3 MY horse; my love. 



the last of the noble family of Kosciusko — his studied 

 English and quaint accent added greatly to the in- 

 terest of his narrations. 



As he had promised to tell us the " why and where- 

 fore " of his residence in America, with a final poke 

 at the fire the little war of question and reply began. 



THE COUNT. 



You have promised, Count, to give us some par- 

 ticulars of your life in Russia. Since you were born 

 in Poland, did you serve in the Russian army by 

 choice? 



" Poland being subject to Russia, I had no choice 

 but to serve in the Russian army. It would be a 

 life-long reproach to his courage and patriotism, if a 

 nobleman, born in Poland, without physical deformity, 

 and strong in limb and wind, should fail to devote 

 some years of his life to military service. He 

 would be stripped of his title of nobility, and could 

 arrive at no personal distinction of an honorable 

 character." 



I have always heard that Poland is a nation of 

 soldiers. 



" It is true — the government being controlled by 

 old soldiers rather than by statesmen. Although 

 diplomacy in foreign countries is studied as are the 

 learned professions; in Poland it must be learned 

 through the use of the sword, by military rule and 

 suggestion. A man must at least prove himself a 

 brave soldier, before he can serve the government as 

 a diplomatist, or in any other capacity." 



