Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-10-20

"Forward march !" said the sentry,
indicating with his musket the way I was
to 60.
"Take me to your superior. then. and
let me settle this matter At once !" said
l, with an air. supposing the whole thing
would result in pretty round 6ne.
The sentry called the officer Of the
guard. who met me with civil bow.
Fined for smoking In the street, I
suppose" l said, 10 sort Of explanatory
way.
The sentry whispered few words in
his ear.
"You must pass the night in the guard
house," said the officer turning to me.
"Pshaw :" said "you are only jest.
ing. Come, what is the fine 2"
"How long have you been in Prussia
asked the officer.
"About eight months" l answered.
"And have you yet to discover that
the officers Of justice in this country are
not in the habit of jesting with affairs Of
state ~
"Oh, then. smoking cigar in the
kstreet is an affair Of state in Prussia, is
it ?" said l, in an ironical tone.
The officer frowned, aud bit his lips,
but made no reply.
We reached the guard house in silence.
"Surely not in there ;" said |, as my
conductor threw open the door Of damp
filthy cell.
j." Enter" was his stern response.
l did so, and was left there to pass the
night alone as best l might.
Early the next morning, was march.
ed off to the police Office, and found my.
self among q crowd Of miserable wretcbes
who had been arrested during the night
for various crimes, and were now huddled
together here to await an examiuation.-
As l was the only wel!.dressed gentleman
of the party. and had been brought here
TOR slight irrcgularity. l nAtnraIly ex.
pectcd my turn would come first.
was mistaken. Perhaps the design
Of the authorities was to humble me still
more at all events, one after another OF
my companions in mis-, ~ We led oft and
disposed OF, till remained alone. l was
vexcd, and at the same time alarmed.--
Perhaps the whole affair was going to
turn ont good deal more serious than |
had supposed possible-in fact, it already
had done so-and l might be far from
through with it yet. i had committed
no crime, it is true; in fact, l had done
.othing to merit the disgrace aud punish.
mcnt had already received but knew
enough Of tie arbitrary power of dcspct'
ism to make me feel not little concern.
ed. aud to regret in some measure my
hasty and passionate words.
At length l was summoned into small
narrow room, divided by bar, behind
which sat man with one eye, a large
scar across his left cheek, and whose sar.
donic expression of countenance would
certainly have kept me from selecting him
for boon companion. With his one eye
he took quick, sharp survey Of my face
and person, and then. in squeakiDg
voice. demanded my name.
" Richard Bcresiord."
He turned and fumbled over a pile oi
papers, and at length drew out one which
| recognised as my passport.
"llum an Englishmnn ~ he mutter'
ed. with an expression which showed he
had no liking for the nation.
He then referred to large book which
lay on the desk beside him, and, after ex'
amining it for few minutes, said, in the
same squeakiug voice /:
This matter is serious, and must be
decided by higher authority"
"And all this grows out Of simply
smoking cigar in the street, does it 7?
said |. in tone that betrayed some ol
the irritation that I felt.
"You will see sir ~ was the short,
surly rejoinder of the one.eycd function.
ary, who held the Office OF inspector Of
police.
l could not resist the temptation Of n
reply, notwithstanding knew it would
do me more hurt than good.
"Well." said |. "if am to be kept
in durance much longer, l hope shall
either be furnished with something to eat
or permitted to procure it myself, for
have no desire to be starved to death for
nothing"
To this the inspector did not even con.
descend to reply, but taking up a printed
blank, be filed it out and handed it to
my conductor or guard, who Immediately
tapped me ON the shoulder and told me
to follow him. We left the room by a
door opposite TO the one by which We en-.
tered. Hearing step behind me. l
looked back, and discovered soldier
with musket, following just pace be.
hind me. For the 6rst time l really
trembled. All this caution and care
must mean something; perhaps l was
about to be immured in q dungeon. l
had not done anytting-but what Of that
| was in the power Of men who might
deal harshly with me, and what redress
would | have ? what means of escape
from their clutches? l might be missed
and eventually be inquired about, but in
the meantime | might also die in dun.
geon. Politically speaking, the English
government was bound to see me have
my rights but getting redress for a
wrong through government interference
is slow process at best, and was not
in the least consoled by thinking Of it at
that time.
After being led through long, narrow
passage, l was conducted into another
small, dingy room. upon the door OF which
was painted, department of Arrests. "
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