The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-02-01
Row Coachmen in Russia.

The Russians are inc DeSt COaounuSn
in the world. In order to acquire the
great skill in driving to which they
attain they begin their training early
in fact, when quite children. 1t Is
wonderful to see the boy coachmen
driving a carriage. and -four over rougn
and dangerous roads, at full gallop.
for ten or twelve miles at a stretch.
Russia. as all know. is country OF
vast extent. being ii, 900 miles at its
greatest length, with an average width
of 1900 miles and containing, as
some estimate. 100000 OF square
miles. The ordinary carriage road
are nearly the only means OF commu-
nication but these are Of very ln1e-
rior construction. Huge hollows and
large stones continually intercept the
travellers progress; frail bridges or
wood. without any battlements or out
side protection whatever, Stretcn
!, across wide and rapid rivers and over
the dangerous roads and the still more
dangerous bridges the Russian coach.
man dashes at the fastest gallop. IL
seems a miracle that travellers 40 not
as a rule lose their lives and break
| their limbs and coaches every journey.
. The latter often takes place. the coacn
$ being stopped for repairs sometimes
: half dozen times on the road.
: The marquis de Castine, who mas
v written an Interesting and instructive
:, account Of his travels through Russia
} a few wears ago, gives an account OF
J one of the bow cOachmen, and OF a 1T
= tie incident connected with him. I'm
d RUSSIA says the Marquis, "the desire
!, Of travelling fast becomes passion,
!; and this passion serves as a pretext Ioi
i. every species OF lnhumanlty. my
e. courier has communicated 1t TO me, ano
es I often render myself, without at the
l. time perceiving it, an accompllce II
a his acts of injustice. He is exceeding
= " angry whenever the coachman leave'
he his seat to readjust any portion OF tn
no harness, or when he stops on the roae
b on any pretext. Yesterday evening, a
40 the commencement of a stage, chilli
M who drove us had been several time
Ct threatened with blows by the feldjage
al for a fault of this kind, and partlc
in mated in the wrath and impatience
We the man. Suddenly foal, not man
ey DAYS old, and well known by the DO!
OF ESCAPED from an Enclosure borderln
RS, mon the road, and began neighing an
the calloping after my carriage, for /
~ took one of the horses that drew us X
an his mother. The young coachman, a
md ready guilty Of delay. ldagain ste
one and 90 to the aid of the colt. which
re- saw every moment in danger OF bell
~. crushed under the wheels Of the ca
ate rage
uch INV courier angrily forbade him
and leave his seat the child obeyed like
hef good Russian, and continued to drl
NO NO us at gallop, without offering co.
ame nlaint. Thus the poor colt and the
our happy child were left to mourn in cal
y or est: the one by neighing with all
c .iua might. the other by crying silently.
ton was long martyrdom, for the sta
that was six leagues in length. Inc Dt
such obliged to hasten the ANIMALS ne WIZ
'ucn ed to save, suffered with reslgnatl
;, sx that would have touched me had
,uch nv heart been already hardened by
nade residence In the country. Every I'll
1nds that peasant appeared on the ROAD
ON hope Of rescning his beloved foal ag;
s I'm revived in the bosom of the child.
/ OF made signs from afar Off; he shou
7otes when a hundred PAGES distant from
un- foot passenger; but not daring to sla
l.ing en- the unmerciful gallop OF the hors
,ns e. he never succeeded in making hlms
wise, understood In Time. IL cVcI po"o
order more uuick-Sighted than the OtneTS
apers deavored of himself to turn the Il
no mes the speed of the carriage disconce,r
been MIN, anu Tue youns ~nili'". po
8uses close to the flank OF our noiSeo'
act, length the despair of the young Coz
'stion mon hacame so great that he no Ion
xcept NO.. J 80 ,,o,,th The nersever
rder little animal, only eight days old,
ecide cording to our driver, had Lne 81
made and muscle necessary to perform
. soess leagues at gallop.