Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-02-01

of the most famous battles OF the late
war. When Curtin was Minister to
Russia he went into Asia upon invita-
ton of the Emperor to look at some
Notifications. 1t was about the time
of the Turkish Russian war, and Cur
tin, who was an enthusiastic military
man, enjoyed the contact with an es-
sentially military people. One day he
accompanied his friends to q military
school to listen to o lecture to be given
to the Cossack students. The students
tumbled in, one by one, wrestling and
romping and then took their seats.
Mr.. Curtin and his friends took back
seat. Behind the platform was drop
curtain, and upon this was painted
battle scene. The old gentleman
rubbed his eyes with amazement, for
the scene looked strangely familiar.
And yet, he fancied, it could only be o
coincidence. There was the farm
house, the wheatfeld and other we'll
known details of celebrated Amer
lean battlefield. 1t was impossible, he
thought, this field should be repro
duced in far-away Asia for the benefit
of the students. Then the lecturer
appeared.
young men, he said to the Cos
sacks, II have to describe to you to-
day the most celebrated battle of mod
ern times; cohict in which the high
est resources of civilization were APP
parent; battle which will go down
through history as the most marvel
lous contest of the generation-I al
lude to the battle of Gettysburg,
which was fought in America"
Mr.. Curtin sprang up in his seat Ill
enthusiasm. With his intimate rela-
tions with Lincoln and the military
powers in his own country, no man in
America had q better idea OF the great
battle in all it's details than Pennsyl-
vania's Ex-Governor. He made his way
to the front seat and there remained,
listening with the greatest interest.
The lecture lasted for three hours and
not q point did the lecturer miss. Only
one man in America had such COM
prehensive, broad and scientific knowl-
edge of the battle, and that was Mr..
Curtin himself, so it was no wonder
that his amazement increased as point
after point was 80 unerringly developed
by the lecturer. Not a sound was
heard during the wonderful recital.
When the lecture was finished, Mr..
Curtin was introduced to the speaker.
The latter expressed his pleasure at
meeting the celebrated American who
was so intimately connected with the
inside history of the war Of the rebel.
lion.
"This evening"" said Mr.. Curtin, II
have been more surprised than at any
time before in my life. I have heard
here in PARKWAY Asia a lecture more
complete and scientific on an American
theme than could have been delivered
by any military man in my own coun-
try, where the battle was fought"
The lecturer bowed.
"You fatter me, honored sir"
"Let me ask you one question; how
has it been possible for you to have
delivered that lecture here, so COM
plete and perfect, when such q thing
is not possible in my own land"
II will tell you, sir" said the lee
turer. "Just after the battle the Rus
sian Government, realizing that it
would be an object lesson in warfare
for generations to come, sent three of
their most expert military men to
America. They surveyed the entire
battlefield and secured every detail.
well, sir" remarked Mr.. Curtin,
"let me tell you that in Asia you have
more remarkable and perfect sys-
tenn of military instruction than I have
seen anywhere else in the world, No
wonder the Cossacks are called ma
ton of warriors"
It is to be regretted that Mr.. Curtin
was not made known to the students,
for he could have given them much
information regarding the inside mill
tary history of the late war.
Il can vouch for the truth of this
episode, " said the story teller to the
Detroit Free Press, "for Mr.. Curtin
told me about it himself"