Louisiana capitolian., 1879-08-09
A sERrs FREEDOM.
AND TIE REMARKABLE WAY IT WAS
~. PURCHASED.
Russian Sketches. I

! lllcs, possessed more LIla1l one nunurCO
male souls, as serfs were then called
in Russia, the women not being
counted either in the cesnus or the tax
lists. Among these serfs there were
many who were allowed to go into bus
mess for themselves. Some of these
had made fortunes, others had even
become milliOnaires. The conditions
Of the counts inheritence forbade his
selling his feedom. Among the num-
Der there wasOne who had established
himself at Riga and was at the head
Of great clearinghouse of that city
-an ancient house which had existed
under German control for q century,
and was we'll known and highly re-
spected in all the European cities.
The serf, who was now the head of
the house, felt his humiliating position
very keenly. His sons were excluded
from alliances with families who were
their equals in fortune and education,
for no daughter Of these families would
we'd slave, even were he ten times
u millionaire, us the Russian law
compels wife to accept tho social
position Other husband, The banker,
who had almost despaired Of obtaining
his own freedom, journeyed every
year to sue for that of hisown children.
The freedom Of the daughters was
cheerfully granted, for Count Schere-
metief was one of those chivalrous
nOblemen whose motto is nOblcsse
oblige. There are many sucb in
Russia Of the old reigning house Of the
empire. These mobiles lent an almost
unanimous support of Alexander ii
for the emancipation of the serfs,
although the carrying out of the
measure cost large share of their
fortunes.
Upon the bankers last visit to St.
Petersburg he had offered tho count
half million rublcs for the freedom
of his sons. The count had refused
as usual but he had shown the banker
great attention, inviting him to due
athis house, where he was treated like
q peer by the elite of the Russian
nobility.
A few months after, early in the
spring, he returned sad and desparing
to St. Petersburg. His eldest son,
having been sent to England on
business connected with the house,
had become acquainted with the
daughter of n leading manufacturer.
The young people were deeply in love
but, under existing circumstances,
they @uld not marry. The banker
resolved, if necessary, to sacrifice his
whole fortune to purchase the freedom
of his eldest son. Upon his arrival he
found the Gulf OF Finland blocked
with ice, thus shutting off all commu-
nicatiOn with the interior.
Knowing the counts extreme liking
for oysters, the banker purchased a
keg on the route and brought them
along with him. The count had some
friends to breakfast, but the delicacy
he most cared for was lacking, and
loud walls arose from him and his
guests in consequence. In the midst
of the general lamcntatio, the banker
entered, and the count invited him
to stay to breakfast.
'You have come again with that
everlasting rcfiain,' said the count,
laughing. 4 remember hearing you
sing it in my fathers lifetime, when
| was but a child. You don't know
what a fine chance for gaining your
freedom has just been opened to you,
but you have missed it as l have my
OYSTERS
what chance,' asked the banker
with deep sigh, and yet with a
CLEAN of hope in his eyes. Perhaps
your honor is in some momentary en-
balrassment. What sum do you re-
quire 2
Go to the deuce with your money!
answered the count, Il despiso it.
But if you had only brought some
oysters.
what would you do if l were to
bring you some7' asked the banker,
his heart throbbing violently.
what would do?' returned the
count, sure that there were no oysters
in St. Petersburg and feeling perfectly
safe in making any promise in this
regard, no matter how prepostcrous.
'What would | dOq / would give
you your liberty. Then should not
only have my oysters, but my ears
would be free from this everlasting
hue and cry of yours
would you truly give inc my free
dom and fortune with it 2 cried the
banker, eagerly. Are you really in
earnest7'
Il was never more so in my life,
laughed tho count. For this once