The Monte Vista journal., 1897-12-25
RUSSIAN SOLDIERS.
rMs.n LsAo.No 1sAlrs.
xAsy Essv 1sv - osaN Esvs 1r.ss,ly
- Tssa N Hav,.s,sas 1isAsaas Ma

Recently saw one Of the most i'm
pressive sights It has ever been my lot
to behold. I was in the town Of Sama-
n, On the river volga, In eastern Rus
siA ! had Just rung for the samovar
for our breakfast when heard . sound
outdoors like the tramping Of many
fest. went to the window and looked
out. -a
Down the street saw marching to-
ward NJ the hrst body of Russian sol.
dlers I had ever seen. At the very
hrst glance they impressed me most
strongly. The tall redcoats Of Great
Britain, the crack bersaglieri Of Italy.
Germany's countless troops, prim and
trim to afectation-none Of them re-
eembled these Russian soldiers. The
Cars men had no bright uniforms, no
shining requirements, NO smart caps
OF 1ackets. Their clothes were Of q
rough brownish cloth. There were no
gilt trimmings, no brass buttons even,
nothing to show . soldiers uniform ex-
cept that the clothes were all alike and
trimmed with q little braid. Across
their baciIs were slung their blankets.
and every other man carried tin tea
pot.
The infantry troops of most Of the
European countries must wear nous
taches, and must be clean-shaven other
wise. but Of these Russian soldiers all
wore boards. 1t was not the trim,
pointed beard Of western Europe, eth
er, but the full. tawny-colored beard
that u 10 Enthusiastically Russian
the beard that comes from never shay
Ing. that helps to keep a man warm
when the thermometer Is thirty degrees
below zero.
Presently looked around for the
band. There was none. And saw
why. For In moment ! heard the
faint notes Of a single flfe and then
suddenly the whole troop burst into
singing. Tint wns their music. II
made me think OF the times when prim-
tive peoples went forth to battle sing
ing. and felt, as have SO often felt
in Russia, that had been carried bod
lily back hundreds Of years In the
worlds history. The song Of these
Russian soldiers was timed to their
march. and like chant. strong and re-
sounding, and with risings and fallings
that gave It strange force.
No soldiers that l had ever seen had
the look Of rugged hardness and en-,
durance, Of solidity aud power, Of i'm
perturbable determination, that these
men Possessed. As they marched by
keeping step TO the time OF their war
song, l began to realize why 1t was
that nations called Russia the peace
maker Of Europe" why Germany and
France and Austria WED with one an.
other In seeking the favor OF the grca,
Slav empire. Russia is composed OF
100 nations. from the Lapps Of north
ernmost Scandinavia 10 the Persians
Of India. In n trip Of 800 miles along
the volga l have passed through the
country Of fourteccn different peoples
all Russian.
No victory gained over Russia would
be augfiht but barren one. Was an.
victory ever more triumphant than tina
over the Russians bp PapoleOn? Ye
did any defeat ever bring more ruin
and destruction In It's path than thai
self-sanie victory? And Is there any
nation to-day that would care 10 under
take the invasion Of this empire. now
many times stronger than when tho
great C0rsican found ruin In Its con
quest?
kftef all, II Ii the people Themselves
that give Russia her great military
strength. About 20 per cent. Of this
people are m0uzhlkS (peasants). who
live q lie that would be one Of intOl-
cradle hardship to the lowest class Of
people In the United States. yet thnt
to the mouxhIk In one Of comfort and
plenty. The Russian pcnsant-and the
soldiers are simply peasants doing tenn
porary military service-ilvcs on tea
and black bread for breakfast, tea and
soup for dinner and tea and black
bread for supper. This IL his fare cv'
cry day In the week anil every week
In tie year. And he likes II. His
clothes are the toughest and fcwes,
Ina inable. 4 cotton shirt and trous