New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-27
DAILY CRESCENT.
A Trip 70 siberia

theatre at St. Petersburg, where he had tn
good fortune SO greatly to please Paul | tina
He soon became distinguished favorite OF tn
monarch. An ill., timed bon mot one day con
y WINGED Frcgere how dangerous IT was 70 speal
n too freely to the eccentric Autocrat. 1t was o
\ the imperial dinner-table, when one of tn,
guests iauded the present Emperor ct the ex
pense of Peter the Great ssThat is robbins
Peter to pay Paul" said the Emperor, turning
I'd his favorite, q Is it not 80, Frogere :
g Certainly, sir, answered the latter. sTs
satisfy Paul we may rob not only Peter the
Great, but also Peter the APOSTLE And
4 pray why so Y asked the Gear, quickly. ssBe-
cause said the actor, g Paul in his anger has
frequently commanded, in the words of our Sa-
viour. Go, and bear the cross throughout the
world, more especially in Siberia. Paul show
ed anger in his face, and no one dared to laugh
or to be pleased with the actors reply. A few
minutes afterwards the Emperor rose and dis
missed the company. II
1t was in the middle Of winter, about mid
night, when Frogere was aroused from his sleep
by q loud knocking at his door He jumped
from his bed. opened the door, and saw to his
amazement an officer and q file of soldiers enter
the apartment The former produced warrant
from the Emperor, banishing Frogere to Siberia.
i We may readily imagine the terror of the
Frenchman He cried, threw himself upon the
floor, tore his hair and repeatedly exclaimed,
8 What crime have committed to deserve such
punishment 2 He received no answer. He
begged for few hours delay, to throw him
self at the feet Of the monarch and learn the
nature of his guilt. In vain the officer would
allow him only time to pack up a few clothes
and linen. Scarcely was the operation finished
when he was surrounded by the soldiers and
carried outside the house, where q coach was
in waiting. He was then lifted into it-more
dead than alive-while two soldiers with drawn
swords and cooked pistols took their seats on
each side Of him The doors of the vehicle were
locked and the officer giving the signal, the
coach rolled away at full speed, surrounded by
. cavalry escort.
How long the first stage lasted Frogere was
unable to tell; the vehicle was SO thickly COW
cred that not the least ray Of light could pene-
trate. He was told on entering the coach that
the soldiers had orders to shoot him on the spot
the moment he opened his mouth to put any
questions to them. He consequently observed
strict silence, and suffered world of pain The
door Of the coach was at last opened-it was
broad daylight. His eyes we're, however, ban
daged, and he was led into miserable hut, the
doors and windows of which were closed as soon
as he entered. When the bandage was removed,
he saw BY the faint glimmer Of rushlight a
dish of coarse food upon board before him
Though he had been tasting for some time he
could hardly swallow a morsel; fear, however,
induced him to eat, for the faces that watched
his motions seem to portend no good Siberia
Siberia that was the only thought; he was to
live in that terrible land. Frogere gave him
selfup to despair when the previous officer-by-
the-bye an old acquaintance entered the room,
attended by courier.
The poor prisoner felt it as if he had not seen
that friendly face for years. In the joy Of his
heart he was about to embrace him; but mo-
ton with the hand and o stern look restrained
him. while the finger of the officer pressed upon
his lips imposed silence He had fattered him
self that the courier had brought an order for
his release, but he was mistaken. The officer
dismissed his guide and ordered the soldiers to
leave the room and wait outside Being alone
with the prisoner, he said, almost in a whisper,
g Frogere, we must now part. | have accom-
panied you to the first stage. and you will hence
be under the inspection of another officer Be
careful not to speak word. risk much even
in giving this caution; but l am your friend
Have you any orders for me Can serve you
on my return to st. Petersburg - Poor Fro
gere melted into tears. Instead of replying to
the question, he only bewailed having to under
go q punishment for an unknown crime
An unknown crime 20 said the officer.
g Don't you then know what you have done
Are You mad, Frogere' Have you forgotten
the sarcastic jest You made at the imperial
table It has offended the Emperor you are
punished because there was 50 much truth
in it.''
= g Good Heavens p exclaimed the exile.
g Hush! be silent!' whispered the other
!" walls have ears. But, not to waste time,
listen, Frogere l am the only one whom you
know; henceforth, during your long journey,
you will find faces wholly unknown to YOU
The Emperor, you are aware, is immovable in |
his resolves, and inexorable in his wrath, You
had better, therefore, be resigned to your fate
you have nothing to hope. Tell me, then,
quickly, what can do for you"
Speak for me to his Majesty 1
Not word Of that" said his friend eAsk |
any thing but that"
6 If that be the case,'' said poor Frogere, 81
have nothing to ask, /"
" And your money and trinkets,'' reioined
the officer, $ you have left them all behind |
Can l lodge them safely for you some where
until you return Z"
My rsturn!s gasped Frogere; g then am
:. OF course not-only for three years Take
courage; they will soon pass away; and |
then -
I & Three years for an innocent word p whined |
trogere, and began again to cry and COM |
plain. - |
But at this moment the soldiers entered, and
bandaging his eyes, they lifted him into the |
vehicle, and away it rolled again. 1t seemed a |
very long stage; for Frogere calculated that he |
had travelled whole day, when the vehicle
again stopped. AS before, he was bandaged and
led into a wretched hut, counterpart Of the
drst, and lighted by q piece Of blazing pine.
wood. The same coarse food was again placed
before him. He looked at the faces around
him. None that he knew ; none that inspired
him with comfort After several similar Jour
neys, the vehicle again stopped. By Frogere's
estimate, as well as he could tell he had fra
yeled three days and nights
His eyes were bandaged as before; but, in
stead Of being led, his guides seized him, and
,arrled him for some time, until they placed him
Upon wooden bench He waited for a few
moments, and wondered why the bandage was
lot removed. At last he heard soft whisper
nga, and then quick steps approaching His
hands were suddenly seized, and tied behind his
oaek. He tremblingly asked what it meant,
put received no reply. In another moment his
'oae was torn of his shoulders, and his breast
anu bare Frogere now thought that eternity,
instead Oh Siberia, was to be the goal of his
Journey, take aimi" was the command of
'ne whose voice he thought he knew-ss Fire ~
anu several shots were at once discharged
trogere fell senseless to the ground. He was
raised, unwounded, and while he was horne
along he became sensible of division of soldiers
marching past him. Having been placed upon
Chair, his hands were unbound, and the ban
iage removed.
lie then found himself in the same room. Mt
he same table, and in the same company. wbere