Peace and War
The wise and good of all ages and countries have agreed in deprecating the practice of war; but though great efforts have been from time to time made to arrive at some plan whereby this scourge of humanity might be averted, nothing satisfactory or practicable has as yet been enunciated. Even Sully — whose character as an able, active, and intrepid warrior forbids the supposition that personal timidity impelled him to scheme the discontinuance of this moral pest—laboured hard to abate or even abolish it. Amidst all the glory he acquired as a leading spirit in the court of France, during a long carcer of eighty-two years, perhaps the brightest jewel in his coronet was his endeavour to bring the sovereigns of Europe into an accordance with his plan for the abandonment of war. But though our Queen Elizabeth listened cordially to his proposal, it was found impracticable; and at the present time, though the efforts of a well-known Society in England have been specially directed to this one object, we have to lament that scarcely a step has been made towards the consummation of their views.
Dr. Gregory remarks that if required to define war, he should say, “It is the wanton destruction, the cold-blooded slaughter of the human race; he would call it an accumulation of every sin that degrades and vilifies mankind ; he would mark it as a practice that diffuses misery and perpetuates vice; and would say that if there is a burlesque upon the boasted reason of man, it is this — when thousands meet to murder each other for a quarrel in which, in general, they have not individually the smallest interest, The poet who wrote
One murder makes a villain,
Millions a hero,——
may lift his head in the proudest assembly, and avow his principles in the face of the world.“
For nearly forty years England has enjoyed what is called Peace -she has not made a battle-field of any part of Europe.
Disputes may have arisen in India, and the strong arm resorted to to put down rebels; China may have been refractory, and, by the strong arm, reparation exacted; Bornese pirates may have been seized and exterminated; slavers captured, and Kafirs destroyed ; but still England has not been at war, in the sense in which the word is generally understood, and her “relations with foreign powers have continued to be most cordial and amicable.” But when we hear of the parting of the soldier and his wife in the garrison, the bristling bayonets and scarlet uniform on the troop-ship, we may then conclude that an enemy is abroad, and that England has determined to “take part in the fray.”
It is not our intention to enter into the origin of the Russian quarrel—whether it be traced to a contention as to the care of the Holy Places, or to the hypocritical pretext of protecting the Greek Church. These questions are of little consequence to the people of our own country, and may admit of argument or dispute. It may be lamentable inde that Britain should ever become involved in strife; but let us reflect whether the sacrifices which at times we are called upon to make be required or not. If by exertion and promptitude at any time, we avoid the enactment in our own country, at least, of scenes such as those which our war dispatches narrate, the sacrifices which we may be called upon to make will not be entirely thrown away. Take as a specimen, from the pen of a soldier, the account of the recent
BATTLE OF CITATE.
“On Friday, the 6th of January, the Turkish troops, under the orders of Ismail Pasha and Ahmed Pasha, marched to attack the Russians, who had fortified themselves in the village of Citate, which is about five hours’ march from Kalafat.
The force of Ismail Pasha was composed of three regiments of regular cavalry and one regiment of Bashi-Bozouks, with six guns. Ahmed Pasha was stationed at some distance from the village, with some reserve troops, consisting of five battalions, and also six guns.
The Russian force in the village consisted of three battalions of infantry, commanded by Colonel Bonnegarde, three squadrons of hussars, and two squadrons of Cossacks, with six guns.
The Turkish troops were superior in number; but the position of the Russians, who were distributed in all the houses of the village, which is of great extent, and which is surrounded by a double ditch, rendered the attack extremely perilous, as the enemy, well sheltered, were enabled to direct a murderous fire upon the Turks, without the latter being able to reply to it. In spite of this disadvantage, Ismail Pasha gave orders for the attack, and threw himself into the village under a shower of balls fired from all the windows. At first the Turks received very serious injury; but, although this circumstance somewhat disorganized their attack, their impetuosity was not checked. After a desperate struggle, they attacked the houses, and fought hand to hand with sword and bayonet. The massacre was frightful. The Russians in vain begged for quarter. In the fever of the fight the Turks listened to nothing, and slaughtered all who fell into their hands. Gutters of blood ran down the streets from this wholesale human slaughter. To add to the horrors of the scene, it may be stated that a number of pigs which had been let loose were seen eating the dead bodies.
