The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-01-08
Polish COnvicts In Siberia.

A st. Petersburg letter to the London
Standard, contains the following
" The convicts in Siberia are divided
into two categories, those condemned
to hard labor, and those who are
sent as settlers, and with very few ex-
ceptions, the exiled Poles now belong
to the latter division, in consequence of
the frequent occasions on which their
punishment has been mitigated within
the last ten years. AS settlers, they are
free to do as they like, so long as they
remain within the limits of the locality
to which they are assigned. 1t is now
proposed that those among them whose
conduct has been satisfactory should be
allowed to go back to their native coun
try, provided they can return at their
own expense, and are able to find the
means of subsistence at home. There
is one other condition-namely, that
the head of the administration of their
native district should not object to their
return. The Poles in exile are very
different from their countrymen at
home. Once in Siberia, those who are
not kept at hard labor soon become
useful members of society. Political
agitators forget their dreams of personal
ambition and their plans for making
people happy by putting them through
a course of constant agitation. They
have to work, and they do it. Their
labor is we'll paid, and if they do not
live comfortably as honest workmen, it
is their own fault. The long journey
is always a pinful trial to them, and
when they reach their place of destina
ton they find labor of any kind a relief
Some of them, it is true, continue their
old habits of intrigue for time, and
try to work out the political and social
problems which they consider it their
mission to solve but in a very short
time they become convinced of the
utter inutility of such a course, and set
tie down into good subjects. Those
who have any skill get on very we'll. As
artisans they are preferred, for they al
ways show superior knowledge and
taste, and Polish work in Siberia
means superior workmanship. Seeing
this, those who do not know any trade
soon learn one. We have heard of a
Pole who could do nothing; but as he
must either be content with the misera-
BILE pittance allowed by Government of
two pence a day, or turn his hand to
some useful occupation, he tried boot
making, but that did not succeed then
he turned his attention to sausages, and
made them so well that he sold as many
as he could manufacture. AT 1rkutsE
the best shops are kept by the Poles.
There are undoubtedly many who can.
not become sausage-makers or shop.
keepers, but for those who would more
willingly work with their heads than
their hands there are careers open. En-.
gineers and doctors find ready employ
ment, and indeed Polish medical mer
have a high reputation in Siberia
Authorships in any shape is, of course
out of the question. The only remain
ing career, that of teaching, is accord
ing to the law strictly forbidden but
Notwithstanding the prohibition, it is
we'll known that educated Poles are en-
gagged as teachers in the families O
some of the most important functiona
ries in Siberia, and they are nevel
known to abuse the confidence reposet
in them"