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Show 'll T Kouropatkin Well Known as One of the Finest Soldiers of the Present Day. Was the Right Hand of Russias Greatest and Most Brilliant Gen- eral. Skobeleff. The late Archibald Forbes, tho war correspondent, was fond of telling how he met SkobelefT, the Russian general, after one of the fiercest of tie many desperate fights before Plevna. I was sitting In ray tent writing a despatch, said Forbes, "when the flap was suddenly drawn aside and In RUSSIA IN 10TH CENTURY. stalked the most terrible and awe Inspiring object I have ever seen In my life. It was Skobelelf, whom I knew well, but I had to look twice before I recognized him. I (fistoms and ffiannezs. The Men Who Will Lead The Armies of the Czar 1 ' "Ills smart generals uniform was torn Into shreds and stained with blood and gunpowder from head to foot. Ills sword, which he held In his hand, was simply smothered In blood, and great drops of It fell on the floor of the tent as he greeted me. "There was a terrible gash across tho top of his forehead, and his eyes still blazed with the fierce excitement of the fight which he had Just had with hundreds of Turks. "While he stood there telling me about the battle, his favorite Captain Kouropatkin, came up and called him away to decide about the disposition of some of the prisoners. Kouropatkin looked even more like a god of war fresh from the scene of carnage. He was bleeding from half a dozen wounds, but he stood as steady as a rock when he saluted Skobeleff. The latter suggested that he had better go into the hospital, bnt he curtly replied: "No, general. There Is work to be done. I heard afterward that Skobeleff and Kouropatkin had fought side by side throughout that bloody day, and had Blaln the Turks literally by dozens. Their exploits formed the theme of many a story told beside the campfires of both armies throughout the campaign." Capt. Kouropatkin, who was the all right hand man of Skobeleff war, as through the Russo-Turkit-well as In the fight at Plevna, Is now Gen. Kouropatkin, the czar's minister of war, and the most noted of all the Russian fighting men. Kouropatkin became the hero of the Russian army, second only to his great leader Skobeleff, by his bravery and fine generalship at the capture of Oeok Tepe In 1882. When the Russians, balked In their dreams of winning Constantinople by the Derlin Congress, were making their great swoop through Central Asia to the gates of Herat, Lord Salisbury told the British public not to be alarmed for the safety of India. "They will not be able to conquer hand-to-han- task which the British Premier had declared would lake a lifetime. Geok Tepe, the great stronghold of the Turcomans, was carried by assault after a months siege. The brunt of the attack fell on Kouropatkin, who commanded a body of light troops from Turkestan. It was a g.wit victory, but it sullied the reputation of both the Russian leaders. They ordered their troops to give no quarter to the Turcomans of either sex, and all the horrors usual when such orders are given were perpetrated, Spectators say that even when the Turcomans fled In a disorderly mob across the desert, men, women and children mingled together, no mercy was shown to" them. Artillery and cavalry followed In their rear and mowed them down until darkness put an end to the pursuit. In that few hours chase 1,000 pursuing Russians slaughtered 8,000 fugitives, while over six thousand were massacred in the fortified camp of Geok Tepe. "The whole country was covered with corpses, said Samuel Gouro-vltch- , who acted as interpreter In the Russian forces. The morning after the battle they lay In rows like freshly mown hay, as they had been swept down by the mitrallleurs and artillery. "Hundreds of women were sabred, and I myself saw babies bayoneted or slashed to pieces. The troops, mad with drink and the lust of fighting, were allowed to plunder and kill for three days after the assault. This Is the single great blot on Gen. Kouropatklns record. It Is true that he was not in supreme command, but his Turkestan troops played the leading part In the slaughter. He Is a great leader of men. The march of his Turkestan contlngont across the almost unknown deserts of Central Asia, In order to Join Skobeleff for the siege of Geok Tepe, was as fine an achievement as Lord Roberts' famous march to Candahar. "Kouropatkin," said Gen. Annen-koff- , who met him at the end of the march, had been for twenty-sidays marching over a sandy and waterless desert, yet his force marched In clean and trim, and as fresh as a daisy." Gen. Kouropatkin Is now the unchallenged head of tho war party In Russia. He believes In pushing Russian troops to the uttermost ends of Asia. In the movements toward the Indian frontiers, which have alarmed Eng- x RUSSIA IN 1643. RUSSIA IN 13TH CENTURY. age than probably any other Russian general. During the siege of Geek Tepe was sent out by Skobeleff one to reconnolter the position of night the enemy. lie refused to take any soldiers with him, as the other officers detailed for that duty used to do, but went alone disguised In Turcoman costume. He ponetrated