The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-12-03


been invited to visit him on his estate
at Terijoki. In Finland. have never
been able to do SO. His villa. which Is
only twenty minutes drive outside Of
St Petersburg. Ia severely simple. no.
trace Of luxury about It A we'll to
do tchinovnik would hardly be able to
abstain from turning up his nose at Il.
And yet the general Is a millionaire.
But lie is too honest and too proud q
man to employ his wealth in minister
Ing to his own selfish pleasure Such
use for it he would look upon as
absurd.
He has consistently set his face
against pomp and ceremony and en-
deavored even while at the summit Of
honor and power TO preserve the sim
plicity OF the soldier; indeed. Il has
seemed to him simple matter OF duty
that the man who has the leading Of
the army ought ia point Of both CON
duet and manner Of life, to set an ex-
ample to the men under his charge
And even now, when the destinies of
Russia are in his hands when lie -
leading her armies through showers Of
shot and shell, when his name is daily
upon thousands and thousands Of lips
all the world over and heads the col
umns of all tile newspapers In exist
ence-even now he L. distinguished by
the same outer simplicity. No recherche
dishes, no choice wines are allowed to
appear on his table; he makes ne claim
for special comforts, but leads the
simple soldiers life. He shares the diff
ficuIties and troubles Of his men, takes
an interest Ia the well being Of each
company. sees to 1t that no man wants
for anything, visits the sick In the hos
pital, speaks words Of kindness and
encouragement to GIL, has time for ey-
erything and IL at all times and under
all circumstances calm and unrnffied.
Once when | was dining with Gen
eraI Kuropatkin he had as guest q
colonel who had recently returned
from Fashoda. After dinner the latter
was to present to the minister of war
two Cossacks who had exhibited unu-
sual proofs Of courage and presence Of
mind By swimming across the Nile on
some important errand. Kuropatkin
invited me to accompany him to wit
ness the ceremony. which was then
about to take place. The Cossacks
were waiting in the vestibule, each
wearing the gold medal which be had
that day received from the car The
general at once addressed the two men
In d short speech. thanking them fer
the example they had set to their com
rades in the army. and then gave to
each man as memento a gold watch
In a case and q roll OF gold rubles.
Every body who has been brought In
to personal contact with General Kn.
ropatkin must acknowledge that II
would be difficult to meet with more
amiable and attractive personality.
What most impresses one about the
powerful vet harmonious nature Of the
man Is the air Of unruffled calm and
serenity which sits upon his features
Els face bears the unmistakable stamp
OF goodness. consideration and self con
troll Never has q deprecatory word
been uttered about him behind bis
back, and never has a Russian general
been regarded with greater confidence
and love By all, from the car himself
down to the maanest soldier I'll the
ranks. He win have nothing to do
with favoritism or nepotisn; he Is
known for his ineorruptible sense OF
justice. and In making his promotions
he has never been guided BY any other
considerations except those OF merit
and capacity. # he has any favorites
at all tn the army. they are the simple
cossacks. lie has never abused his
power, His own brother. whom niel
at Osh in 1902, was then filling very
subordinate post as pomoshnIk or as
sistant to the district chief Of thai
small and Insignificant town. whicl
might indeed almost be regarded al /
place Of deportation ii the heart q
Asia.
have heard people express aston
ishment that General KuropatlSlr
should carry icons, or sacred Images
with him to the seat of war In the fal
east. But 1t must not be forgotten thai
General Kuropatkin Is q genuine 0rtho
dox Russian OF the old stamp, and
notwithstanding his intimacy will
western Europeans, especially French
men. he has always remained a Rus
sian. at the same time believe he Il
much too practical man to put bis
trust in sacred images alone Nobody
will. suppose. dispute tie fact that he
liz the ablest Of living Russian strate-
gists and commanders.