitrary and
'le voluntary. The latter embraces Il
line of feats of which the best profess
sionaI circus rider need not be ashamed.
The men jump TO the ground and back
on their horses as they gallop mady
along; they bend way down and lif,
objects from the ground as they tear
over the open fields; they Jump from
one horse to another while the latter
goes at full speed, or they ride along
standing upright in the saddle and
throwing the spear. Ia the latter
case the COssack stands really in lii,
stirrups, which have been previously
crossed back and forth to bring them
on n lcvc with the saddle. Standing
on their heads while charging over an
oren field is by no means an unusual
exercise. Ono shoulder pressed again,,
the saddle, the Cossack maintains hi,
equilibrium by clutching the slrrupa
with boih hands.
The ambulance service with the Cos
sack regiments is limited TO mutual
help. Two mounted mcn on horses
will hold a wounded comrade between
them to remove him from the battle
field. Besides these wonderful feats
of individual lor,cmanship the Cos
sacks execute exploits in groups,
such as a daring rider carrying a com.
radc on his shoulders to fire at high
range.
Cossacli military training comprises
two chief branches, that of handling
the horse, and using either sword or
gun with equal facility and to the
greatest disadvantage of the enemy.
While the regular code exercises are
hazardous enough, the voluntary ones
are always accompanied by great risk
aud danger, and energy aud daunlcss-
ness are as necessary elements as sup.
p'cncss of limb. Much depends also
upon The horses, and, because men
aud animals diiihr materially in pvinl
of natural aptitude, the latter exercises
are not required generally but can be
chosen at will, although the hardest
and most vigorous cadets arc eucour.
aged very literally TO 20 through them
and personal rivalry has much TO do
with developing marvelously fearless
Cossacks for his majesty, the czar.
Accidents, which are bound to &C.
cur now and then, do not diminish
the number of candidates for tina,
course of military training. A Rus
sian proverb says, "Those who cut
wood must not mind if the chips 1y,"
and General Ieydlilz's reply to his
royal master has become proverbial
among the Cpssacks. GLOW is it,"
asked the Car, "that so many men in
your regiment break their nccks?"
"Iour majesty answered ZeydIitz,
mf you desire it it shall be stopped,
but in that case | will not ke RESPONSE
bic for the conduct Of the regiment
when it faces the enemy"
Dn,fuu,lss ranttoI