The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
AMAzONS OF LITHUANIA
FIVE HUNDRED WILL WELCOME THE
KAISER To EAST PRUSSIA,
And Form His Body Guard When He
Visits His Summer Hunting Grounds
Girls Who Ride Astride.
81. Louis Republic.

of Prussia are forming into a cavalry regi-
ment TO offer Emperor William a right
royal welcome when he repairs 10 his sum-
mer hunting grounds In Rominten Prairie
at the close OF the present yachting season.
They are Lithuaniaps-of the race that
became famous under the JagelIons, and
their homes are in the Districts of Gumbin-
nen and Koenigsberg. between the Baltic
sea, Russia and Poland.
The male Lithuanian Is not given to dem
onstrative patriotism; he doesn't recognize
g King OF Prussia at all. much less a Ger
man Emperor. Intensely provincial and for
ever living in the past. he looks upon Will
liam simply as his Duke-the Duke of
ancient Borussia.st. e., the land adjacent
to Russia As such he honors him. and
because William buys all the horses that
can be raised in the big plains. for his
cavalry. he regards him las a good thing"
generally, but further than that, he has no
use for his Majesty. Hence the efforts of
the provincial governors. Count Bismarck,
the son Of the late chancellor. Baron Won
Tischowa and Herr Hegel. to get up some
SORT of popular welcome for the Kaiser upon
the occasions of his semi-annual visits to
the province have always fallen fat.
This spring Count Bismarck decided to
address his appeal to the country women,
and. brave girls that they are, they re-
sponded most joyfully, every mothers
daughter Of them. In less than a week
ever six hundred girls and women offered
their services for a demonstration of a kind
such as the century has seldom seen. True
to the customs of our ancestors, we will re-
ceive his Majesty at the frontiers Of our
the Gumbinnen' district, and from there
conduct him TO Rominten in triumph" they
told their councilmen and parsons. but we
make one condition; our duke (meaning the
Kaiser) must have no other body guard.
During the time Of his stay in our country
we want to be his soldiers. We will garri-
son his castle, will beat the game for him,
will attend him on his trips round the
country and see him"
Count Bismarck communicated with the
Emperor's court marshal TO find out
whether or not the offer proved acceptable.
The court marshal wrote: 1T all depends
on tie girls; go and look them over" So
his Excellency invited his fair petitioners
to meet him at Trakehnen. the celebrated
horse farm, and at the same time arranged
with the governor of the place for the loan
OF a hall. But IL the hall had been as big
as Madison-square Garden it couldn't have
accommodated the assembly, for every one
VI Tie WU Llluuduldn ldUleS came on nOTSe-
back. many bringing led horses to boot, and
all insisted upon attending the council seat
ed on their chargers. Such has been the
custom of the country for hundreds, per-
maps a thousand years and more, and the
Lithuanian rarely changes his habits r
never foregoeS a privilege.
THE OFFER ACCEPTED.
There was an open air meeting then. and
Count Bismarck, who is already a little stiff
IN his joints. had to mount a FLOODED horse
despite his rheumatism and make a speech
from the saddle. President Hegel, of the
Clmbinnen district, translated the address
into the old Prussian tongue, for the Lii
thuanians do not understand German. and a
regular exchange OF views followed with
this result:
The provincial government accepts the
services OF the Lithuanian ladies with a
view OF selecting from them 500 to make up
formed In the national dress of the country
and select its own officers, subject to the
approval OF the president of the district.
Members of the regiment furnish their
own horses and such officer or subofficer is
entitled to have a led horse. The horses
may be put out to grass on the royal es-
tates, but oats must be provided by their
owners. The name and style of the regi-
ment Is Imperial Mounted Women volun-
teers; It's members are entitled to the ordi-
nary soldiers mess. but receive no pay"
AS animated, the negotiations that pre-
Scdc the laying DOWN ana ACCEPTANCE of th4
above rules were conducted on horseback,
from mouth to mouth. The proud Lithuan,
ians wouldn't allow a piece of paper to
stand between them and their "Duke;'
moreover. they wouldn't accept any agree
ment that wasn't written In their own OBJ
solete tongue. which 'Waywode' Count Bis
Things having been arranged, the native
women gave an impromptu exhibition of
tneir norsemanship. and after a drink of
mead. a strong fermented liquor made of
money and water richly spiced, scampered
on In groups and In many directions TO re-
turn 10 their homes in the great fiat. broken
oy numerous streams and beautiful forests.
Iney nave been drilling under their head
men twice a week ever since. and as these
hsadmen nave invariably seen military serv-
zee, either as privates or noncommissioned
oincers., they are well able to teach the
girls their business. OF late Count Bis
marek ordered reviews OF the different
OF of1cers OF the cavalry reserves and the
reports received are most encouraging. The
rev,ewlng of1cers agree that they never met
WIN recruits exhibiting so much intelligence
and skill in the handling Of horses and in
ooeylng signals Every second girl or wom-
an would make an efficient HHugelnan n
they cried enthusiastically. elf there was
any need OF them" The 1ugelman. Won NAV
Know. Is a sort OF crack soldier. whose
ously follow.
OBJECT TO INFANTRY DRILL.
The only complaint recorded is the girls
aversion TO exercise on foot. 1--WE have Of
iered TO serve his Majesty as his mounted
foooy guard, they say-"it's out of cur line
10 play at infantry" Count Bismarck had
TO acknowledge that. and slow-time march,
ing and other "lowly' drills were dropned
Tor more moving exercises covering a great
oeai OF space In a short time.
The drill decided upon is the formation
or squadrons. companies and sections
mounting Of the guard. taking hurdles.
Fences and bitches. attack en- masse. de.
ploy and rally and finally attend to the
As their whole life is spent on horseback
~ sIris could give points TO the reviewing
0incers IN most or these exercises. These
Litnuantans scrambl upon a pony as soon
as their legs are long enough TO hold on
tney learn to tend large herds OF cattle
before they know their prayers. and they
can WELD a three-yard whip sooner than a
cooking spoon.
Learned men claim that the lithuanian
game originally from India and that their
language Sanscrit. That NAV
De true or not; certain IL Is that these far
away Prussian subjects, in one respect al
least. resemble the Hindu women. Like
tnem. they wouldn't think OF mounting a
In a saddle is an object OF the greatest
curiosity and wonder In their country: moth
ing can persuade them that she isn't a
freak or a professional circus rider.
unlike the peasant women OF other parts
the Ld~thuanians wear skirts reaching near
~ 70 the ground. which shows that their
clothes are primarily adopted for riding. The
UNIFORM OF the amazon regiment follows the
nauonal dress common In old Prussia In AL
respects The troop has been divided into
nve squadrons. recognizable by the cclor OF