All who could escape the slaughter took refuge in a redoubt at the head of a village, and thence recommenced a murderous fire upon the Turks, who returned it vigorously, but not without receiving considerable injury from the Russian guns.
At last the enemy, incapable of any further struggle, decided upon abandoning the entrenchments. A number of Russian troops had already evacuated the place, when a colonel of Turkish cavalry conceived the unfortunate idea of endeavouring to oppose their passage. The Russians, finding themselves surrounded, and having no outlet for escape, and no resource but the terrible energy derived from despair, no other alternative but to conquer or die, recommenced the fight with desperation, and in a vigorous sortie they succeeded in capturing two guns.
While the battle was thus going on in the village, twelve battalions of infantry of the Russian army, and a squadron of cavalry, with sixteen pieees of cannon, were brought to the assistance of the besieged, and attempted to place the Turks between two fires. Information of this was given to Ahmed Pasha, who, by a skilful manoeuvre, directed his soldiers to the point, in order to prevent the junction with the beseiged troops. For this movement he made use of three of his reserved battalions.
The advantage of the position was now on the side of the Turks, who were on ground which sloped towards the Russians; but the latter were in three times greater number than the Turks. In spite of this inequality, however, the Russians were entirely beaten, and fled in the greatest disorder. The loss of the Russians amounted to nearly 4,000 men, among whom are included 50 superior officers. The Turks had about 300 killed and 396 wounded, who were sent to the hospitals of Widdin, and of whom it is hoped the greater part may be saved.
At the time of the attack upon the village, the Turkish soldiers committed the fault of stopping to pillage before being entirely assured of victory, and by this means, in despoiling the dead, obtained some trifling articles, much to the prejudice of the general interest.
Ismail Pasha fought like a lion. He had two horses killed under him. He was grazed with two balls—one on the shoulder and another on the wrist. A third ball struck the scabbard of his sword.
The Turks took from the field of battle, besides a number of horses, a great many muskets, sabres, schakos, epaulettes, and decorations, and also many wounded. The latter consoled themselves for their wounds by the sight of watches or handfuls of gold, gathered in the midst of danger, which they placed by their beds of pain as a solace to their sufferings.
The Russian officers, it is said, courageously did their duty, but were badly seconded by the soldiers, whom it was often necessary to prick with the point of the bayonet in order to prevent them from running away. Some of the Wallachian militia were incorporated among the Russian troops, but the former force were continually subjected to the jeers of the Russian officers. A Wallachian captain who refused to march against the Turks, consummated his refusal by blowing out his brains.
The Turkish soldier enjoys a reputation for honesty and good conduct. All the provisions which are necessary are paid for in ready money, and no burden is thrown on the inhabitants; but the Russians are charged with all sorts of odious acts.
About two or three weeks ago some Cossacks, at a small village near Plewna, cut off the heads of three Wallachians and ill-used fifteen women. When the Turks reached the village, with the view of assisting the unfortunate inhabitants, the culprits had escaped.”
Truly the horrors of war are to be dreaded, and every means tried to avoid it: but let us not by lethargy and indifference invite attack upon ourselves, lest we become unable to
——‘“ Defend our own door from the dog,
And our nation .
Lose the name of hardihood and policy.”
Three Month's Experience of a Beard
[A correspondent of the North British Daily Mail communicates the following on the subject of Beards. — We do not wish to identify ourselves with the movement, but insert his condensed remarks so that our readers may hear what is so well said on this subject. — Ed.]
