El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-24
Picturesque Horsemen Are
Supermen and Fight for
Love of Conflict.

n ETROGRAD. Russia, Sept. %
- Haunting the river flats in south
i Russia an army Of mad raiders
the greatest light cavalry the world
has ever seen. is preparing for another
winter campaign. With their point
ed hoods drawn over their heads
against the bitter cold Of the steppes.
these romantic drive furiousIy along
the river flats In the faint snow phos-
Porescence. alone or in brigades they
silently push forward, the real de-
Tenders Of the land Of Russ.
Cossacks- q name that is a mystery
TO all except themselves In their
wild charges they have never known
repulse- The crack Uhlaus Of Hun
gary and Germany have been spitted
upon their lanCes- But in many a
little German cottage twinkling on
the snowy hills Of East Prussia the
women folk gather around the hearth
and they have great stories and lore
70 import to the little frauleins OF
how the great bearded COssacks swept
IN from the wastes and through the
little German villages. crushing all
resistance And how, when the mill
tary was conquered. these mysterious
horsemen fed famished children from
their own rations and furnished fuel
TO many a hausfrau-
Hymn singing Supermen.
The frightened maidens soon discov-
cred that they need not fear these
great OTergrOwn boys hymn singing
supermen from the wilderness. Afro
cities there are in plenty 10 recount
OF the Russian invasion. but these
Cossacks have found q real place in the
hearts Of many q German household.
Contrary TO general belief. the Cos
sack is big. good natured fellow.
entirely unselfish 10 the last piece Of
dried horse flesh.
Like the folk stories Of Robin Hood
In England, the origin Of the Cos
sa cks is recOunted- They were once
known as the defenders OF the poor
and needy; the rich or uuduly pros
Cossack attention only when the
Iarders Of the poor became empty
They belonged to an ancient order Of
chivalry, a sort Of aZachestrvO
tlknlghts Of Freedom, rustic but
whole heartedly sincere and useful.
indeed. TO many a car on the occa-
sion OF Tartar invasiOns-
OF Tartar Origin.
The name KAYAK is Of Tartar origin
and the meaning, while somewhat OBJ
sCure, is taken to be -Freemen.'
These KAYAKS first came into ex-
istence during the eleventh century.
Russians. Slavonians. Poles and a
very few Tartars. oppressed by the
civilization Of the day and annoyed
and CALLED by unscruplous over
lords, these men took to the life Of
the wilds that they might live the
free and untrammeled existence they
yearned for As the lone wanderers
gradually became more plentiful they
began TO form small groups and
tribes; nomadic and fierce in war and
kind and unselfish in peace they lived
their lone life on the stppes.
During the thirteenth and four
teenth centuries some degree Of or
ganiZation began TO take place; the
development in communities began
and political eXiles, criminals and op-
pressed men plunged into the wild life
for sOlace. and in the Wild environ
ment these communities developed a
personality all their own They paid
their taxes with sword and pistols in
repelling invasions for the rsar. The
men took VOWS Of celibacy. and for a
law code the instincts OF right and
wrong served well: death was the
penalty for all offences They actu-
ally invaded Constantinople in many
Of their determined fOrays.
Tins Makes Changes.
With the passing Of the ages
changes have taken place The vows
Of celibacy have been discarded and /
they now enjoy a home life among I
their families. Their dress has be- ]
come conventional In the days of
old, cleanliness was a crime, their I