The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-10
Cireassians Honor Schamyl, Their Last
 Great Imam"

From that wild mountainous region
 of the Caucasus, between the Caspian and the Black Sea, both Russia and
 Turkey have recruited many of their
 bravest soldiers. The Circassians are
 famed for the beauty of their wo-
 men and the valor of their men,
 Many of the former have been and are favorites in the harems of the
 Turkish sultan and nobIes, while in the battles now being fought in Flu
 rope and Asia and the brave horse
 men of Circassia are employed on both sides.
 Among the Circassians- the most honored name is that of Schmayl. the
 last great Irnan of the country, who gallantly but brave1y repelled the ussian onslaughts which finally
 brought about his overthrow. This great statespaan and warrior, who was l born 11S years ago today, June 8, i1797. is worthy of remembrance, for with all his faults, which were those
 inseparabie from an Oriental despot, he was a man of remarkable ability. When Russia began it's southWard i progress, which now has C0nstanti-
 noples as it's goal, the forest-cIad mountains Of Circassia were an invit- ! ing field for conquest The Circas- sians had jealously guarded their in- i dependence for many centuries, and i had successfully resisted the hordes of Mmour, but in the sixteenth cen
 
 ainty of the Russian czars It was not until 1929, however. that Turkey formally surrendered Circassia. to Russia. In this international barter ing the Circassians were not consulted and under their great ITnan, SchTnayl, 1 they carried on a brave if futile re- sistance.
 ] schamyl attained the leadership among the Circassians in 1884, and
 for years he kept in check the best generals and soldiers of Russia, de- 1 feating them in a hundred battles. His passionate patriotism inspired his fol- lowerfs with equal zeal and they fought like demons. The Russians hoped to bring Schamyl to terms
 when they captured his nine-year-oId ed Russia and carried off two Georgian princes of high rank, and
 exchanged them for his son.
 i Schamy1 was a deep student and 1 spent hours each day studying the Koran and other books and parch- 1 from camp to camp among his peo- pie, keeping their enthusiasm to a.
 high pitch He had three wives and
 a large harem, and was passfonate1y
 devoted to his children. His life was l simple, and his meals consisted of bread, milk, rice, honey, fruit and I tea He was a vegetarian and never ate meat, He instituted an order of l chivalry among his soldiers and re- Warded ;feats of bravery by the be- l stowal Of "a crescent insignia which was a much coveted distinction. On ] the crescent appeared the words, s'He
 who is thinking of the consequences
 is wanting in courage
 Schanyl was at last conquered and
 captured by an army under Prince Bariatinsky. The celebrated chieftain l much to surprise, was treated by his l eaptors with the greatest considera- ton. He was carried away to St. Petersburg, and, seeing it's magnifi- I cence and the extent and richness Of I the country upon which he had long 1 made war, he was amazed that he Ecould have held out so long. He was 1 admitted to the highest society, and T Monized by the ladies of the Russian court, until he exclaimed, 'I have found Mohamet's paradise on earth. 7 1 The Emperor Alexander granted him a pension and. a residence, where he lived until his death in 1S71-