The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-02-17


of their husbands. Their first act after their
arrival was to petition the imperial govern
mcnt that there might be windows pierced in
the prison, and that few comfort, which
their husbands were then without, might be
conceded; and the PRAYER of their petition
was granted. For the remaining portion OF
two years these exiies continued daily en-
ploycd at the work above mentioned; under
a supcrintcndcncc SO mild that no more labor
was cxactcd from them than they themselves
found it cxpclicnt TO perform. and which was
indeed necessary. in the words Of ono Of the
principal among them, 'to relieve the weari-
ness of the time and give them appetites.>-
\. the end of this r .riol they were released
from prison, and permitted to live in the vii
lagos in the vicinity, where most Of them re-
sided for three wears. After this, third step
in the amclioration of their condition was
made, in giving them permission to choose
any village in the same government in which
they would prefer TO settle as colonists. They
generally chose such as were not far from
;hc capital and they are now engaged in the
cultivation Of land. But finally, at the end
Of five o: seven wears. they were allowed TO
settle, in this or any other town, as they thot
proper.
Mr.. Hill was in the habit of visiting in the
!. houses of the cxies. and there he met off,
GERS. and merchants, and mining prcprictOrS,
. and in fact, the gentry of the place, or per-
. sons belonging to all classes. Nor did the
: police appear to lay an interdict upon the
closest familiarity with them. Once. howcv-
or, the friends Of the cxilcs all suddenly a.
: banloned them, and that was when a new
: governor was on the point Of arriving; but
5 no sooner was the governor known TO bo a
man Of inlul ulsencc, than back they all came
! and renewed their former friendship. In
t Russia, much more, it appears, depends On
;l.c character Of individual MAGISTRATES, than
: ON the laws. The law there is less absolute
= than the individual
r After reading Mr.. Hills Travels in Sibc-
: ria" one is no, so Mortified with the idea os
Is Siberian exile. 1t seems very tolcrable.-
" Life there has is en- ovmcnts and its refine
N n,cutS. There are balls and concerts; and
ne though the cxilcs do not usually attend theuN
n ii is rather from obedience to rule Of cti-
ID qu,ttc, observed among themselves, than any
f othcr preventive cafSe. There may be spe-
" cial seventies practiccd upon special inshvh-
Rs u,lS. and indeed there must be. in order to
e reconcile the apparently conflicting narra-
f iiyeS Tat circulate in the press: but assur-
y ,lly II M.. Hills description of Siberian
f. lie be correct, in the main, it is by TO means
he the monster grievance that we have been in
5, the habit OF rcsardin. it.
G. In Tcmsk. in Eastern Siberia. Mr.. lrlt
y. met the Albino who was exhibited in London
&c - or 50 wears aco. Ills parents made show
TO Of ,m He had white hair ard red eyes, &
- a very fair complexion. lie is now wine
nj merchant in Ton,sk, and became Russian
k. subject in order to save himself from ruin in
L. some unfortunate commercial tranSactiOn.--
- lie is very wonderful man. and speaks six
r. languages with great accuracy and fiuency-
ii lie goes bv the name of .\lbinos, and shines
n in the town-council Of Torosk, being great
m reader, possessed of great krowlcdse. lie is
m one of the very few exceptions of English
i men transferring their allegiance to the Russ
is ian autocrat. Eut perhaps he is better used
=. in Russia, where they do not make a snow,
= but town councillor of him. Ills is vol
20 un,ary exile. Only think of native of IIol-
h.. born parish. in London. voluntarily condemn
ing himself to exile in Siberia so far awav,
j. that cxlcs from Russia generally take two
of wears TO accomplish the journey, and about
v,. one fifth of them die on the way.
IL SkArlHG.-Dutch .Schaatdcnridicrs' are
o' world renowned, and those who represent the
no Netherlands" at the city OF Holland, situated
ca on the borders OF the North Black river, cf
Michigan, where it widcns into Lake AIaca
'uf tawa. have not forgotten their national anuse-
''o Incnt. \ recent copy of the Ho!'cHder say:
- they nave not Eal lnutu SitlS0hihS thlo "iiiti
li- but they have unusually fine skating. Tbs
y>, >katin. ground is sheet of smooth ice, 81,
nd miles lon. and avcragins mile wide. W.
TO clip from the Hollamier's article the follow
he inc paragraphs for the Lencfit Of our siiIas'
I've bellies:
lc- "Our Dutch ,lamseis arc not at all inclined
Ter to leave to their brothers and bcaux the cx
TIL elusive enjoyment of this graceful amusement
In Many Of them would bc able to maintain tiis
ON national reputation. without the all OF TN
vas stronger sex We rccoIlcct two bri-ht-cvct
oh sisters who lived here q lew wears since, wh'
led had peculiar style OF skating. They wonl,
j,in hands and keep step, and when thci,
OF lonc frisian skates were securely fastened
en- and they had the smooth ice before In. m
cl they were unarproachahle to al! ec,siaar,
is pursuers.
lse What would our delicate hot bed la,lies sa,
are 10 leaving satins and kids for furs and weOl
iIc ems, and exchanging the dust and swcltcr sf
\lr. the midnight ball for the CLASSY ice and TN
zen pure. bracing winter arr? Or how wOult
o. ti,cy like to listen to the clear ring of th'
r,t steel skate by way of variation 70 the drum
,or ming and twan.ing Of the patient and mucl
ISL abused parlor piano, or the dismal squeak'
,..s. OF the assembly f.dd!cs So
'' r.5 II is a S;,anish maxim that he that 10