THE CHARACTER OF GENERAL SKOBELOFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6422, 17 June 1882, Page 7

THE CHARACTER OF GENERAL SKOBELOFF.

Gkn'ekal, Skoiiei.off ia 39 years old, but. lookß almost a decadc younger. There is nothing in his aspect which betokens the warrior inured to hardships. Nor yet does he give the impression of a carpet knight, although he is the best valeted man inJCuropc. Ho is habitually well-dressed, but not a dandy. One sees that he pays minute attention to the details of his toilette when he is engaged at it; but that, once it is ended, his personal appearance does not cost him, for the rest of the day, a single thought. If jewelled studs, pin, and chain are worn they do not show. Skobeloff is tall, his figure is lithe, [t shows an elastic, nervous organization, but no athletic muscularity. The habit of poring over books of military science, maps, ind plans has induced a slight stoop, In working out in his mind some tough problem 5r talking on a subject that excites him, he paces rapidly backwards and forwards, in tent or study often atopping short for a few noments. When his physiognomy is in •. pose it tells no tale ot any kind. In its full ront outline the face almost takes the orm of an angu'ar Gothic figure S. It s wide at the upper part of the hit;h orehead, which lias two verticle ridges over ,he eyebrows, extending the whole way up, ivenly developed, and rounded like pillars. Hie cheeks are long, and widen towards the :hin, which is neither prominent nor the ontrary. Full lips of the Hapsburgian ype, but with mussulnr power to enunciate listinctly, are scarcely shaded by the noustaehe. The ocular region is relatively larrow, aithough the eyes are large and there s a good distance between them. Their olour is light bluish-grey, and they are lead-looking until the General speaks, and hen they may truly be called the windows of lis soul. His complexion is ashen, without >eing unhealthy. Emotion warms it up in an nstant. The nose is of a mixed type, and ong. It might easily have been rcl-roxLusi, ,nd it might easily have been straight. A hick head of fair hair is cut short and parted n the middle. The nut brown beard is also hort at the chin's point, longer at the sides, nd trimmed to follow the contour of the heeks. This warrior gives the impression of i man of hiuh station and native and acluired superiority. .His manners are open, lourteous, and engaging. The hand is cxended with frank affability and tlio dull eyes ight up-to speak a cordial welcome. Skoleloff has physically and morally a sensitive, jut not touchy, skin. He reacts against an nborn love for dainties and luxury. But it 3 a sore trial to him to be obligsd to forego ilken hose and fine linen. \V hen he is in ixiguous lodgings, the olfactory nerve of his 'isitor is assailed by the smell of scented oap. Skobeloff inherits his military [ualities from his grandfather and father, vho were both Geuerais and Chevaliers if St. George. The former had four ingers cut off and his elbow shattered in he war of 1831. He had risen from the ranks .nd was a Muscovite. From his mother, ikobelolF the third derives his disposition ,nd intellectual tastes. She was murdered in Julgaria by an officer of her son's staff. The general venerates her memory, and speaks of icr with faltering voice. Though of practical uind, she was a woman of lofty thoughts, .nd, unknown to herself, a poet. Madame Jkobcloff used to say to her children, 'If you are not truthful, you will be cutemptible ; but if you elect to be ruthful, you bind yourselves over to act ilie heroes in small things and in great." flic Skobeloff family was poor and had 10 long ancestral line. But its social trestifje, which was entirely due to the force if the character and accomplishments of the ate Madame Skobeloff, became so great hat the noblest families in Russia sought obe allied to it. The eldest daughter is 'rincess Peloselsky, the second Madame ?chernnaieff, and the third is married to 2ount Beauharnais, son of the late Grand Duchess Marie, and first cousin to "the 3zar. She is not given Imperial rank ,t court, but is treated as a cousin by Alexander and the Czarina. Skobeloff lelieves in the power that shapes our,, nds, rough-hew them as we may. He is ery religious, but is hardly conscious of hi 3 >iet3*, which is genial and attractive. He has lad in his life to tell diplomatic falsehoods, ,ut they stuck in his throat, and nearly hoked him. On one occasion he boldly told , lie—or rather a bundle of lies. His menlacity was to veil the scheme of a cam>aign on which tremendous issues depended. Vhen the peison whom he was deceiving rose o quit him, he insisted on seeing him to his arriage. On his way out the General topped short and said, "You look very lonest, and you are a person of breeding. If 'ou suspected the importance of some questions you had been asking, you would live out your hand off rather than put them. le then recapitulated them, and added, 'All my answers on these points are lies. _ 1 :an't bear the feeling of lying to you. You nay guess the truth from this. I place my ecret at your mercy, and am sure you will lot give me cause to regret doing so."