Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-06
Delicate Doctors In the Russian Service

Riding yesterday--where and on what
road I shall not tell-r strayed into
wine shop to rest. Presently came in
two soldiers, wearied out, quite penniless
but cheerful. They bowed to me, and
sat upon the bench with the air of men
too tired to unharness, too feverish to
sleep. sent them glass of wine each
and began to talk through my interpreter.
He stated to me that they were peasants
from the neighborhood of Moscow, but
brighter youths could not be easily found
in the bourgeois class of Eastern Europe.
They had not much to say even when
rested, besides laughingly displaying the
bread allotted them, which was like a
Captains biscuit made of oak sawdust.
They observed carelessly that the regu-
three days; "but," it was added, "some-
body eats it. We do not see any from
week to week" asked what provisions
they would receive at the end of their
days journey, and they marked off upon
their fingers about three square inches to
represent the ration of bread. I remem-
Der to have sent you some weeks since
the scale of subsistence to which Russian
soldier is entitled. Prince Charles has
declared himself astonished at the vo-
racity of his subjects, judged by the COM
parison. But if am to believe these
young soldiers, their abstinence begins
to equal that of the famous horse in
training to live upon straw day. Very
cheerful and manly they were, however,
taking with gratitude, but without the
least serVility, such small refreshments as
1 could find for them at the inn. They
could afford nothing themselves, receiv-
ing but one rouble month-about three
shillings and twopence-gone long ago.
asked how the health account stood
in their regimens and they answered sig
nifcantly that many were ill, but few in
hospital. Then the fairer and younger
fellow, smiling rather painfully, added /:
"The doctors were fooled yesterday; one
of our company died and they carried
him to the hospital. The doctor came out
with his whip and declared he was not
dead, so he cut him, of course, over the
legs, making great stripes. But the poor
chap was really gone, so everybody
laughed at the doctor" I said, through
my interpreter, that the joke was not a
bad one, but that they should be careful
in talking thus to strangers. "Some
might believe you Serious" l added. cit
is serious, as God knows" they both an
swered. 1.-THE doctors always fog man
before letting him into the hospital, and
! many times he will die under the whip
AS they spoke melancholy wretch tot
tered round the corner of the inn. His
face was waxy and bloodless, his eyes
swollen, his white shirt chung to him as
though soaked with rain. He dropped
upon the bench, letting his rife fall
"Surely this object is not being sent TO
duty?" I exclaimed in horror. cit is
only his feet amiss," the others answered,
more in disgust, thought, than pity.
He prefers to go on, rather than ask the
tender mercy of the hospital, suppose
The poor wretch was beginning to TN
wrap his wounded feet. I mounted in
haste and fed. The account these fell
lows gave when alone with foreigner
who treated them kindly feel bound to
repeat. If it be not true, l dare vouch
that they believe what they told. II
seemed to me that they wished to dis
cover the opinion Of stranger about it
that they have so far progressed beyond
their fathers standpoint as to begin tc
family wonder if all doctors behave as
they accuse their own of doing.-Londor
Standard