Evening star., 1900-05-10

less of this incident, he recorded the VOW
related above-though with what precision
II was KEPT the present chronicler is unable
to state.
Rather curious was the VOW Registered Ia.
a French soldier who took part in the
franco-German war Of 1s70-7l 4 very
dear comrade of his having been killed in
action, he Swore an oath on the eye of a
certain battle that with his own hands he
would kill no fewer than a dozen PrlIssianS
or. Iaiilng this, would perish by his own
hahd; sure enough, he kept his word most
lalthIully-for when the time came he shot
twelve of the enemy in succession. narrow
ly escaping with his own life after the alb
normal feat in question.
During the war between north and soutl,
a confederate officer named Hudson vowed
that if he came Ininjured out of the cam
palgn he would marry the first woman he
met on returning to his native town provid-
ing that she was single and willing to ac-
cept him. The gallant but eccentric office.
was spared by shot and shell to so great
an extent that he emerged scatheess from
the war. but the vow was never consume
mated, for by strange freak of fac rba
first woman whom he encountered upon his
return was his own sister so that rafIIral-
ly nothing came Of the extraordinary oath
IN ancient days vows upon the eve of bat
Tie We're Tar more common than is the case
IN modern times. Before the battle oe
Cressy we are Informed that no fewer than
SIN archers, serving under the English ban
ner, registered solemn oaths that In tho
ev, Mt of the battle going against them. they
would thrust their own arrows down rhai-
throats rather than be taken prisoners by
the French Soldiery
On the night before the worId-famous
battle of Alma a Cossack soldier vowed
tnat II he were fortunate enough to be
spared during the fight he would consume
ten gallons Of ale at one sitting directly an
opportunity was afforded him of so doing
The oath, however, proved tragic one for
the Cossack, as his companions arguing
from the utterance of it that he was nos
seSsed OF considerable money fell upon hin,
and stripped him of the pouch Containing
all his worldly possessions and in the
struggle TO regain his property he fell
stabbed to the heart by a treacherous COM
rade. NO '
Most readers of history will rememhar tho
famous seven years war, in which Fred
erlck the Great of Prussia played so i'm
portant "a part. During the progress OF
mat memorable and prolonged campaign a
Bavaflan corporal rejoicing in the name of
hellef SWore an oath that he would not cut
ms hneer nails until the war was over
Ihe worthy corporaPs oath would doubtless
nave been faithfully observed mad not gos-
sip concerning 1t come to the ears of his
commanding officer, who sent for the mar
reprlmanded him severely and ordered him
10 nave MS nails cut in the ordinary course
in accordance with the laws of decency.
Perhaps, however, one of the most curious
vows ever uttered on a battlefield pyas tha
oath recorded by an italian soldier serving
under the banner of the heroic GarihaIdi
ne sWore mat IN the event of his issuing
from lne campaign sound man he wot,ld
at once abandon the army and take priestly
oroefs- he Kept his word. for on the close
robe and died some six years later in an
ooor OF sanctity-having fought in the
cause OF religion valiantly as he had
pdttled IN the cause of freedom.