Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-07-24
A RUSSIAN INCIDENT.
How a Serf Bought His Freedom.

Ru ssian: Count Scberemetiff, q
descendant of one of the most an,
cient Boyard families, possessed
more than one hunored thousand
male souls, as serfs were then CALI
ed in Russia, the women not being
counted either in the census or the
tax-lists. Among these serfs there
were many who were allowed to GO
into business for themselves. Some
Of these had made fortunes, others
had even become millionaires. The
condition of the Counts inherit
ance forbade him selling any male
serf his freedom. Among the mum
Der there was one who had estab-
lished himself at Riga, and was at
the head of a great banking honse
of this city-an ancient house
which had existed under German
control for a century, and was we'll
known and highly respected 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 would wed a slave, even
were he ten times millionaire, as
the Russian law compels the wife
to accept the social position of her
husband.
The banker, who had almost de-
SPARED of obtaining his own free
dom, journeyed every year to st.
Petersburg to sue for that of his
children. The freedom of the
daughters was cheerIully granted,
for Count Scherem etieff was of
those chivalrous noblemeu whose
motto is noblesse O5lige. There
are many such in Russia, the de-
scendants of the old reigning
houses of the empire. These no.
bles lent an almost unanimous
support to the project of Alexan-
der 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 the
count half a million roubles for the
| freedom of his sons. The count re {.
fused as usual, but he had showed
the banker great attention, invit-
ing him to dine at his house, where
he was treated as q peer by the
elite of the Russian nobility.
A few months after, early in the
| l. "a a "A n
ing to st. Petersburg. His eldest
sou, having been sent to England
on business connected with the
house, had become acquainted with
ne daughter of q leading manufac-
turer. The young people were
deeply in love, but, under existing
circumstances, they could not mar
ry. The banker resolved, if neces-
sary, to sacrifice his whole fortune
to purchase the freedom of his eld-
est son. Upon his arrival he found
the Gulf of Finland blockaded
with ice, thus shutting off all COM
munication with the interior.
| Knowing the Counts extreme
liking for oysters, the banker pur-
chased keg on the route and
brought them along with him. The
Count had some friends to break
fast, 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 lamentation our banker en-
tered, and the Count invited him
to stay to breakfast.
"You have come again with that
everlasting refrain," said the Count
laughing. 81 remember hearing
you sing it in my fathers lifetime, ,
when | was but a child. You don't
know what a fine chance of gain
ing your freedom has just been
opened to you, but you have missed
1t as l have my oysters"
"Wbat chance?" asked the bank
er, with a deep sigh, and yet with
a CLEAN Of hope in his eyes. "Per.
haps your honor is in some none
tary embarrassment. What sun
do you reqnire?"
"Go to the deuce with youi
moneyW answered the Count; 81
despise it. But if you had only
brought some Oysters.u
"What would you do If l were tc
bring you some?" asked the bank
er, his heart throbbing violently.
"What would I do?" returned
the Count, sure that there were nc
oysters in st. Petersburg, and feel
ing perfectly safe in making any
promise in this regard, no matter
how preposterous. "What would
1 do? I would give you your lib.
erty. Then l should not only have
my oysters, but my ears would be
forever free from this eternal hue
and cry of yours.D
"Would you really give me my
freedom and my fortune with it?''
cried the banker eagerly. "Are
you really in earnestW
II was never more so in my life,''
J laughed the Count. "For this once
| will transgress an old family law
J but only on one condition."
"Name itW cried the banker ea
! gerly.
"You are TO bring me the oysters
J this very day and not order them
from Riga"
"Do you pledge me your word o.
J honorP''
"Yes, my solemn word of HONOR
J replied the Count, still laughing al
tho bankers absurd idea of finding
oysters in st. Petersburg where his
- e a