Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-25
The Russian Soldier.


Unlike their white Father" the
car, the Russian soldiers are not pro-
fessedIy DESTROYS of a peace congress.
From all accounts they fairly reyeI IN
bloodshed. They We're the last to stop
fighting at Pekin. of them it is told
in this Chinese campaign that in the
frenzy of killing none were spared ann
little children We're tossed from soldier
70 soldier On the points Of bayouets.
CHASTITY Wautonness of the INVESTIGATION
Of slaughter.
The characteristics of this fighting
machine, which the Car Of an the
Ruysias Notwithstanding his profess
sions for peace, is perfectly ready to L.,
loose whenever the opportunity is
offered for extending his domains and
power. are of more than usual interest
at this time when there is general
belief that the world is to hear a great
deal more Of him in the future than N
the immediate past.
Dr.. Nathan NJ Ballad has recently
written an interesting article f,r the
Boston TRANSCRIPT on The russian
soldier ana what has made him" which
throws light upon a warlike host about
which comparatively little Il generally
known. To begin with the Russian
soldier is a fighting fanatic as much as
is the Turk. For God and the Gar"
is his IDEAL TO the Russian the car
is Gods representative on earth.
Neither in the surroundings of his
childhood, duh. cheerless and soddcn.
supersUtous and kept so by the gross
est ignorance, nor in any opportunity
afforded him in after life is there any
thing tending ID make Of him any other
than the tool Of fanaticism. DR.. Ballad
says: HE grows M in that apathetic.
resigned deVil-may-care mood, and his
face shows il. 1t is dull. inexpensive
heavy, coarse. ana withal not hand
some to look at. In six cases out OF
ten 1T is pitted by smallpox and other
wise disigured.
His life in the open air. his arduous
task in the field, make him strong and
enduring. He is satisfied with little.
His diet is the simplest imaginable.
The gentleness and simplicity If
child are his. Hospitable. trusting.
superstitious, devout and loyal. he fire.
quenty INDUCES in acts of brutality
not prompted by malice. but because Of
childish undevelopment-a foolishness
that is at once winning and repulsing.
You can only conjecture and shuddev
at what should happen if ever this
child giant should get some sense ana
turn his gun at his real enemies, He
is not ambitious. however. He lives in
a communistic happy go-lucky sort OF
way, ana will only howl when he is
famished. 1t is the business Of his
ear to see that it rarely comes to this
sober for months, he will sometimes,
during the holidays preceding Lent, 60
on a spree that is as wild as his home
in the woods. He knows no middle
He is either Wretchcdly drunk. or relig-
iously sober. childishIy kind or beastlv
brutal.
LAS a soldier, the Russian is the most
powerful defender any country might
be proud Of Absolutely fearless. he
will stay till the last man near him
has been shot down. unless some
superior authority commands retreat.
He cannot and does not care to rea-
son =
There is million ana half Of him
in Russia just now; million and a
| half Of powerful. enduring, never
thinking, never-doubting men, content
with anything; giants ready to die for
their car. knowing little of patriotism
as the soldiers of this country, think
| ing less Of the reward in the hereafter.
as the Turks; a vast army led by men
with brains and a fair knowledge Of
the modern improvements in the art Of
/ determination. This at the end of this
glorious century, after a peace confer
ence by the ear, who winks at peace
with one august eye and invites, pro-
vokes war with the other"