The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-04-10
For the Eagle:

For the Eagle:
So intense and partisan has become the
interest of the general public in the con-
f1ict now waging in the Far East. or. TO
be more exact, in Corea and the border
lands of Manchuria. that local news and
even national affairs are ignored until the
war bulletins have been first read or
discussed. Naturally. the Hveliest inter
est is manifested in the morals. customs,
religions and personal perfections or i'm
perfections of the rank and file of both
nations. For the staying qualities Of the
soldier through hardships and adversely
can be more accurately gauged by his
home life in times of peace than by phys
ical perfections and an endless drill.
The history of the world from time i'm
memorial down 10 the present day bear
out this assertion. Leonadus and his i'm
mortal band were times without number
emulated by the humble Beers in their
recent struggle for seif-government; and
doubtless very few Beers ever head OF
the Spartans. Still it was the same i'm
pulses and ties that stoutened the hearts
and nerved the arms of each
The weekly magazines and the perio0I-
Gals, the Sunday editions of the great
daiIies, have been filled with articles de-
voted to a portrayal of Japan's fighting
man; but, very little has been printed
about the Cars lighting man as he is
seen at home.
I never will forget my first impress
sion Of the Cossacks, whom at home and
abroad. are considered the flower Of the
Russian army. l was lad of fifteen and
with my father. mother and brothers
and sisters lived near the village of Sleg-
mover. in Russian Poland. Our neighbors
were mostly Roman Catholics who. for
services rendered the Czar, had been
granted many years prior to nay story a
Royal patent of immunity for their
church which was located near the cen
ter of the village. At the time OF which
1 write, 1890 a great religious revival
was engrossing the attention Of the en-
tire neighborhood-village coming for
many miles and even distant conmnni-
ties to participate. A beggar ragged and
destitute, so it was said, had crawled 10
the church door and there had offered up
fervent prayer, and as a sign his prayers
had been heard. many Of the neighbors
affirmed that the church had been sud-
denly lighted, mass started and heavenly
music waited out on the still night air
Now, when the governor hearu of this
religious fervor he was exceedingly wroth
and sent a body of Cossacks to res1late
affairs. They came one night and sur
-1zsf. I'll Of
devout ,worshippers, and when the Gordon
was complete, many dozen troopers rode
their steeds into the crowded edihce
Draining and bruising the neads OF the
congregation with the ends of their load
ed quirt= When, at length they drew
tired of such diversion. the church was
pulled down and not one brick left TO
mark where the bloody deed had been
done The soldiers were quartered on
the surrounding country until all provi-
sions and prOvender were practically ex-
hausted. when they were moved 10 some
new field of activity. TWO of these men
were quartered in my employers house.
and two fiercer. uglier or more overhear-
ing ruffians it has never been my lot TO
meet. They took great pleasure in terri
lEiIS CfiiuItH ana DH way VI Spuit spear
ed every chicken and other animal on the
place. 1t was their custom 10 drive their
prey into the open. then charge and spear
the fowl or beast while on the dead run.
They were at this sport when first
saw them and when l cried to them to
stop, for it was my pet cat they were
chasing, one speared poor Tom and held
him wriggling aloft like a perant OF his
lance while the other. with leYeled lance,
charged down on me and passed by so
chose shave that I was thrown into con
vulsions- In the large cities these troops
are ont quite so rude. but many were the
times in Beilestok that I have watched
them buying bread. The women. for II
is mostly women who sell bread, when
making a sale TO a Cossack, will invar-