Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-18
Polish Convicts in Siberia.

A st. Potersburgh letter to the Lon
don 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 exccp.
tions, tho exiled Poles now belong io
the latter division, in consequence Of
the frequent occasions on which their
punishment has been mitigated within
the last ten years. AS settlers, they
arc free TO do us they like, so long as
they remain within tho limits Of the
locality to which tbcy arc assigned
II is now proposed that those among
them whose conduct has been salts,
factory should DO allowed to go back
to their native country, provided they
can return at their own expense, and
are able to find the means of subsist.
ence at homo. There is one other
condition-namely, that the head OF
the administration OF their native
district should not object to their re.
turn. The Poles in exile are very
different from their countrymen at
home. Once in Siberia, those who
are not kept at bard labor soon be-
come useful members Of society. Po-
litical agitators forget their dreams OF
personal ambition and their plans for
making people happy by putting them
through course of constant agitation.
They have to work and they do it,
Their labor is well paid, and il they
do not live comfortably as honest
workmen, it is their own fault. The
long journey is always a painful trial
to them, and when they reach their
place Of destination they find LABOR of
any kind relief Some of them, ii
is true, continue their old habits of in.
trigue for II time and try to work out
the political and social problems which
they consider it their mission to solve;
but in very short time they become
convinced OF the utter inutility of such
course, and settle down into good
subjects. Those who have any skill
get on very well. As artisans they
are preferred, for they always show
superior knowledge and taste, and
"Polish work" in Siberia means super
ior workmanship. Seeing this, those
who do not know any trade soon learn
one. We have heard OF Pole who
could do nothing; but as he must
either be content with the miserable
pittance allowed by the Government
of two cents day, or turn his hand
TO some useful occupation, he tried
boot'making, but that did not sue.
coed then be turned his attention to
sausages and made them so well that be
sold as many as he could manufacture.
AT Irkutsk the best shops are kept by
the Poles. There are undoubtedly
many who cannot become sausage.
makers or shop keepers, but for those
who would more willingly work with
their heads than their hands there are
careers open. Engineers and doctors
find ready employment, and indeed
Polish medical mon have a high repu
tation in Siberia. Authorship in any
shape is, of course, out of the question
The only remaining career, that ol
teaching, is according TO the law strict
ly forbidden; but, Notwithstanding
the prohibition, it is well known that
educated Poles are engaged as teach
ors in the families of some of the most
important functionaries in Siberia, ,and
they are never known TO abuse The
confidence reposed in them"