A COSSACK DINNER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2944, 2 December 1916, Page 9

A COSSACK DINNER

HOW THE COLONEL DANCED (By Hamilton Fyfc, tlio "Daily Jeff's" Special Correspondent with tlio Russian Army.) I little thought, when I'heard "Tipperary" sung by the British troops of tlio "first seven divisions" on tlio road between Cambrai and Lo Catcall, that I should ever join in singing it at a Cossack officers' mess in a Polish village jnst bohind tho Russian front. Yet that is what has just happened to mo, and I must tell you how, for tho telling will throw much light upon Cossack customs and upon tho value of theso troops to tho Czar's Army. Tho silly notion of the Cossack as an ogre, a ferocious savago armed with whip as well as sabro, and dolighting in tho slaughter of helpless crowds has passed away. Taking them, small and largo, tho Cossacks differ little in charaoter from other Russians. They aro like children, simple, gentle, dreamy; quickly provoked, it-is true, but soon appeased; fond of 'poetry, fond of dancing ; proud of being Cossacks, fervently attached to their officers, their families, and their homos. AA'e came to the villago occupied by tho regiment which had invited us to dinner at four o'clock in tho afternoon. Delays had occurred. AVo had eaten at two, and we did not for a moment suspect that they would Jiavo kept their dinner waiting for us. AVo under-estimated Cossack hospitality. I bolievo thoy would havo waited ■a week. Tho prospect of eating dinner at 4.30 niter a. good lunch at two at first appalled us. But in war-time men must show their courage. So wo loosoned our belts,. set our teeth, and fell to. .Russian Cheering. It was not a long dinner so far as tlio dishes were concerned. AVe had caviare and pickled herrings; soup with a huge meat pasty; Caucasian "sliashliks," which arc small pieces of mutton grilled on.a skewer and served on it with small pieces of ham in between; Crimean bottled fruits. Tho Tartar mess waiters were quick at serving. AVo could havo, got through easily in half an hour. But thai is nob the liospitablo Cosack way. From tho very start there were toasts, each one with what old-fashioned writers still call "musical honours," contributed by the officers themselves. To do us honour they had composed a number of little verses,.which they sang from scraps of paper, passing these about from one to the oilier with jolly, schoolboy smiles and amused glances at us. This kind of thing: AVo aro very glad to see you: Vmi represent the Press. We drink to you and your efforts To make the world progress. For each toast wo .ill stood up, clinked glasses with as wido a rnngo as our arms permitted, and cheered. 'Russian cheering is not, liko ours, a combined effort. Each man cries "Oprah," or moro often simply "Rah," as quickly and as loudly and as long as ho can. Tho effect resembles that of a college yell in the United States—l mean tlio noiso which American undergraduates make to encourage their football teams. Tho colonel, a small man, as active as

squirrel, led off the cheering himself. Whenever* it seemed to him to bo dropping too soon, he, restarted it with a furious whoop. Every now and then thero was a kind of "General Post." AVo oil roso, walked about tho room, and did not sit. down again until wo had' clinked glasses with every other person presont. Thero must havo been between twenty and thirty toasts altogether, and for nearly every one tho officers had a different tune. Thoy Loamed at us as thoy sang with tho kindest good nature. AVo felt wo must do 'something in return. So tho word was passed round,, and wo sang "Tipperary." British, American, French, Italian, Dutch, all joined in. Our hosts listened intently. I ouco camo across a Lancer regiment among Brusiloff's armies which knew and sang "Tipporary." To the Cossacks it was a'revelation. They were delighted by our entering into tho spirit of tho occasion but I am sure they liked their own singing best. I may say that wo did, too. AVkenover there was a pause from harmony inside the mess-room ,tho men of the regiment, gathered under the windows, sang folk-songs too monotonous hut fascinating dirge-like Eastern chants. Thoy danced also somb of them with marvellous lightness 'and grave. AVhilo wo looked on, tn officer suddenly leapt from the window and joined in, In a few moments another officer jumped out, and the two did a brilliant pas de deux, one brandishing long knives before tho other's face. I was glad wo were not asked to join in this. Dinner at Inst over, wo went, outside and watched moro dancers, and suddenly wo saw tho littlo colonel in his full-skirted riding-coat reaching almost to the heels (tho Cossack uniform) rush into tho ring formed by the soldiers, tho front row kneeling and clapping hands to beat time, and begin to shako a leg himself. A r cry neatly and nimbly he footed it, skirts 'flying, spurs jingling, tho expression on his face quito serious, as ho pirouetted and spun. Dancing antl Discipline. 1 can see tho astonishment of British officers, especially colonels, when they read this. I can hear them as: "How tho blazes can discipline bo kept up in such a regiment •" Well, strange as it sounds to those who wear King I George's uniform, tlio disciplino of » Cossack regiment is kopt up by tlie'so very practices which so horrify them. The men soo nothing undignified in the singing and dancing of their officers, •nicy are. not tempted to ho unduly familiar. They respect and admire- their colonel all tho moro becauso ho can jlanco as well as any of them. If he held aloof from their amusements and kept a barrier of dignity between himself and his troopers they would not to low him to battlo as thov do. AVe call ourselves a democracy, hut we cannot understand this. No one can load Cossacks save a man who makes them tool "ho is one of us." All "these famous regiments of Light I Horse aro liko big families. Thov have their traditions, their customs," their jokes, their own dances and songs, their own particular bonds of conmantonslvip and prowess in the field. These 'jjj'xls arc kept tight by the officers. The men are often not of Cossack descent. They become Cossacks just as

Cockneys become "Highlanders" in our Army. But they learn very soon to feel liko Cossacks, to bo as proud of the name as real Cossacks .are. They learn from their officers, who aro ail genuine Cossacks, men whoso fathers and grandfathers have served in the samo regiment, whoso every male relative for generations back lias ridden forth to tho defence of Russia when the call has come.