The Washington herald., 1908-08-26
By RUpoLPH DE zAPP.


The War Department is taking a deep !
interest In the restoration Of the sword
by the German and British armies. As
the result Of experiences OF officers in the I
Boer war. Great Britain relegated the
sword entirely 10 parade uses. In its
place officers were supplied with a small
carbine. something like the ancient fusil.
which they were 10 carry n actual serv-
Ice. Officers were made 10 look ike en-
listed men as much as possible. Those
long distance marksmen. the Beers.
picked out the officers by the fash OF
their swords. and consequently the nor
tality among holders Of commissions was
great. 10 the Generalization OF the men
IN the ranks. Germany, for similar rea-
sons. took the sword from officers and
armed them with a small rifle Il be
came a theory that all wars are fought al
long range and the sword is Of no value
as weapon As a result OF the Russian
japanese war. however. the sword has
been restored by Britain and Germany.
when Reeds Sufficed.
DISTINGUISHED leaders in many battles
were without weapons. 8Idrat found a
riding wand sufficient for his purposes in
directing the charge of the Napoleonic
cavalry He very seldom wore sword
Chinese Gordon pointed the way Of the
ever-invincible army with a bamboo
cane and doubtless other Instances might
be cited Of generals who IN service never
drew q sword for any purpose other than
20 return a salute.
Something Of the history and general
significance OF the sword may prove Of
interest az this time Of war and peace
aCirari1Is everywhere
Il is in the East that the sword test IS
most Eiorifed IN history and romance.
With tender scrutiny the Oriental swords
man examines his blade for those marks
which. briefly described as wat tering'- or
grain" are indicative 10 him who knows
of a skill and patience dsfying descrip-
ton and a zeal which regards all ques-
ton Of gain with contempt BY these
markings iu the FIRST place, is the blade
judged and each pattern formed By the
successive foldinEs and weddings Of the
steel has its distinctive name In Japan
the acme Of attention IS bestowed on the
steel
A blade composed Of 41e43of layers of
steel and highly polished Is a japanese
military luxury. A hair dropped across
the edgerw0uId be divided. No such sen
tie tests were those Cf the fierce Nura-
masa. who forged his swords TO the cry
Of 'Tenka tairan" 5War 20 mem. and
shins6 them in The warm blood OF human
victims
Welded in Massacres.
So terrible was the slaughter effected
by these semi-human blades that their
use was prohibited by one OF the Toku-
gawa ShoEuns. and thereafter they were
consigned TO grim repcse in sullen dis
content IN the sword-rack- Minor smiths
were content 10 pile Up copper coins and
display an edge uurufied after cleaving
the stack or 20 cut through a haIf-inch
copper bar. But NJ the customer were
stU unsatisded he might bribe the town
execUtoner ard test the sword on the
body Of a criminal. and Il he doubted his
own skill. cause his weapon 10 be used IN
the execution itself. when. II the blade
were "a good one, IL would cut through the
neck OF the victim. and perhaps even
through his Blended knee.
The sword. says Nahomet. is the
key OF heaven and he'll 4 drop Of blood
shed in the cause Of Cod. 2 night spent
in arms. is Of more avail than two
months of fasting or PRAYER Whosoever
falls in battle. his sins are forgiven at
she DAY OF Judgment his wounds shall be
respIelde1t as vernilion and odorits7Cus
as musk and the loss Of his limbs shall
be supplied by the wings Of angels and
cheruhin1s-
sword Scythians' God.
The uouadic tribes Of Northern Asia,
whom Herodotus described under the
name Of Scythians. from the earliest
times worshiped as their sod a bare
sword That sword-god was supposed. in
Attila's time. To have disappeared from
earth. but the Hunnish king now claimed
/ 10 have received il by special revelation
I Il was said that herdsman. who was
I tracking in the desert a wounded heife-
/ by the drops OF blood. found the nysteri-
[ Gus sword standing fixed in the ground
as II Il had da-ted down from heaven
[ The herdsman bore 1t 10 Attla. whC
: henceforth was believed by the Huns tC
WELD the spirit OF death in battle, and
their seers prophesied that that sword
I was 70 destroy the world.
BY Tire ancients the sword was conse-
/ Grated and stood in the temples and
| churches. To It was attributed superhu-
man powers Il was an object Of affec-
I ton. and its loss mCurned as the passing
I Of near kindred In ancient times. as ir
I the battles OF to-day. 70 surrender the
( sword meant submission: 10 break f. dis
grace Il was Lne SYMBOL OF luSUce. as
[ well as martyrcom. and alike acco-npa-
MED its owner to the feast and 10 the
I grave Oaths were taken upon the sword
I the point being thrust into the ground
/ the hilt was cruCifOrm and therefore sa-
I cred The oath was always taken with
I the hand resting upon the hilt Among
I the pagan Germans the blade Of the
I sword was considered sacred According
! 70 Ammianus Siarcellinus. the Quad
D like the pagan Saxons. took oath upon 6
/ drawn sword Even in the Middle Ages
/ the sword instead OF the cross. was used
l IN administering the cath. while the free
jurors in the secret tribunals OF West
/ phaiia took their Oaths with their hands
resting upon the broadsword- In Holsteiu
/ this mode Of swearing was practiced 10 Z
I later period than in any other country.
Bears Freedom in Peace.
| In oIden times the presentation Of g
I sword 10 slave was TO give him free
| dom Until late IN the seventeenth cen
I tury members OF Parliament wore N,
/ sword at their sit,ings as a sign OF theil
| political and judicial authority. When
] Goth wished 70 adopt q son he handed
/ sword 10 the object Of his desire. and i
| was in this manner that Theodoric adopt
Z ed the King Of HerUH as his son. Witt
Z -