Three months ago I read an article in Household Words, headed “Why shave?" I was at the time suffering from a severe attack of rheumatism in the jaws. This complaint, the writer asserted, would be almost entirely prevented by wearing the beard, “If so,” says I, ‘I will shave no more.” ‘This was the first time that the thought of wearing my beard had crossed my mind, and I at once came to the conclusion that to shave was absurd, and therefore resolved forthwith to abandon the razor. The question, ”What will people say?” had to me no terrors; for I could see at a glance a thousand arguments by which objectors to the hairy reform could be entirely demolished, So, without further thought, I walked out to business unshaved.
The first day my roughness was noticed ; the second it was thought I had been at the coast; the third the barbers’ rise of prices was spoken of; the fourth I boldly announced my resolution. I then found, to my surprise, that almost all thinking men approved of my determination, and only regretted that they had not courage to follow my example, which they said they certainly would do when beards became a little more fashionable, Not a few shavers whose beards had two or three days’ growth, thought my beard surely uncomfortable, as they felt theirs quite long enough.
To these gentlemen I replied, “Your beards are in the very worst stage ; in other three days that feeling of unshaven discomfort will give place to a cozey furry sensation, quite unknown to any save the few who have abandoned the razor.” This is really the case. My beard felt uncomforable for about four days, after which I felt an improvement every day; and now, in the very pleasant feeling of natural warmth over my entire face, I am reaping the reward of having in this matter returned to nature’s laws, Since my beard has been three days old I have never had one touch of rheumatism in my jaws—a disease to which I was becoming subject in cold weather, In a word, I feel the beard a great improvement, and now would as soon think of shaving my head as my face.
I need hardly say, then, that I recommend the general adoption of the beard. I can say nothing of how the beard affects the lungs. I have to thank God for a first- rate pair, and therefore am not very sensitive as to what affects these organs, but as I move about and breathe all sorts of air, I feel quite assured that many of the strange compounds that salute the nose, are none the worse for being riddled by the moustache before they pass into any man’s lungs.
The chief opponents of the beard, I have found, are very ignorant women, who are in no way loth to express their entire disgust at what they are pleased to call the abominable filthy fashion. Women of cultivation speak in quite a different tone; they do not quite approve, yet are ready to remember that all the worthies of antiquity from Adam to John Knox wore beards, and they do think a bearded man is more manly in appearance; but with a smile they ask, ”How will you ever manage to kiss your sweetheart?” If this question is answered by a smart practical illustration, almost any of them will admit that the beard is not so objectionable after all.
Although as a whole my beard has been popular, I could fill a volume with the queer things that have been said to me about it. One friend, whose cautiousness is extreme, asked me how my beard suited when I had bills to discount. To this I answered, I never in commercial matters go beyond my depth, so I can afford to look queer if I have a mind.” One old lady hoped I did not wear my beard to show that I had a contempt for the ministers of religion. She had heard that the wearing of beards was indicative of that contempt. I convinced the worthy woman that I was a regular attender of an orthodox church, and loved and respected my warm-hearted pastor. One old Quaker I met thought there was not a little vanity in wearing the excrescences on the face, and said he, “ Thou hast a handsome face, and I would think it more so if thou wouldest remove the hair.” I was about to reply, when a gentleman, quite a stranger to me, tookup my defence. ”Friend,” said the stranger, ”thou art wrong, and our young friend is right. God never gave the beard to be cut off every morning; it was no doubt meant to be worn, and I think our young friend deserves the thanks of us all for being amongst the first to introduce the very desirable fashion, I for one,” he added, ”am resolved to follow his example.” ”Do so, friend,” said the Quaker, “ but I will shave yet awhile.” I learned that my defender on this occasion was a medical gentleman in the service of the London Board of Health, I have pleasure in seeing, as I now move about, that I am in no way singular in the beard reform. All public mectings, I observe, have now a considerable sprinkling of beards, and I have no doubt we, who are now in the minority, will soon be able to add to our present stock of arguments, one that will be more powerful than all others, and which is contained in the brief sentence, " beards are fashionable.”
