Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-25
The Russian Police system.

The formidable system which, attaining its
highest point under the congenial rule OF the
might seem to have typifed itself i'm it's two
most famous members. Count SchOuvalotf
and Gen. Trepof, the former representing its
subtle finesse, the latter its mereilesS rigor.
So little, however, of the popular idea Of il Is
due to actual knowledge, and so much to the
lively imagination OF foreign novelists, that,
were any one to describe it as it really is, he
would probably be secuted as wholly un;
put implicit faith in the magnificent cGndrd
Russian who. when summoned by the Minister
of Police, and politely motiOned to chair,
took in his confusion, one beside it, which in
narrow cell, where he received twenty smart
lashes from brawny sergeant of police, and
was then drawn up again. As he reappeared,
the Minister observed. coolly: Il am very
a char marked 10 laSheS,' when your own
was only TO- it's really no fault Of mine"
But; absurd as many OF these stories are, the
authentic feats of the secret police require no
exaggeration to set them off. Toward The end
of the last reign, native official of high rank,
having questioned their reputed skill in
might be set, was challenged by the Minister
of Police to test it in his own person. Ac-
cordingly, the Russian lett the capital, and re-
turning toit month later with the utmost Sc
crecy, in a seemingly impenetrable disguise,
took up his quarters at an obscure tavern in
the poorest part OF the city but he had hardly
DE beeh m there an pour when ne was aStonlshed
Minister, inviting him to dinner that even
ing.
During the Crimean war, again, when the
British feet was lying off Cronstadt, an Eng
fish manufacturer residing in st. Petersburg
asked a number of his countrymen to supper,
drank sir Charles Napier's health, and sang
position. rejecting upon the efficiency of the
Russian navy and the courage of its officers,
in terms that would have driven Admiral
bounded amazement-forn not sins gle stranger
had been present the night befOre-he re-
ceived summons from the chief of police, a
PerSona friend Of his own who syfng him
find that an English gentleman in this eli y, Of
whom you may perhaps know something, has
wiltten song against our navy; and given
need hardly tell you that this is a danger
us thing for any one to do just now so, if
should happen to fail in with him, you might
those copies, and to be more careful in flu
ture." 1t is hardly necessary to add that the
hint was taken at once. On one occasion.
even these masters of cunning fairly met their
match AT The time when the fam IuS kOiOkdL.
b ID the revolutionary organ of Nj. Alex
De- HeeZen, was in the zenith of its formidable
re own h Russian government alarmed at
the completeness of the information which
laid bare the most secret windings of the i'm
periai system, determined to silence this tell
tale voice by kidnapping the editor himself
al eiiIiSSdiS vi INC secret ponce presented
himself at NJ. HerZens house in London. un.
ieran assumed name, as revolution try pro-
pagandist acting against Russia. Nj. Herzen
heard him to the end and then said quietly:
:" sc no CONSIGNMENT with me, pray. my dear
MIR. s." calling him by his real name)
have been expecting you for some time"
The thunderStruck agent at empted to utter
den aL Pooh, POOH" quOth Herzem, pro-
.Iucing his visitors likeness from the desk be-
fOre him, do you think don't recognize the
original of this pOrtrait?" The crestfallen
emissary retired in disgust and the wary
editor was thencefOrth suffered to remain un-
mOleSted-[N ". Y. Times.