The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-10-07

heard, caused by the pick axes and ham,
mers with which the e1iles were working
the Iron ore. Before US we saw several
hundred ragged creatures, with terrible,
rough, long boards, faces pale as DEATH
or of aAsickly yellow, with red-rimmed
eyes, dragging heavy chains, rattling
them at every motion--the prisoners
Not one looked healthy. and NOT one
spoke OF sang, or whistiedi they all
worked In silence, locking askance at us
and rattling again their chains, which
have heen put upon them in the name of
justice. MANY of them wefe barefoot: /:
a few wore remnants OF shoes upon their
feet. TbeIsgs which covered them were
completely saturated with the dripping
water. so that they could not give to the
shivering bodies one atom of wa, nth.
Upon their boards | saw kong icicIts +,
and / sometimes watcbe one or the 9TH
er blow into his chilled hands or shake
convulsively IN the lev cold air. ! shall
never forget the dreadful scene; aid. in
contemplating it, l would imagine for
moment that mountain sprites were here
at their hidden work: but the clanking of
chains. the groaning OF the prisoners,
and the rough cries Of the taskmasrers
seon 'tecslst the dreadful reality. The
hammering and digging never ceased
II an exile attempted to rest little, the
sharp voice of the Overseer soon put
him to work again; and there was a f.-
ver:sh, unceasing activity. One of the
prisoners-a slight fine figure, with face
of profile of which showed extraordina-
:ry beantv excited our particular atten :
ton. With visible exerlion be swung
his pickax, and bis breath came wheez-
ing from his chest; but he could not
loosen the stone, and sometimes bis arms
fell despairingly to his side.
We approached him. why are you
here ~ ]" asked. He looked up shyly,
almost frightened, and continued his
wo"k. -.
The prisoners are forbidden to speak
about the cause Of their exile" the IT,
spector informed me. e
"Who is that prisoner 2" / asked our
guide 80
mo. Ia" he answered, laconically.
+. $50 | see" replied; '.but mean his
name, his family, his crime" a
1T is Count de Parentoff,H he replied
ia well known conspirator. am
sorry not to he able to tell you more
about No. la Isz a5s.
The foul air almost suffoca.ed me. /
heckoned to the guide and my friend -
He and l hastily traversed again the
narrow corridors and assembled to the
world again, where the Chief Comman.
der saluted u.s. sE ail.
well" be asked, "what impression
has our institution made upon,youp'
We bowed in silence. 4. 1
He seemed delighted and remarked
ironically. sour boys below work dili |
gently, do they not?' ~
Indeed they do answered my friend;
shut with what feeling of relief the IN
happy ones must greet their Sunday,
when they can take rest"
Rest" he said wonderingly, "they
have none; they must, work always"'
30" always ?" @
"Most certainly! They are condemn
ed to work everlaslingly. He who onre
enters the mine never leaves it again :"
'+But that is harbaric ?" / could not
refrain from saying
He shrugged his shoulders. "The ex-
iles," he replied, work twelve hours
daily and on Sundays too They are
never permitted to rest. Oh! but yes
twice during the year; at Easter and
on the birthday of our glorious Emper.
orr
And he removed his hat as though be
had spoken the name OF the Lord.
We bowed again and FASTENED to get
back to Toholsk. My friend aud were,
both very silent until we got out of Rus,
sia. But hereafter we shall not be so
very much shocked and surprised when
we read of the terrible spread Of that
political fanatIcism which is called Mini
lsm in the great Empire of the Euro
pean East. E.