to one of the campfires of the Turcomans, underneath the walls of the fortress, and sat down and calmly ate supper with them. Introducing himself as a man from another branch of the tribe who bad been separated from bis comrades. From the talk around the campfire he learned all he wanted to know, and he was about to retire unobtrusively when a Turcoman, who had known him as a Russian officer before the with Russian politics. Before becoming minister of war, Kouropatkin commanded the Russian army. He would probably command It again in the field In any campaign that amounted to a national emergency, for he !s unquestionably Russia's greatest general. He Is the Idol of tho army, for Skobeleff is a name to conjure with In the Russian service, and he was Skobe-lcff'- s rlghthand man In four campaigns the Russo-Turklswar, the Khlvan expedition and the Khokandese and Merv campaigns. One of Kouropatkins strongest supis the same Get. Annen-Kof- f porters who admired his march through tho desert to Join Skobeleff before Geok Tepe. Gen. Annenkoff made a great reputation by bu lding strategic railways In Central AU, and his was the vast scheme for a Transslberian line to tho Pacific. He first outlined that plan In detail during a visit to Iarls In 1891. Many men practical laughed at him them, but his Ideas have since produced tho greatest railroad In the world, at an admitted cost of 55.000,000, and perhaps a great deal more. MU had Annenkoff was born In 1V3S, and received his first commission In the Russian army in 1803. He Is an older veteran than Knurvpatkln, for he served a.--, a staff captain during the Polish Insurrection, and rose to the rank of colonel at the remarkably low ago of 28. Oen. Annenkoff has played a leading rart tn the In'tlgm- cgHinst England on the Indian frontier, and Is credited with having at least fifty specific schemes for conquering India pigeonholed In his desk. Another well known Russian soldier, who might be expected to play a leading part In time of war, Is Gen. Obrubeheff. Ho Is the hero of a hundred desperate lights in the successive Central Aslan campaigns, and enjoys a greater reputation for personal coup-- RUSSIA IN 1809. t J ) l g Siberia, Crimea and Finland Added. strolled up to the campfire and recognized him. Almost before the Turcoman could denounce him Obrubeheff sprang to his feet, drew his sword, rushed to tho nearest horse and cut It loose from Us heel rope. Several Turcomans rushed up, but he cut his way through them and was swallowed up in the darkness before most of them realized what was happening. Gen. Bobrlkoff, governor general of Finland, Is another of Skobeleff's men. He Is an abla commander, but he has a reputation for extreme harshness, and even cruelty. Ills recent administration of Finland has not belied that reputation. He is credited with great Influence o In the council of state and the of ministers, the two bodies which formulate and execute Russian policy. He Is a warm friend and ally tf his old comrade, Gen. Kouropatkin. The czar's uncle, the Grand Duke Michael, may bo regarded as the Nestor of the Russian army. He played a leading part in the Russo-Turkiswar. commanding the army of the Caucasus. He Is now 72 and would not be likely to take the field again. But he would certainly help to form Russias plan of campaign if she went to war. He has been a soldier for over fifty years, and his military talents are held In high esteem by Russian off1643-180- 9 & 1 -, s Vice-Admir- rine. Count Lamsdorff, the foreign minis- TO-DA- Water and the customs and manners of the people are as in the days of Abraham. A traveler who has breathed the air of the Arabian and African deserts and of the high veldts and who has tasted the wild freedom of the Australian bush declares that no experience surpasses a ride In Morocco, known to the Romans as Mauritania. Roused at dawn by the movement of the camp, you turn out of your tent to see the horses fed and saddled and to scold the muleteers Into making preparations for the march. No child ran be more wayward and no mule more obstinate than a Moor; yet no one Is more easily manged by a little firmness and good temper. A Joke will stem the torrent of tumultuous protest and turn It to laughter. A cigarette or a pitteh of snuff will melt the heait of a hadjt who has done the pilgrimage to Mecca, and the gift of a knife or a pair of scissors will give you a whole village for a friend. Tents and equipments are packed on the mules and all the caravan la In motion. You will have breakfast of eggs and chickens and dates, In which tho country abounds, and are ready ride. for a thirty-milThe land Is lull of the charm of variety. In a days Journey you may cross a wide plain covered with palmetto or dwarf palm and pass by groves of olive and fig and walnut and orange and organ trees. The cool shnde of a locust, a juniper, or even a sharp pointed aloe or a prickly pear will tempt you to lunch aud repose during the heat of the day upon the bank of some purling stream. The ride on horseback to Tetuan from Tangier occupies about nine An escort of two Moorish hours. cavalrymen Is necessary, as numbers of wild tribesmen