The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-04-04
FEAsTING ON HIS OWN FUN.
A Writer Compelled to Literally "Eat His
Own Words" ttnt I.

A Writer Compelled to Literally "Eat His
Own Words"
A recent libel suit in Moscow, in
which city the author of quarto vol
ume was subjected to a most ignomini-
Gus punishment, very forcibly reminds
one of the inestimable blessings en-
ioyed in country in which the freedom
of the press is guaranteed and estab-
lished right. The facts in the case re-
ferred to are as follows:
In the above-named city a goodly-
sized book was published in vindication
of the rights of the subject. The work
contained singing sarcasms aimed at
the venality of the officials, with many
satirical and humorous illusions to bride
taking and other iniquities. Even the
Gar himself was handled without gloves,
his acts were fearlessly denounced, and
a powerful argument vas adduced in be-
half of the rights of his subjects. The
mal-administration of law was set forth
in strong, plain language.
The book attracted general notice
but this was bad for the author. He
was arrested and thrown into prison.
After short and summary trial his pro-
duction was pronounced libel, and he
condemned to "eat his own words" or
suffer the punishment of knout. This
terrible instrument of torture is in the
shape of long whip or scourge, and is
composed of many tough thongs of
thick, hard skin, plated together and
interviewer with strands of stout wire.
The criminal is stripped, and is firmly
bound to two stakes which are suffi-
GENTLY wide apart to admit the free mo-
ton of the head. The blows are laid
upon the bare back, every stroke cutting
like knife, and soon the victim of the
scourge is a shapeless mass of blood and
flesh. One hundred blows is equiva-
lent to a death sentence. This was the
alternative of the unhappy author.
The day fixed for carrying the SEN
tence of the court into execution ar
rived. A platform was erected on one
of the public squares of the city.
Bound hand and foot, the victim of des-
potic power was seated in the center of
the platform. An immense concourse
of people had gathered to witness the
strange spectacle. The Imperial Pro-
vost, the magistrate, the physician and
the surgeon of the Gar were in attend
ance. The obnoxious book had been
separated from its bindings, and, as an
act of grace, the margin had been cut
off, The leaves were then rolled up,
not unlike cigar-ighters. And there
they were-a basketful. Now the meal
began. Amid roars of laughter from
the ignorant and degraded populace, the
Provost served the author leaf by leaf
with his own production, putting the
rolls of paper one by one into his mouth.
He slowly chewed and swallowed one
third of his book, when the medical
gentleman concluded he had received
into his stomach as much of the innu-
tritious material as was compatible with
safety. He was then reconducted to
his cell to digest his meal. The two fol-
lowing days the same scene was enacted,
until every leaf was swallowed, and, as
a matter of fact, he was compelled to
literally eat his own words and feast on
his own fun.
No amount of oratory, either printed
or spoken, can define so eloquently as
the above incident the chief glory and
browning safety of free press and a
free Government