The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-11-25
THE FRENCH FOREIGN
HUMAN DERELlOTs WHO FIGHT
UNDER FLEps-DE-LIs.

A Famous Corps in which are Afany
Distinguished Men who wish to Bur,
rhe past IA wars oblision-
Much has been written from time tc
time about the French Foreign Legion
1 that strange mysterious medley Of
men, recruited from nearly every quar-
ter Of the earth. who belong to the
French regiments on service in Alge-
ria. The armies Of all the great pow
ers contain men Of many different ma
J tionalities and Interesting past. but the
French Foreign Legion is made up
almost entirely Of these nondescripts.
In this cosmopolitan corps are to be
sound rubbing shoulders together no
hlemeu and gentlemen who have lost
caste, disgraced officers broken down
bankers and notaries, artists and stu
dents who have failed in life. deserters
from various armies. escaped conyicts.
thieves, plekpockets and men who have
managed 10 cheat the guillotine or the
halter
Many Men % Iaient
Il is certain that there are numer-
GUS Teutons and especially Alsatians
ia the legion, but. then. many Of the
Austrians also put themselves down
as Germans. while Frenchmen who
desire Tor reasons best known to
themselves, to remain utterly unknown
lnscribe themselves as Belgians, Swiss
and sometimes as Italians Among
the adventurers and castaways there
are men who are 10 be- heard discuss
Ing Kant Lei0nitz. and. IN another
connection Wagner in their barrack
'ooms or along the free shaded prin-
fipal street OF sidi-bel-Abbes There
are common legionaries who know five
o. six languages. and who can quote
ancient and modern writer's. Others
are marvellous musicians actors, ac-
sountants. When they die In the col
onies or In battle they are thrown into
hole and covered up. but there is
generally a prayer said over the dead
somrade By somebody who plays the
priest" for the occasion.
In sreh = ,otl..t,on y 49,. .-,.- 4.
,atnra1lv romnsnt rbe -, ~.
"a the corps Is love Of drink A le-
aonary would laugh al the apostles Of
temperance or teetntaligm In AL
esrls ~ hof,Iss 81 gTn. o.n - taa
~ f.s,s sna ~ .ias-a- - .,',,..s'- w.
for dffg centt,nss 81 tbsse ei..',,r
stareae (. is ~ ...rn-sst.a .ha*
eonrsa - kiea-is ,s ds4rsrs.n.s1 L..
oniv II ~ le~lorsr,. ~ sisa = ~
ordinary French mcssman
omesrs and Men AIlke
The officers 81 the French Legion
are in many respects like their men
Many Of them are Of course rank. /
arse and an are as brave al their
men. Their isolated life makes them
studlous. and they are moi above TAX
'ng lessons from ieeionsries noseess-
ing more eruditlon or technical knawi-
edge than themselves. They have am
pointed as one 81 their lecturers
corporal who had been colonel 81 en-
sineers In the Austrian army AL
.hough the iegionarles do not read
many newspapers echoes OF far OF
sventa reach them from time 10 time
md thcy occasionally can each otner
~ the names Of men famous IN the
world beyond Sidi-el-Ahbes. Thus
ierman- -Alsatian named Kirchner was
Usually called the sirdar. IN alnslon
o the post formerly held In Egypt by
he present English commander IN
hief IN South Africa.
,,.,,...,.,..s -
g-.,s. - ''"'
- 4. - y, 'o's ''s'i y 'ne region
A.sa : e.ie mug nay ana aa soon ar