are continually moving alxml the country, and there Is always a certain amount of danger In meeting them. Native runners do the Journey In eight hours for five shillings. One dollar per day Is charged for each soldier, and In return, If the tour- e Port Arthur and Talienwan Leased From China 1898 Advancs Commenced 1898. ter, Is regarded In Russia as a very poor successor to such diplomatic giants as Ignatieff, Oortchakuff and Lobanoff. He Is unpopular with the army, because be has always shown himself to be on the side of peace. Other ministers of tho czar surround themselves by secret service agents, and are as difficult to Interview as tho of Tibet, Not so He mlxe freely with tho public, alono and unguarded, and anybody with a reasonable excuse can seo him at his office any day. New York Sun. l.ains-dorff- . . V-- 4 world. "I have seen too much war, he once said to an ardent young officer, who told him he hoped there would soon be a chance of active service. I want to Bee no more. War Is devilish. Another grand duke, Alexis Is the theoretical head of the Russian navy, being high admiral He takes keen Interest In naval matters, but the practical control of them Tyr-tow- , Is In the hands of who directs the ministry of ma- Grand I?? C Although himself an old warhorse, he Is the strongest ally of M. Witte and Count Lamsdorff In their efforts to keep Russia at peace with the RUSSIA . ,. d Sko-belef- ln j to-da- Advance to Ural Mountains on East and to Archangel on North, the Turcomans, " he declared. "The lurcoman barrier will last for our lifetime at least. Gen. Tergoukasoff, the Russian commander In Central Asia, disagreed with Isird Salisbury. Ho told the czar that the Turcomans might be conquered by three years hard fighting. "Tbut la too long," said the exur. Ho recalled Tergoukasoff and sent f Skoheltff to command the trtsips. promptly secured Kouropatkin lor his chief lieutenant, and together they performed In a few weeks tho I 1 icers. d Manuscript to Be Auctioned LOST Z'm h Part of Lapland Added Permla District Conquered. land In recent years; In the absorption of Manchuria, and in the threat-cueattacks on Corea, hla band Is plainly to be seen by any one familiar PARADISE land in March. One of the most valuable uteri relics ln England Is to be aucti on at Sothebys ln March, unlevj j can be secured during the Interval i! either the British Museum or t -Bodleian Library. This Is the orlp manuscript of the first book of y (SPECIAL COP&E5PONDENCE) tons Paradise Lost," In eight, small quarto leaves. As the poet 1 disof the Not even Palestine, which blooms ist is robbed, the governor been blind for fourteen years t as a garden under the early spring trict sweeps down on the villages the epic was completed for tho prrf and tains, can compare with the land of npar the scene of the robbery not a stroke from these closely ,t Morreco. There the earth seem3 to makes them pay one hundred fold for ten pages was from his hand, and he clothed with rainbows, and gar- the stolen goods. Whether the un- tamiliar tradition that he dictated lands of brilliant flowers are spread lucky stranger gets any part of the poem to one of his is daughters at your feet. Your horse treads on fine is another question. confirmed by the penmanship, wh f wild mint and purple aromatic thyme, Tetuan Is surrounded by walls over is masculine In character. The alt and the air is filled with their fra- fifty feet high and six feet thick, sur- native theory that the amamnl grance. A rich purple carpet of vi- mounted by brass cannons at variMiltons nephew, Edward p per's bugloss has a heavy border of ous points. There are two enormous i. Is hardly tenable, since the t5; pimpernel, scarlet and rose. Bluenot mentioned in the little volaj gates the sea gate and the land gate bells lie like an imperial mantle, which are opened at sunrise and memoirs published by him In if' closed at sunset. Phillips had taken down the pc I ai rived at Tetuan at 9 oclock at line by line he would probably hj, night on my journey from Fez, one claimed the credit for it, as well wet night in March, and it was near- for suggesting alterations whfre w verses needed mending. While ly an hour before I could gain admisIdentity of the amanuensis Is a mJ sion into the city. The fast of the Ramadan was on at tery, It cannot bo doubted that this v the time, and all true Mohammedans the original copy filed at Stations ll $ refrained from eating, drinking or Hall in 1G67, and assigned to Sami smoking from sunrise to sunset. The Simmons (or Symonds) "In const, )v. !j! 'jilt1 ' Tetuanites obeyed the Koran implicit- ation of the sum of 5 in hand paiA 5 was made!-- a ly. and turned the night into day. Another payment of second edition, and Miltons wld v That is, they slept all day and worked assigned all her rights after hlsdeif at night. 