The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1876-11-24
A CONVICT IN sERVIA.
A Russians Visit 10 the Citadel
and the Incidents which
Made ID Memorable. ..

A correspondent of the Londor
Telegraph writes: "1he oddities
of Belgrade life. normal and alb
normal Certain features of the
Russian occupation taking a con.
spicuous place in the latter cate
gory), would fill small and sin.
gulary diverting volume; but
! there are serious, even tragical,
times, during which one hesitates,
even under the strongest tempta-
ton, to lay stress upon, or even
call attention to, the comic as
poets of men and things Servian.
Nevertheless, one trifling Incl
dent Ofrecent occurrence strikes
me as being so intrinsically and
harmlessly funny that | cannot
forbear narrating it, as nearly as
possible in the words of the per-
son to whomit happened, a young
Russian of my acquaintance here.
This gentleman having demanded
and received permission to in
spect the citadel, was conducted
over the works and the Konak by
the Servian commandant, some
what stout officer, who, however,
when my friend expressed a de-
sire to ascend to the top of the
minaret hard by, from which an
extensive view of the surroun-
ding country is commanded, ex-
cused himself from accompany
ing NJ. De--to that "bad en-
inence," but offered him a trusty
guide, and called up strapping
young fellow in a sort of a fatigue
uniform of drab-colOred canvas,
whom he instructed to conduct
the Gospodin. Arrived upon the
tiny platform, NJ. De--frst took
in the panorama at his leisure,
and then bent his eyes down
ward toward the place fronting
the Konak, where he noticed sew
eral exceptionally fine men, clad
in a costume exactly similar to
that Worn by his companion.
"Tell me-" he exclaimed, turning
to the latter, "who may these men
be, and to what branch of the SER
vice do they belong" "Look, Cos
podin," replied his guide, "that
one there is the brother of the
Minister: he has twenty years;
it is because he killed his wife. |
That other one, the tall youth
with the sweeping mustache, he
will not be here so long. He is
the son of Senator -. He only |
killed man who offended him."
And thus he went on with his cat
alogue. 1t should be remember
ed that my friend, slight and
somewhat delicate young fellow,
was entirely alone with his inter
locutOr, sinewy giant of trucu-
lent aspect, upon narrow ledge
Of stone sixty or seventy feet
above the level Of the ground.
His feeling may be more readily |
than described when
his gentleman in drab, who had
lust revealed himself, by implica-
ion, to be a galeriamo, turned to
lim with hideous jocularity, and,
him amicably on the
observed in a tone of
restrained pride, such as is assu-
ned by the modest merit. II am
llso a twenty-six years. man, for
you see l too have killed my
yife." My friend replied in as
teady a voice as he could COM
nand, "That is indeed very re-
narkable and interesting. Per
laps am keeping you from your
egular avocations? think, perl
laps, we had better go down"
When they got to the last step of !
he staircase, the amiable misog-
mist turned short around on M.
De-, and, stretching out his
red right hand,' CALCULATED, 81
ike thee. Thou art good man.
Let us cordially shake hands" {
What was my unfortunate friend 4
o dog Let us mercifully drop a
ell over the inevitable accolade
the eliminating horror of this
ragi-comical, eminently Servian I