, 1879-08-10
THE TORTURER'S CLUB.

Rousseau tells us that, when his governess use
the rod, it afforded him peculiar pleasure, an
that he often Intentionally committed som
fault for the sake OF the punishment inflicted b
that charming woman.
| In no country were people so severely au
! cruelty punished as In Russia. The wives OF tn
landed pronrietors generally meted out the pun
| ishment to be inflicted on servants and slaves
] and looked On With savage satisfaction while
was being administered. Young Indies Of tn
| Russian aristocracy even went so lar as to trea
] themselves to the pleasure OF seeing their NAL
slaves whipped In their presence.
Many stories are told OF the crue1ties commit
ted In the name Of the two beautiful and accom-
plished Expresses, Elizabeth and Catherine Il
We all know with what heartless brutality tht
former had the beautiful wife Of the Chancellor
Bestucheff aoggcd, like q common strumpet
only because the unhappy woman dared to be
hsndsotncr than the Czarina. But under Cath
crime cruelty ran riot. Some OF the court ladies
received entire regiments as presents from the
Empress. So the Tobosk regiment Vas the
property of that amazon, Nine. de Mellin; the
Simbush regiment belonged to the Countess
SottikoT. Both regiments distinguished them
selves in the wars with Turkey and Sweden.
AAoob ~ tAA0 p4Ntes No4N0N4o AA1A
commanders abused their position BY torment
ing and torturing the unhappy soldiers in every
conceivable way, as fancy Or caprice dictated.
But the beauties OF that dav we're not even sat-
isfed with this. The .fogeing Of common SOL
diers or slaves was not exciting enough; they
wished TO see gentlemen and coursiers under
the whip. -
To accomplish this, the ladies' OF the aristoc-
tivatc young and handsome men By their coQuet-
ries as to induce them to paw for their success
by becoming members OF the Club,--that is,
slaves Of these ladies' cruel caprices- Youth
and good looks were the essentials for
those. vino sought admission. As the
handsomest and best-born ladies Of the
court belonged to this Club? 1t was
only natural that all the men were wild to be
initiated; the more SO, as the bylaws did not
compel any one man to remain the slave OF any
one woman; ut the meeting each one gratif1ed
his fancy OF the moment.
Those inhuman beauties logged their adorers
treated to thrashing themselves. The Presi-
deut Of the Club was the Princess Fedora W.
as celebrated fol her beauty as her wit.
The Princess had Just returned to Petersburg.
from Paris, where she had gone Gu political
mission. 4 Prince Bariatinski, very voung
Second Lieutenant In the Guards, BECAME
desneratelY cnamored OF her. The young man
had heard OF the secret society ct which the
Princess was President, and, as he could ap-
pEoarh his charmer IN no other way, asked to be
admitted into the ''Torturer's Club.''
Fedora was acquainted with the YOUTHS pas
sion. He had only just left the military school,
and she promised herself rhe pleasure Of iuitiat-
ing this handsome 'sun1icked cub into the
secrets OF lore and Of the Club at the same
time,
Generally, the ladies drew lots to see which
one OF them should put the novice through the
preliminary tests 10 Judge OF his qualifications
for u member OF the Club. This time the
Princess cleVrrly managed to have the lot fail
to her.
while Bariatfnski was trembling in his shoes
for fear he might fall into the hands OF some
lady to whom his heart wns wholly Indifferent,
the Princess stood before her looking-glass and
contemplated her charms with a malicious
smile, promising herself the pleasure Of en-
ployins. them to drive the romantic youth to
desperation.
Her beauty is historical. That evening she dis
dained all the frippery Of that age,-abAndoned
hoops and powder,-and wore long Greek
bust exposed. Over this she wore an immense
fur cloak that gave her strong resemblance to
Tttian's Venus IN the Dresden gallery. Her
beautiful, soft lighs-brown hair hung In flowing
tresses down her back. She made her appear
ance thus attired at the Club, and was received
with EXPLANATIONS OF delight and enthusiasm.
The Princess gave those assembled a haughty
glance. "Siiencci" she cried, and then con
tinued, II must request the ladies to nut on
their masks. It is now IL o'clock. Prince
Bariatinski may DO here at any moment. The
gentlemen order to retire to the main hall,
There to wait till the novice Is Initiated and the
ladies' have time to join shem there aud fulfill
their duties in the service OF cruelty and 1ovc.'
fhe gentlemen rose and each one, after
humble obeisance, left the room. The ladies,
Nth mnn}t 1anUhfpr NM m i0t..e
put on their Qisgufses.
Precisely at II the tolding-doors we're thrown
'pcn. and Bariatinskt aopeared.--led in BY two
masked waiting. women. The Driestesses OF love |
stretched themselves in easy postures on the
ow divnns around the room. The Young mau |
rcmbed with excitement from head to foot, !
eeing himself confronted bv such galaxy Of |
ovelness. His eyes wandered restlessly from |
me to another of them ALL -.
The Princess presided. She openad the pro-
eedings by having him repeat his formal de- |
nund for admission as a member, and admins i
ering aa oath Of unquestioning obedience and t
ecrecv. This over, dots were drawu By means
carfs. as had been arranged beforehand, the
Dt fell to the Princess.
Baria:inskt had long ago recognized her,
here was no lady in all Russia who had such I
nj nobility OF carriage His heart beat high
J bis bosom when chance made him her slave,
nd. With an impcrious gesture, she oeckoncd |
im to follow her.
She stopped in halt-darkened room. It was
mpty, with the exception of number Of |
nouts. whips, rods, and stout silken cords.
arranged around the walls. In
le middle Of the room was wooden block
it'll two great iron rings.
,Bariatinski waited, with some curiosity, to
ropped her fur mantle for moment, So as to
low him the uu{m peuel coutctu Dlation pf her |