New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-15
THE LATEST AMAZONS.
TALL GIRLS OF LONDON FORM THEM
SELVES INTO AN ARMY.
RIoRs7-soME STORIES OF LEGEND
AIRY GRECIANs

One of the members of the Amazons of London.
an organization composed of women at least six
feet tall remarked the other day that IL the com
Ing century is to be given over to militartsm as
many goomiy predict, it is not hard to imagine
those of their members who strong and mettle-
some forming regiments and volunteering for guard
duty or other garrison service
Ihe Idea or women warriors is old as the Old
est epic. They must have had some actual ex-
istence in prehistoric Greece traditions Of them
are found in all ancient art well as in the
writings of Homer. Hercules IS said to have met
them and to have carried away the jeweled girdle
OF their slain queen, HppOlyte, which trophy had
been gift OF the war god Mars
Legend relates that the Grecian Amazons, having
emancipated themselves from masculine rule.
formed independent colony the northeast
coast of the Black Sea. Their organization was
purely military. and daily drill practsed They
became stanch warriors without losing any Of
their feminine qualities of diplomacy and guile.
borne of by a superior force Of Grecans. The
women affected subsection and docilIty, and were
permitted the freedom of the ships. Suddenly the
Amazon captain gave the signal and they fell upon
the Grecians and slew them to a man.
Ignorant of naval tactics, they unable TO
return to their shores, but drifted to the land
OF the Scythians. They landed and overcame the
inhabitants. who were enchanted by the strange in
vaders, and Immediately proposed truce and
marriage.
A cording to Herodotus. the courtship was some
what delayed by the inability Of the Scythians 10
speak the language OF the Amazons. The difficulty
overcome by the quicker witted women. who
soon mastered the Scythian tongue or enough OF
It, at any rate to accept the wholesale proposal
on condition that they not TO do weaving
cooking OF other household duties. The men con-
scented to the conditions and lived thereafter under
subsection TO the feminine rule
The Amazon girls were not permitted to marry
until they had slain enemies in battle and had
brought back trophies Of victory. Motherhood
was reserved $ honor TO be bestowed on NOSE
who especially distinguished themselves. only
female children. a rule, were reared
The Amazons subdued the greater part OF asa
Minor, and built number OF famous towns among
them Smyrna, Ephesus Magnesfa ana 1heIllsCS d
After opposing Priam Of Troy for many years. tHey
Joined his forces in the Trojan war against
In the early part of the eighteenth century the
King of Dahomey found his Kingdom aInosS ue-
DIeted of lighting men and, being man OF re-
4t-NNH - aiDip IS
cipne would do for the superhuous women OF Jne
couutry-womeu of muscle and endurance ana IN
In 172S the first women regiments were formed,
Their duties first more or less uenlaI oGl
tiles that they became the flower OF the ahonltys an
army. Every three years the young girls were re-
lkeliest recruit his regiments A rev OF tHeiLl
the King married, and they held a hlgh place IN
the army. Others were married 70 mag SoLuers
but the majority were welded TO the IeIch anu
remained celibates on pain OF death. They were
divided into three ranks: The elephant huntresses,
the bunderbuss women and the razor, women,
leader Of the opposing forces They wore unlrorI ms
of blue and white striped cotton, with snort VIDE
Ike their Grecian sisters they reared only the
female children, the males being handed over 10
foster mothers. A large percentage or the women
being ceiibates, and numbers perlsnlng IN battle
a falling OFF r the native population soon DeS9Ine
apparent In 1862 the Amazon troops numbered less
Inn three thousand and after the battle OF Abeo-
kuta they practically ceased to exist