The Red Cloud chief., 1881-02-03
How the Russian Exile Lives.

On his arrival the prisoner is driven
straight to the police ward. where he
is inspected by the Ispravnik. n police
officer who is absolute lord and master
Of the district. This representative
of the Government requires of him Ia
answer the following questions: His
name? How Old? Married or single?
Where from? Address OF parents, or
relations, or friends? Answers 10 all
which are entered in the books. 4
solemn written promise is then exacted
Of him that he will not give lessons Of
any kind, or try Ia teach any one; that
every letter he writes VIII 90 through
the I~Spravnih S hands. and that he will
follow no occupation except shocmak-
ing, carpentering. or tield-labor. lie is
then told he is free but al the same
time is solemniy warned that should he
attempt To pass the limits OF the town
ne shall he shot down like a dog rather
than be allowed TO escape, and should
he be taken alive shall be sent off TO
Eastern Siberia without further formal
ity than that of the Ispravnik's personal
order.
The poor fellow takes up his little
bundle, and, fully realizing tina; he has
now hidden farewell to the culture and
material comfort OF his past life, he
walks out into the cherries street. A
group of exileS, all pale and emaciated.
are there to greet him, take him TO
some of their miserable lodgings. and
feverishly demand news from home.
The newcomer gazeS on them - one
in "a tt..an M. snnan .ra pnaiayahA1, ,,.I
others ~nervously irritable. and the re-
mainde- have evidently tried to find
solace in drink. They live in communi-
ties of twos and threes, have food. a
scautv provision of clothes, money, and
books in common. and consider il their
sacred duty To help each other in every
emergency. without distinction of sex.
rank, or age. The noble BIZ birth get
sixteen shillings a month from Govern
ment for their maintenance, and COM
only ten. although many
OF them are married. and sent
into exile with young families. Daily
a gendarme visits their lodgings, in
spects the premises when and how he
pieaSes, and now and then makes some
mysterious entry in his notebook.
ellONAAl ssuh VI lItH auLllDEE CtTIN Il
warm dinner. a pair of newly-mended
boots, or q change of linen to some
passing exile lodged for the in
the police ward. 1t is just US likely As
not marked against him Is a crime. Ii
is a crime &c come and see 4 friend off.
or accompany him a little on the way.
In fact. should the ispravnik feel out of
sortS-the effect of cards or d-ink-he
vents his bad temper on the eXiles:
and as cards and drink are the favorite
amOsements in these dreary regions.
crimes are marked down against the
eXileS in astonishing numbers. and a
report of them SEM regularly 10 the
Governor of the Province.
Winter lasts eight months. q period
which the surrounding country
presents the appearance of 4 noiseless,
l~IfeleSs, frozen marsh-no roads. no
communication with the outer world.
no means OF escape. In course of time
every individual exile is attacked
by nervous commissions, followed by
prolonged apathy and prostitution They
10 quarrel. and " TO hate each.
other. Some of them contrive to forge
false passports. and by q miracle. as il
were, make their escape, but the great
majority of these victims Of the Third
Section either 90 mad. commit suicide
or die OF delirium tremens. Their his
when the time comes for it TO be
and published, will disclose a
terrible tale of human suffering and adj |
evils and shortcomings not
likely TO find their equivalent IN the
contemporary history of any other Eli
ropean State.-Loadon Standard.