The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-05-28
KNOUT And NAME
About All That Now Remain Of
the Original Cossacks.
COLE OF THE FIRST TRIBES.

Guardians Of the People.
wherever Russia has q fight on hand
there bobs up promptly to do her bid
ding the Cossack- This right arm of
the car has not the best of repcta-
tons. illustrated papers picture him a
savage scarecrow mounted on a wiry
looking animal, and bis chief occupa-
ton Is apparently the knitting and
knouting of harmless people. Yet he
comes of good stock
Once upon a time there drifted into
southwest Russia a tribe OF runaways
who called themselves "Kossaki.'
which is Tartar for free men. free
warriors or guardians. Seemingly
they lived up to the name. They pro-
tected from the Tartars the peoples In
the countries which they originally had
Hed from and saved thousands of Rus
| sian women and children from slavery
in Turkey. Growing in numbers and
importance. these self appointed guard
ian angels became everywhere feared
and respected Their military services
especially were IN request Any nation
could command their help If its cause
appealed to the Kossaki code of honor.
The tribe mad gradually resolved IT.
self into two classes-the village Eos
saki. who lived in their own settle
1 ments all over southern Russia. and
| the inhabitants of the 'Setch beyond
the rapids" The former had the ad-
vantage over other country folk. as
neighboring governments were too
afraid to tax them Between wars. to
which the call came from the Seich,
the village Kossaki titled the land OF
! an altogether different character was
the organization of this Setch. Il COM
munity of about 1900 men with per
manent headquarters in a movable
settlement Che exact location was
changed eight times in two centuriesj,
usually On an unapproachable island
on the lower course of the Dnieper.
The Turks once tried TO rush the place.
but got caught In the maze OF islands
like rats in trap
The Setch in one respect resembled a
monastery. No woman was allowed
inside it A man might not even bring
his mother or his sister. III he did he
was hanged Here. eager to lead the
tree and simple life among their
equals, came all sorts and conditions
or mem sfndeedS owing TO the law
enjoininG celibacy. the colony depend
ed for it's numbers on newcomers. al'
though the village Kossad contributed
recruits. Any one could join. as rank
and riches were despised. and all he
had to do was to submit TO laws as
follows: Chastity. the orthodox creed
allegiance to Russia and the south
Russian dialect No reference or in
convenient questions Of bis past were
asked of the intending Kossak. He
simply went TO the elected chief and.
after brief greeting. was shown TO
his place In one OF the "kureni-" or
big huts. Here is thy home. three
PAGES long and two PAGES wide. and
when thou shalt die we will make II
smaller"
They had good times, though. In the
Setch. There were no maneuvers. no
! organized training. no compulsory
drill Men lay or slept In the leveled
spaces between huts. enjoying. gypsy
fashion, the freedom of the open air,
Drink was plentiful and also tobac.
CO. Great songs were sung. aud there
was much playing of sringed lnstru'
ments- Throughout the place spirit
! of good comradeship prevailed
popular pastime was dancing, no easy
task In cumbersome high boots Cos
tunes were or a picturesque variety
The Kossak wore a mustache and ou
the crown or his head a lonesome wisp
or hair. both being worn long to en-
able him to wind the three ends round
] his ears. Each man went armed tc
the teeth. and the majority carried
"nagaikas" twhips which are still
usedD.
In wartime things were different
To drink was a crime. Food. always
plain. consisted OF rauons or uncooket
horsefiesh- Military organization wa:
by election OF leaders. one to every l0(
men, with a colonel IN command or Q
regiment These officers had absolutt
4 power. but authority for only Que cam
/ paign. Such war spells were OF fire.
quent occurrence. so much so that the
. lighting business led TO the extinctioI
! OF the tribe. Peter the Great lait
waste the Setch- Mazeppa made him
self unpleasant The Setch was agaiI
bombarded and ruined when It's In
habitants became. some OF them. piow
men. while others were shipped 4
the orient True. there was brief re
appearance OF the Setch. but undel
different auspices and nothing like II
}; old times. Finally the Kossaki land
were coniscated. and the tribe and 10
+. institutions gave place TO serfdom ant
!: the creation OF . new nobility. Th'
Cossack OF today tnherits little OF thu
:, old traditions but the name and th'
whip.-Harper's Weekly.
This Life.
4 Life Is made up not of great sacri