Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-24
The Future Soldiers.


The Future Soldiers.
And, with their tongues made heavy by
drink. these unhappy ones stammer the
words which they have been told to utter,
and which are to express their happiness.
Their relatives are still outside, in the snow
With eyes REDEEMED by crying, the women
keep staring at the door. Finally it opens
and the future soldiers come out with I'M
safe step. but frightened into assuming a
bold air. Now the lamentations of the moth
erS and women and girls commence anew.
Some throw themselves on the neckS of
their relatives and howl in anguish; others
try to bear their sorrow silently; others
courage the most afflicted. Mothers and
wives knew it all the time, but now they
are sure of it. that for three. four and five
years they will be without their natural sup
porters. Who can blame them for crying
aloud? The fathers do not exhibit their sor-
row. they keep quiet. but it breaks their hearts
to know that never again will they see their
children as they have known them all their
lives. for. even if they do come back, they
will not be obedient and diligent as hereto
fore. but fellows stepped in vice, ashamed
of simple pursuits and afraid of work
In the evening all mount their sledges
again and off they are for the inns and sa-
looms The drunken bowling and singing
but also the lamentations of the mothers
and women, become more pronounced,
louder, more disgusting as it mikes with the
music of the concertinaS and the curses of
the drivers. Again the drunken bachanal
begins and continues until the last piece of
money is spent The government makes
quite nice sum out of these sinful pro-
ceedinSS, for the mere vodka is drunk the
larger are the dues paid into the treasury.
Early in the morning they arrive at their
homes. where the recruits are allowed to
remain for two or three weeks longer. Most
of them are in a beaStly state of intoxica-
ton all this time One fine morning, how
ever, the chief herdsman let's loose his dogs
of war and drives the whole outfit off in the
direction of the garrison. The military
course then begins.
The drill masters have been peasants as
their apprentices; the only difference be-
tween them is that the older soldiers have
suffered under the prevailing system of fraud
and intimidation for two or three years and
are more like beasts than men. Their means
of education lies, coarseness and inso-
lence, vodka and beatings. Before the year
is over the young man from the country,
bCdy and soul, is as much of Il beast as his
master
l asked one of the young recruits: what
would you do if your father. who had been
given into your charge for some offense or
another, should try to escaDe?"
Il would run him through with my bay
onet," he answered, churli5hly, in harsh
voice. such only a Russian soldier can
assume. And If the caitif should get away
from me, in the name of the car, ! would
shoot him down a dog" he added, very
proudly, having mastered his lesson well.
If boy has sunk lower than a beast he
is just in a condition of mind to serve his
masters best being Z perfectly developed
fool. ready to be sent to the devil, COM
pletely lost to humanity. tool of despolia-
ton, murder. matricide, tool such as
tyrants require.
And all this happens every winter. in all
the towns of Russia, liz bright daylight, in
the presence and with the knowledge of all.
And the deceitful practices employed are 50
clever that nobody can escape them, even
If all See through the thing and abOrlinate
1t. COUNT LEO TOLSTOI.