Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1895 — MILITARY MANNERS. [ARTICLE]

MILITARY MANNERS.

When Lisbon was besieged by the Spanish In the fifteenth century such Portuguese as- were captured -were maimed; their eyes were put out, their noses, Ups or ears were cut off, their finger nails or fingers amputated, and in this miserable plight they were sent back Into the city with the announcement that wheniit was taken all the defenders would be similarly treated. Red has always been a favorite military color. ItT employment dates from the time of Lycurgus, the Spartan, who commanded his army to be arrayed in red ttinlcs in order that new recruits miglit not be dismayed at the Bight of blood. Its first use In the British army dates from 1526, when the yoemen of the guard were dressed In red.

In one of Du Gueselln’s victories so many English were taken captive that even the humblest soldier among the French had one or more prisoners. The victors, however, fell to quarreling, and ill-feeling •becoming rife In the French army in consequence of these quarrels over the prisoners Du Guesclin ordered all the captives to be butchered, and the brutal order was carried out The bearskin hats of some BrttMk regiments were at first devised with the idea of striking terror Into the hearts of their enemies. The same principle is shown in the dreadful figures worn by the knights on their heb mets and sometimes emblazoned on their shields. The ancient Germans wore horned helmets to insplse terror in the enemy, and carried figures of strange animals as standards. In modern warfare -the destruction of churches and cathedrals, as well as of libraries and public buildings, has been very common. During the devastation of the Palatinate by the French all cathedrals and churches were ruthlessly plundered and destroyed, even the tombs of the emperors at Spiers being pillaged and demolished. In 1814 our Capitol at Washington, the President’s house and other public buildings were burned by the British. According to Edwards’ “Germans in France,” at the bombardment of Strassburg by the Germans not only did they purposely direct their fire on the cathedral and library, but also fired on the firemen and fire engines endeavoring to put out the conflagration.