Something About General Skobeleff.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 180, 27 November 1886, Page 6

Something About General Skobeleff.

Some interesting reminiscences have been published by Madam Adam relative to the brilliant Russian eoldier General Skobeleff. The fair writer puts a certain amount of romance into her portrait of the famous Russian, and especially in her account of his death. Many tnay remember the terrible charge on the defences of Plevna, of which Skobeleff waß the leader, which ended in one of the most extensive slaughters even of modern warfare. An immortal description pictured Skobeleff with the cross of St. George twisted round hi? neck, his face black with powder and red with blood, his sword twißted, and all the othe*" accessories that go to make up a complete reflex in one individual of the terrors and horrora of war. Skobeleff was a curious mixture of the dandy and the fearless soldier. That night Skobeleff wiped from hia face the stains, dressed himself in a new uniform, washed and scented himself, and arrayed himself in all the glories of the toilet. His companions were surprised, and perhaps the thought may have flashed across their minds that there was something of the fribble aa well ua the hero in the great Russian. But they were soon to be undeceived. In the middle of the night they were awakened by some noise. They looked out of their beds, and there was Skobeleff sobbing his heart out over the loss of his brave men on that disastrous day. There is a dark myßtery about the death of Skobeleff. Madame Adam insinuates that it was the work of Prince Biemarck, and she points as 'proof that the three men who most threatened the power of Germany all die suddenly — Gambetta, Chanzy, and Skobeleff. "J'ai U secret," writes Madame Adam of Skobeleffs death. There is a secret, but it ia one that does not reflect any discredit on Prince Biemarck, but opens up another chapter in the strange tragedies that lurk behind the public Hvob of eminent men. Skobeleff always longed for war, not merely because it gave him an opportunity for distinguishing himself and carrying out his patriotic ideas, but because he feared himself, and war was the protection against ennui and the temptations of a strange and rjerhaps somewhat morbid nature. In war time he wasastrictabatainer. Itcanecarcely be said that ho was similarly temperate at all times in peace. Everybody thought, and some Continental newspapers openly stated, that he made his strongest, anti-German speeches after he had drunk a^Jifctle more of the delicious wine of Paris than was good for a public man. Hia domestic circumstances were also unhappy. He had been separated from his wife after a short period of married life, and his death took place amid «oi3:ouncUtigB that even the pen of Zola would have been obliged to aesoribe with many reserves and some omissions.