The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-30
THE PISTOL SHOT.
From tho Recoilccttons of R"ssi"f
officer.

Garrison life in a Russian provincial town
which does not possess thcatre, not ever
n bad one, is, YOU may take my Word lot II
very insipid and monotOn"us. In the morn
incparadcs two hours in the Ild!ng-Schoot
at noon a frugal dinner of the regiments
mrss. or perhaps at q miserable restaurant
and at night cards and bowling VOLTA lout;
There was not a single family 10 eNte'u
their hosnitaltics to us. We treated eacn
at thr wine and beer shop, and "a" hoti'lI!'
Of Gods beautiful world but our own green
uniforms.
There was but one person who was not
IN the service who associated WIN us-a
man Of perhaps forty years oil age. HIS va
ried information won for hilm certain au-
thority among us. but his sharp tongue and
stern character did not faVoraoly impress
the Younger officers. 4 certain mystery
surrounded him; he looked true Rus
sian. and vet had a foreign name; he had
served in the army. he said, but why he had
quilted the service So early, or W'thdrawn
10 so wrctchcd quarters as WolSoda, where
life was both expensive and tedious, &c
never explained. No matter how bad the
weather, he always went on foot, enveloped
in a black WORKOUT paletot. For us OIL
fjccrs he always keptan open table. There
were. indeed, only two or three dishes,
pared with very indifferent skill, but rs
amends therefor there was always an
abundance OF Burgundy and champagne
No one knew his circumstances or ms
means of support. and no one yenturcd 10
ask him: all inquiries were repealed by his
stern aspect. His library consisted tor the
most part of military works, besides few
romances Of Gocol and TurSeiJeh. which
he Willingly lent without ever asking Tor
them again, rs he himself never letuIheu
borrowed book.
His occupation WAS pistol practice, and
the walls of his room were perforated with
pistol balls like the interior of Il beehive.
A fine collection of beautiful and costly
pictures formed the only decoration OF hi>
room. and his accuracy in shooting was 50
that each of us would have allowed
tra 1t an apple from our heads with
Sie". Oh, ION. Although we have
out any hcSi1a.- io-so nc Nis Ill
ta va 80, "oUt tnot mart in tn. fought
and if any one asked HIM II nc eve!
no would curly answer in the affirmative +,
without further remark but it was OBJ !
served that the question was lrksome TO
him: we all, therefore, came to the conclu,
sion that his conscience perhaps tortured
him, his dcxtcrity having probably leu 10
fatal results. In no event would any
Of us have taken him for coward, rs III
this case his department forbade the suspi- |
clons. 1t was for this reason mat the lol- /
lowing occurrence created no HUE a>loli- |
ishmcnt.
About ten of us were taking supper one
evening with Sylvio. There WAS hard drink |
ing rs usual. and after supper we INSISTED
mon our host being banker He at 1lrSt |
POLITELY declined but finally yielded TO the |
wishes of his guests. He threw fifty ducats |
on the table, while we seated ourselves
around it, and the play began. lie con-
tinued rs usual to play silently. Syivlo had
never been noted as very generous player, |
and he was remarkable in always refusing
TO give any explanation. II lie ever lnaue
Il mistake to the advantage OF PLAYER, he
paid him without the slightest hesitation
his own winnings he always noted on the
table with piece of chalk, as WAS his we'll
known custom. But tonight there was
Young officer in the company who had late
" Joined the regiment. and he did not
Know of Sylvio's peculiarities. This conner
PLAYED wildly; he made q bet and lost 1t.
Svlvio seized his chalk and marked it down
on the table. The lieutenant, a>tonlshed,
begged for an explanation but, rs usual.
Sylvio went on quietly dealing. The lieu
tenant rubbed out the tally from the table
with the greatest calmness, SylVio renew
cd it. -,
Heated with wine and excited by the
play and laughter Of hi> comrades, and
imagining himself insulted by Sylvio, the
Lieutenant seized q candlcStick from the
table and hurled it with blind passion at
our host. He Skiltully avoided 1t, anu
arose pale with wrath and with hamin%
eyes. while the rest of us Kept embarrassed
silence. ..,
"Leayc the room, sir" he cried, "and
bo tboutful that il i | TO whom YOU have
The Lieutenant Immediately arose, and
with the words. " If you feel yourself IN
suited, Sylvio, L am ut all times at your
service" he departed.
We did not tor moment doubt that TIL,
scene would have fatal consequences, and
we already regarded our comrade rs Il dead
man. We played only for short time
longer: for wien we saw that our host was
a giving no more attention to the game We
broke up and went home, speaking OF moth
ing but the vacancy which would soon cNls
in the squadron.
The next morning as we met in the ridin!
school we asked each other " Is the Lieu
tenant still alive" But behold, the man
come in as fresh as ever. To our ;tStonSh.
ment, he had received no challenge from
With puzzled minds we then visited Syl
vic, and found him in his courtyard, send
ing ball after ball through card which he
had nailed up against the stable door. Tie
received us as if nothing had happened,
and was silent about yesterdays occur.
renee. This conduct on the part OF Sylylo
caused him TO fall in the estimation OF the
officers, for the lack OF personal courage Is
deemed ineXcusablc by military lnen
Among them, to be brave is the first virtue
This unpleasant affair was, however, gradu'
ally forgotten, and Sylvio recovered hi
former Influence and position in our circle
alone could not induce myself to REGARD
him with my former feelings. Before thi:
event nv imagination had drawn me to thi.
man, who appeared TO be mystery; ant
think that he, too, preferred me to al
the rest, for against me he never INDUCED
in sarcasm, as he often did with my com
rades, but always treated me with great
sincerity.
But after this occurrence l never could
Danish the thought that his honor wa
stained. l could not look him fully in TIT
face, as formerly. Sylvlo's eyes were TOT
sharn not to observe this. 1t panied him
and it seemed to me that on several occa
sons he tried to bring about an explanation
hut eyaded it, because 1t was painful t.
me, and 50 at last he deslsted.
Dwellers in large cities can hardly under
stand what sensation the most thrilling at
fair makes in u small town. Thus, the arri
val of the mail throws u small town int
commotion. Every Wednesday and Frida.
the Headquarters OF our regiment was tillet
with oflicers-one expecting money trou
home, another letters, and smother news
napers, which soon became common pro
pertv, and were devoured with eagernes>
They usually broke the seals Of their letter
on the spot, and shared the contents witt
their comrades. Sylvio also received hi
letters in our mail bag, and one day he re
L. I, E.Inl b