Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-24
Don't Lose YOur POckeIbOok in
Russia.

cbdubl1 III bulD COuubi1s
Don't Lose YOur POckeIbO0k in
Russia.
A correspondent Of the Sheffield
Telegraph relates the following
story, which he says illustrates
forcIbly one phase Of life in st.
Petersburg:
A young Scotchman from Ediu-
burg, Mr., B by name, passed
a few days here for pleasure. One
day he went into the postoffice to
purchase a post card. Having
written this card, which was simply
to inform his friends Of the time at
which he expected to reach his
home, he left the office. He had
scarcely got outside when he found
that he had forgotten to take up
his pocketbook, which, while writ
ing, he had placed on the table in
the Office. He returned immedi-
ately, and found the clerk in charge
very busy counting the bank notes
and twenty-mark pieces, which
were the chief contents of his
pocketbook. "Excuse me-" said
Mr.. B, in German; "I have
forgotten my pocketbook; will you
be SO kind as to give it back to
me?" The Russian officer kept the
book in his hand and stared at Mr..
B as if he did not understand
him. He who had spoken German
quite fluently only few moments
ago, could only shrug his shoulders
as he put away the foreign money
in the reeesses of his capacious
Russian pocket. Mr.. B then
addressed himself to the other
clerks, and one of them cried in an
imperious voice, "Take off your
hat" The Englishman had for.
gotten that in his hurry, and i'm,
mediately complied with the rudely
expressed dictate. He then asked
once more for his pocketbook
"The book" was the officials re
ply, "you cannot have just now
you must, in the first place, give
satisfactory proof that you are the
owner"
Well" said the young man
"look then in the pocketbOok ant
you will find my passport and Other
belongings with my signature,
; which, of course, he was not pre-
pared to write for the benefit of the
official.
"Not now, sir" was the Rus
, slams answer. "We shall examine
your papers tomorrow; you may
then come again"
But | want to start to-mor
row." replied Mr.. B.
"That is no business of ours
replied the Russian gentleman.
Very much put about, Mr.. b
continued to insist on the useless
ness and inconvenience of putting
off till tomorrow what so easily
could have been done at the time
but he could get no other answer
from the Russian official than this
ave don't care, and "We have
no time"
Finally Mr.. B went to tn,
) English consulate and stated hi
: pase, The consul went with him tt
: the postoaice, but was told that tn,
= book with the money had alread,
been sent to the police office. Ther
! to the police Office went the consu
and his oOmpatriot The book anC
! money had not been heard of; NJ
doubt they were still at the post
Office, And thus for three days tht
: consul and Mr.. B. were KEEP
running from the police Office t.
the postofioe, without getting an,
t satisfaction. At last, when thu
British consul became very serious
the Russian authorities gave bacl
tho lpocketbopk to Mr.. B, bu
, howg
The Russian oficial-Gospodil
Talkoy, we may call him-kep
Q back f7 of the money, and this sim
} ply because the pocketbook wa
left for a few moments on a table il
, a government office in Russia, I'm
= agine such a thing happening il
F.; England or in Germany. Mr.. b
t, asked for what reason this sum-
t about a third part Of the content
( of the pocketbook-was kept back
/. The Russian added insult to injury
t 81 do not want your money" h
q said, hbpt ! like to make an Eng
lishman give a donation TO the neV
volunteer Russian AcetJ that
where your gold will be sent"
t Mr. B bad to pocket the al
t front, and the Russian pockete,
| the money.
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j wicked LOrd AyIealOrd.
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