Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-09-08

tne IeindleS ndu tnelr rlBnt breasts
burned out in childhood. that they
might not be hampered on reaching
the fighting age, in the use Of javelin
and bow. The original AmaZons,
whether real or tabled, began their
warlike training at a very tender age.
In the dawn of womanhoOd they took
the field and had no difficulty in rOut-
ing or slaughtering the male legions
sent against them. From their home
in Cappadocia, along the river Their
modon. they spread 10 the Caspian
sea. and never knew defeat till they
Joined hands with the poor, old Trojan
Priam, and went down before the
Greeks. Their degeneracy as fighters
began when they drifted to Scythia,
and made a matrimonial compromise
with that country's young men.
Legend relates that the Grecian
Amazons, having emancipated them
selves from masculine rule, formed an
independent colony on the northeast
coast OF the Black sea. Their organi-
Zation was purely military. and daily
drill was practised. They became
staunch warriors without losing any
OF their feminine qualities Of diplo-
macy and guile Early in their his
tory they Were overcome and borne off
by superior force OF Grecians. The
women affected subjection 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 were un-
able 70 return TO their own shores, but
NVff ffNI 81 Ir.,.. a
landed and overcame the inhabitants,
who were enchanted by the strange in
Vaders. and Immediately proposed a truce
and marriage
According To Herodotus. the courtship
was somewhat delayed by the inability
of the Scythians 10 speak the language
of the Amazons, The difficulty was over
come by the quicker witted women who
soon mastered the Scythi1n tongue or
enough OF II, at any rate. 70 accept the
wholesale proposal on condition that
they were not To do weaving, cooking or
other household duties. The men con-
sented 10 the conditions. and lived there
after under subjection To the feminine
rule.
The Amazon girls were not permit-ed
70 marry until they had slain enemies in
battle and had brought back trophies Of
victory. Motherhood was reserved as an
honOr 70 be bestowed on those who eS-
pecially distinguished themselves. Only
female children, as a rule were reared
The Amazons Subdued the greater part
OF Asia Minor, and built a number OF ia
nous towns, among them SMYRNA Epe-
sus, Magnesia and ThemiScvra After
opposing Pridm OF Troy FOR many years
they Joined his forces in the Trojan war
against Greece.
In the early part or the 18Th century
the King of Dahomey found his kingdom
almost depleted OF fightinS men, and be-
ing man OF resource, he resolved 10
see what training and discipline would DO
for the superfiuOus women OF the coun-
try-women OF muscle ana endurance and
undoubted bravery.
At present these ebony Amazons num-
Der about 5VS and are the fighting main
stay OF his realm Men soldiers in num-
Der about 400. are a supplemental lOt Df
military rifraff. far inferior 20 their
martial sisters in appearance dress fig
ure. activity and courage Entering in
70 training at Il, these ferocious ladies'
become regulars at n But they live on
numerously attended by cooks and SER
wants, and hedged about with almost
royal dignities. As the Kings household
guards they are divided into different ef-
tecIiye corps, the Blunderbuss Grenadiers,
the elephant huntresses. the razor" wom-
en-, or short sword brigade. the infantry
trery elite). and the archeresses, com
posed OF young girls carrying quiVers and
70 their wrists.
Individual cases OF splendid prowess on
me battlefield ddorn the feminine annals
Of nearly every land. Too well known
ments OF Joan of Arc. clad in male ar
NOR. leading the French hosts as they
as she scaled the walls OF Orleans 10 be
stricken down by an arrow in the shOul-
dena ger, when ,5 she drew forth with her own
hahd ana returned to victorious charge:
OF Augustine, the famous Maid OF Zar-
agozd, IN Spain, who caught the match
from the hands Of 4 dead gunner, fired
his 2t-pounder al the besieging French
during the Napoleonic wars and held her
heroine 10 ~,
French retired leaving the maid TO draw
the Pay for an drtillerymdn for life and
wear 4 shield OF honor embroidered on
her sleeve; OF Maria Barbosa, that rO-
mantic hgure OF the recent rebellion in
brdzil. who. sword and Crucitix in hand
led The rebels captured towns, killed
huhdreds OF republicans, melting her fol-
lowers 70 uneXdmpled heroism BY her
beauty and ferOcious courage; or Jose
phlne RiZdl, one of the women warriors
OF the Philippine rebellion against Spain
who vowed that scores of Spanish lives
Shouid pay for her martyred husba nd g
death. and who fought with a reckless
dash and courage that made good her
vow.
lovely Theroigne de Maricourt were con-
spicuous figures in the battles OF the
French Revolution, and Renee Bordereau
the immortal heroine OF the war in Ven
ments. Forty-two members of her fam
Ily fell in the French Revolution. Her
AuN4iS4 was tul uOWn DE neN SIDE. In one
encounter a a bridge she defeated n OF
her enemies single-handed. Napoleon 50
reared her influence that when he sub
dued Nendee he threw her into prison:
but she was released when the empire
fell Another French woman Marie
ScAe!Ienck fought in the armies Of Ma
poleon. and 50 distinguished herself on
me heId Of Austerlitz that he gave her
the cross of the Legion Of Honor. and
granted her later d fat pension for life
flentiiul enough, too, are the non-com-
mlssiOned soldier heroines of England
OF these the most famous is Christina
Davis, who fought in the Marlhorough
campaigns. She enlisted in disguise to
find her husband. To protect her dis
guiSe she had to fight a duel After sew
erai wounds in battle she Joined the cav
airy under Marlborough. winning golden
opinions for her courage. till the grand
climax came when she was wounded
again at Families. and the news spread
through the army that she was a woman
She was toasted right and left They
found her husband the regiment gave
them a new wedding when the officers
claimed their right to kiss the bride. and
the men in the ranks cheered themselves
hOarse. From that on the two fought
side by side, till her husband fell at NAL
iaquet At the great Marlborough's fu-
neral she marched behind the coffin with
her regiment, tears streaming down her
cheeks, and was buried when her own
time came with military honors.
Hannah Small. another English girl
led the troopers al the siege of Ponui-
cherry. in India, and at another siege
fought seven successive days and nights