Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1880-10-02
SATU RDAY PRESS.

OCTOBER 2, 1880.

u 4Nthihsnie, whose author NJ. Pierre Frtde
claims to have resided long timcin Russia
aud 10 have closely studied tho national
character, relates the following story Ms q
fair instance of the widely spread corrup.
ton in the official ranks of Holy Russia -
Even yet the worst and most dangerous
among robbers is tho soldier. II is n sorry
truth. When \ man Mt nighttime is on
his way home from one of the moro dis.
saut quarters Of the capital, he will do we'll
10 be on his guard against soldiers, and IL
ho should meet any of tbcm in the streets
never to take his eyes of him.
On winter evening n citize, passes the
river Ncwa on the ice; sold or watches
him, clcaves his skull by a sword.cut, or
straugles him with lasso, takes his clothes,
his watch, his pelisse. first Of all the pelissc,
which is piece of clothing that is always
worth at lcast 200 to 800 francs, very often
double that amount, according to the quality
of the furs. Then tho soldier pushes the
corpse down hole, which he makes in the
ice at few rods distance from the footpath.
After having accomplished the robbery
and concealed tho murdcr-the waters are
dumb during winter-tho soldier sells his
victims pelisse at Tchukndwore (the log
or rather vermin-market) before tho
eyes Of everybody. A robbery is suspected,
bot none dares to inform against tho rob-
Der - a military man A dealer
offers so francs; he is not ignorant Of tho
manner in which his bargain has been OBJ
tanned, but quarter of an hour afterwards
the article is sent into the provinces, aud
can never be recovered. The receiver has
Il ts,t .xf Ill
The soldier returns to his barracks, and
invites some of his comrades to an enter.
tainment, which invariably consists Of
whiskcy. tos, onion pies, pastry, and sonr
or sailed herring. In his boisterous drunk
enuess, he reveals the truth and raises tho
suspicious Of his officers, who are watch.
ing for an opportunity to plumber the sol.
der in their turn. The officer seeds for
the soldier Yegor, robber and murderer
who With his right hand to bis forehead
and his left hand resting on the hem of his
pantaloons, moves automatically towards
his officer.
"You gave an entertainment this MORN
ingF'
"Yes, Sir"
"Where did you get the money from I"
Z" For how much did you sell it?"
FIFTY roubles."
"Where is the balance of the money ?"
"Iu my boots
The boots of the soldier and peasant
form their place of safe keeping in them
everything is slowed away, onions, pota-
toes, sugar, bread, tobacco, cheese, etc etc.
Every good" says the officer, and scar.
ches the boots; no takes what pleases him
and thereupon no sends the soldier to prison
for fortnight to amend his morals.
In the course Of the day, the captain bo-
comGs aware of whit has happened, and
Immediately summons the lieutenant, who
presents himself in the same posture as
Yegor did to him.
"Lieutenant, this morning You sent ono
Of the grsnadiers to prison ?"
"Yes, captain"
"Why?"
"He had stolen pelisse, and sold it in
the market"
land you have possessed yourself of the
money I Am l right or not? Where is
that money ?"
ain my pocket"
Step nearer"
Aud the captain searches the lieutenant's
pocket, where he finds about thirty francs,
which he transfers to his own pocket.
Then he retires saying inwardly: 81 am
going to stand bottle of champagne for
myself"
He takes his long pipe, lights it, draws a
few mouthfuls of smoke and empties half
Of the bottle, when suddenly the colonel
enters without Knocking at the door.
"Halloo, captain what are you drink.
ing there >"
champagne, colonel, at your service"
"The devil you are rolling in gold it
appears. Have you perchance robbed tho
stage coach But by the way, what is it
that has happened at the barracksp Ehf"
"Oh, nothing only grenadier has
stolen . pelisse."
"For how much did he sell it 7"
Twenty roubles o. thereabout, I bs.
lieve."
(which hope his lieutenant has taken
good care to take away from him. Is it
not so? To amend the soldiers morals
captain to amend his morals"
"Yes. colonel"
"And Of which you have dispossessed
tho lieutenant is it not sol"
"Of course! to amend his morals.
could by no means allow that officer to keep
money that had bssa 90 unrightsously
gained
sand you have treated yourself to a
bottle of champagnes"
II could not invest tho money in any
hotter way. Your health, colonel!"
"Yours, captain! Where is now che
balance, captain
"Of the champagns?"
"No, Of the money"
In my waistcoat pocket"
The colonel with feverish haste digs his
crooked fingers into the captains waistcoa,
pocket, and brings forth Is roubles, which
he without delay pits into his own pocket
The colonel leaves and soliloquiAss: al
avn also going to treat myself 10 4 bottle
Of champagne. l shAli drink glass te
the health Of this poos Ysgor. That grsaa.
der is brick this 10 ct least the siIth
pelisss that has passed through our hands
since the beginning Of this winter; an
going 70 release him from prison."
Scarcely has he had time 10 drink ON
glass Of champagne and emit three cloud,
of tobacco smoke. before Al orderly knock,
st The door and eaters.