8. Ti The city of Tetuan Is thoroughly for an additional sum of Boots copyright was sold by the printer! Oriental In its appearance. dyed In various brilliant colors and Brabazon Aylmer, a bookseller, are two of the most im- subsequently transferred it to Jac.' Tonson, and three generations pel taut manufactures. Tonsons printed numerous editions The descendants of the Moors who Paradise Lost, and were enabled 4 made their race world famous are to in trade to buy an estate i profits be found only in Tetuan. Hertfordshire. The manuscript They are magnificent specimens ol preserved in the Tonson family manhood, the majority of them over the proof of their right to publish a six feet in height, with fair complexeditions of the poem as tb' many ions, dark beards and high foreheads pleased, and it is nowr in the posse1 Moroccan Soldier, Their walk is as dignified and state sion of William Robert Baker, a grei with the azure of borage and ly in the dirty streets of Tetuan as 11 grandson of Mary Tonson. fringed broidered with the pink white blooms was in their palmy da3 at Seville of anemone. and Granada. Intuition at the Candy Counter, Morocco is a delightful country for Many of the old families still have at the bonbon counter p' The travel for the man who Is sufficiently the keys of their lost mansions ic up five girl boxes of judiciously u large Spain, which have been banded down lected equipped and who seeks new sensaunder the personal q candy son to with Is from father a of It tions with religiously danger. spice of a nervous young man. h pcrvlslon singularly free from roads or bridges, the hope that one day the Moors may left a card for each of them, hank over a list of addresses for their paid his bill and walked ci, looking decidedly glum. "Ought to bag a sweetheart outc hat LroadUde, remarked the ca.. ler. "Guess again, said the salesg,Tv "Its caramels to carfare that he a sweetheart, and that he has qua relcd with her; their first rrobabl lie Is sending that candy to his lady loves dearest friends, because they will not fall to tell Ik I about it." A candy counter Is the horosonjt4 W- -' f. J of the human heart to girls who ca f a read It When a young man buys 'X ri Z.i V pound of candy, any old thing hani'jf without looking twice at It, his fcctions are not very deep set Wh .eg '4-VC'he begins to get particular in bis lections Cupid is getting ln his f . V- f work. Tho lovers quarrel lnevital A 3 cnd3 in such a reckless display as y ' i saw ju--- t now. When the reconcil tion takes place we shall have noth' in stock good enough for that folio V When hes married hell stop cc lng." coin-mitte- h ORIGINAL OF That Double Chin. To women who Know tho tragic rr ment ln a womans life, when t double chin makes Its first unmisL able appearance, there Is a world pathos In the story told by the Cl of a Wetf cago Record-Herald- , club woman who surprised her de est (club) friend ln tears over sod photographic proofs. Carrier, Its come! Its come!" was t' return to the land from which they non explanatory exclamation fina were banished. forced from her, after she had hastj The Kabyles are a warlike tribe concealed the proofs, 'Tve been tj who are always fighting with some- pectlng it and fighting against one, and. In default of foreign foes, for years, and at last I must own r they will fight among themselves. In self beaten. I I cant help crylm! peaceful moments they devote them and the handsome bead went hori I selves to making terrible looking dag- lessly, helplessly down. ItT" is on earth What question gers and stealing chickens. Whenever Morocco is thrown open the visitor, dreading to hear of ii,I to the world there will be plenty ol knew not what terrible calamity T j fortunes to be made, as the mineral sorrow. "What Is It, dear? me she at added, once, Imperative wealth of tho country Is enormous, fearing hysterics for the distress! weeper, who was rapidly losing remnants of her displaced seif a trol. "My my double chin!" cauio t sobbing answer. "I had my yesterday, and and It sho-lthe proofs. 1 plot-takc- - v' -- ) .V Choice of a House Cat. I . r I VH? ;r5f Ji t : 4,. Wood Carrier. the soil Is most fertile, and no concessions have been granted to anyone, Railroads and machinery are prac tlrally unknown, and Morocco Is virgin country ns fur as clvlllatlon is concerned. Tho country Is Intersected by nu morons rivers whleh flow down th Atlas mountain, and the climate ln moot parts Is lioulthy, and can lie Improved by snnlury measures, whit-arnbsinl at pit sent. Except In th towns, Morocco Is very sparsely In habited. A good cat tho kind you want! have in tho house, It any will hat' round, stubby pug nose, full, cheeks and upper lips, and a well vcioped bump on tho top of tho h! between tho ears, betokening good A turo. A sleepy cat that purrs a Fi deal Is apt to be playful and J uaturen. means to be avoided Is with thin sharp nose and twitch ' I cars. It must be remembered, that a good mouser Is not tnccssarf a gentle or desirable pet. Althm any good cat will catch mice If hfl not overfed, quick, full, expr' By all eyes generally betoken a good mou-Thgreatest mistake and Prjt bly the most common one In re of domestic cats Is overfeed1 particularly too murh meat. In life the cat has exercise which e aides her to digest her food. In lazy house life the same full ford leads to stomach troubles and to 1 Fhllndolphla Record. British Birds. the 3H different kinds of rtrlt birds, ouly 140 are resident all L Of year. 1 |