The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-05-13


| From The NelC Eclectic lIdgozbel
Garrison ife in a Russian provincial
town, which does not possess a theatre,
not even bad one, is, you may take
my word for it, very insipid and mono
tonous =; in the morning, parades, two
hours in the riding school; at noon, a
frugal dinner at the regimental mess,
or perhaps at a miserable restaurant /;
and at night, cards and bowling, coiia
tout. There was not a single family to
extend their hospitalities to us. We
treated each other at the wine and beer
shop, and saw nothing of Gods beauti-
ful world but our own green uniforms,
There was but one person, who was
not in the service, who associated with
us, a man perhaps forty years of age.
His varied information won for him a
certain authority among us, but his
sharp tongue and stern character did
not favorably impress the young Off
GERS. a certain mystery surrounded
him: he looked like a true Russian,
and yet had Il foreign name; he had
served in the army, he said, but why
he had quilted the service so early and
Withdrawn to such wretched quarters
as Wologda, where life was both ex.
pensive and tedious, he never explain
ed. No matter how bad the weather,
he always went on foot, enveloped in a
black worn.o paletot. For us officers
he always kept an open table; there
We're, indeed, only two or three dishes,
which his body servant and factotum
prepared with very moderate skill, but
as amends therefor, there was always
an abundance of Burgundy and Cham
pagne. No one knew his circumstances
or his means Of support, and no one
venturcd TO ask him; all inquiries were
repelled by his stern aspect. His library
consisted for the mCst part of military
works, besides the romances Of Gogol
and Turdenjef' which he willingly lent
without ever asking for them again, as
he himself never returned borrowed
book.
His only occupation was pistol prac.
ticc and the walls of his room were
pierced with holes like the interior of
beehive. a fine collection of beautiful
and costly pistols formed the only dec
Grafton of his room, and his accuracy
in shooting was so great that each of us
would have allowed him to shoot an
apple from our epaulettes without any
hesitation. Although we often talked
about duels, Sylvio-so he was called
never took part in tho conversation,
and if any one asked him if he had
ever fought, he would curtly answer in
the affirmative without further remark;
but it was observed that the question
was irksome to him; we all therefore
came to the conclusion that his con-
science, perhaps, tortured him, his dex-
terity having probably led to fatal re-
suits. In no event would any ofus have
taken him for coward, as in this case
his department forbade the suspicion.
1t was for this reason that the following
occurrence created no little astonish-
ment.
a bout ten of us We're taking supper
one evening with Silvio; there was
hard drinking as usual, and after sup
per we insisted upon our host being
banker. He at first politely declined,
but finally yielding to the wishes of his
guests, he threw fifty ducats on the ta-
BILE, while we seated ourselves around
it, and the play began. He continued,
as usual, to play silently. Sylvio had
never been noted as a generous player,
and he was remarkable in always refus-
ing to give any explanation; if he had
ever made mistake to the disadvan-
tage of player, he paid him without
any hesitation his own winnings he
always noted on the table with piece
of chalk, as was his well known custom.
But tonight there was young officer
in company who had lately Joined the
regiment, and did not know of Sylvio's
peculiarities. This new conner played
wildly; he made a bet and lost. Syl-
VIC seized his chalk, and marked it
down on the table. The lieutenant as
tonished, begged an explanation but rs
usual Sylvio went on quietly dealing
the lieutenant rubbed out the tally
from the table. With the greatest calm
ness, Sylylo renewed it,
Heated with wine and excited by
play and the laughter of his comrades
and imagining himself insulted by
Sylvio, the lieutenant suddenly seized
candlestick from the table, and hurl-
ed it with blind passion at our host he
skillfully avoided it, and arose pale
with wrath and with flaming eyes
while all Of us kept an embarrassed si-
lence.
"LeaS the room, sir!" he cried "and
be thankful that it is to whom you
have done this"
The lieutenant Immediately arose
and with the words; "If you feel your
self insulted, Sylyio, l am at your SER
vice." he departed.