The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-01
Women of New YOrk's "Domi.
nant Families Organize
A Company of Guards to In.
cIude Their Sons.
MILITIA UNCERTAIN.
Might Side With the Mob in a
Revolution.
"KnickerbOcker Greys" De
signed to Protect Wealth.

New York, Jan. There is to be
another military organization formed
in this city, to be known the Knick-
erbocker Greys, and which is expected
to eclipse the crack Seventh. No one
without q string of grandfathers a mile
long win be able to get in. The old
plan of breaking in with an axe will
not prevail.
The mammas of the young men who
are to become soldiers are at the head
of the movement, and they will engin-
eer it along proper social lines. Some
of them went up to Albany by proxy
and had the organization Incorporated
in the regular way. Among the Wo-
men who figure as incOrpOratOrs are
Mrs. Walter Lispenard Suydam, Mrs.
Edward Curtis and Mrs. George De
Forest.
The Knickerbocker Greys are to be
guard to New Yorks most exclusive
fashionable society; a guard like the
royal guard of Louis XVI, which would
have saved him from the mob if he had
not been believer in the mob him
self.
The Knickerbocker Greys are to be
trained from childhood in the art of the
soldier, who may point q cannon or
take 1t, build a fortress or overthrow 1t,
lead a regiment or follow one and die,
They will be taught the school of the
soldier. tactics and strategy. They will
EedID HOW 70 rue Without SlIIIupS
on war horses, and to charge on tent
pegs with their lances.
Nothing in mob battles can be more
effective than such battles, nothing can
better protect the palace of the wealthy
than the instruction and training of de-
tenders born and reared in them.
THE F<nickerbocker Greys are to be
New YOrk'S guard of the wealthy"
1.-The Money Guard ?" one of the sew
enty-five was asked yesterday.
No" she said, the guard of New
York's dominant families Isn't the
name of knickerbocker Greys express
sive enough"
1.-The dominant families have the mill
itary and the little American guard"
somebody observed.
"Militiamen are like the national
guard of Paris, which didn't protect
Louis Philippe" replied another of the
seventy-hVe. The little American
guard is formed in the common school,
is it not ?'
Have you seriously thought of the
possibility of having to fight against
a revolution like the one which over
threw Louis Philppe?' she added, inn
pulsively.
who knows?" observed a third men,
Der Of the seventy-five.
When Napoleon made of Marie Lou
Use an empress, the old servants of the
guard formed for her a battalion Of
boys under the age of sixteen years.
ises," and they were vain of their title.
Recruited among sons of the person
ages of the court, they were absolutely
devoted to it. Their education could
not weaken in them, as it weakens in
others, the spirit of feaIty which sup
ports thrones and vested privilege
When the Marie Louises were led to
battle they fought like lions.
They did not know when they were
beaten. The veterans regarded them
with anazement The Knickerbocker
Greys will learn, al their first lecture
what the Marie Louises did to deserve
a brilliant page in history.
AriStocratic, every one of the Knick-
erbOcker Greys will be able to hlIv
troops and equip them. The great
trouble of the Royal guardsmen was
that they were poor. A lesson has been
learned.
In a social revolution, the Knicker-
booker GreyS will have an advantage
over the militia that none may under
rate, even in the embryonic form which
their ganiZatiOn has at present
In a drawing room, the KnickerbocI-
er Greys will know how to manage
their swords and to dance, without
tearing with their spurs, the skirts of
the women.
General Rush c. Hawkins. whose
zouaves ghtvaliantly in the civil war.
could train the Knickerbocker Greys ad-
mirably. EIe could be- doubtless in
sympathy with them He has an the
experience which they need, and all the
scerce treatises on war which they may
require.
But a professor of the Berkeley 1vce-
UNI, Prof. White, may be the Knicker-
booker Greys' first drill master. Sew
eraI OF them are alread III his class at
the lyceum.
The boys are enthusiastic They will
nave classes in fencing under Vauthier
at the Fencers' club. classes in ridine
under an ex-offfcer of the British army.
who fought against the Zulus in AFR
ca, classes in art of war from many,
learned tacticians and strategists
Ihey viii wear a grey uniform of
course, similar to that of the cadets.
but with braid in delicate patterns.
There is one difficulty about the
Knickerbocl1er Greys that 1 hadn't
thought Of said one of the seventy
five sadly last night They mustn't be
too exclusive. Will there be enough
for battalion, as they are?''
Whether they are numerous enough
or not, the knickerbOcker Greys, guard
of the wealthy, are an accomplished
fact.