The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-12-03
Vt. Petersburg Letter.
ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. Sth,

Cnllu-llke simplicity anu ueMOnStatlVe
piety are still characteristics of the Russian
moujik, despite all the efforts of the Nihlist
propogandlsts to convert him into cynical
unbeliever.
According to the Moscow Listok. a sensa,
tional drama has recently been performed in
the chief theatre of the ancient Muscovite
capital, the GROWING situation" of the piece
being combat in rocky pass between hon
and an Arab chief The lion scrambles up a
steep ascent and is about to spring from Its
summit upon his foe, when the man brings
HIM down with well.aimed shot. The part
of the lion has been sustained most success
fully by trained gymnast named Aexeivich,
until about a fortnight ago, when that artist
suddenly fell i'll, and the management was
compelled to eRtrust the role to an active sup.
err who undertook 1t at a few hours notice
When the time arrived tor his debut he bound
ed on the stage with admirable vlgor and scut
tied up the practicable" cliff in irreproacha
BILE style. But when the Arab chief discharged
his musket, the lion, utterly thrown off his
guard by the report stood erect on his hinder
paws, crossed himself devoutly, and, exclalm.
ing, Heaven help u.s." hurrledly descended
the cliff tail foremost, amid the jubilant shouts
of the audience 1t may with truth be SAID OF
this unsophisticated lion, as of the fearful
fowl personated by Snug the joiner that he
is "a very gentle beast and of a good con.
science"
Baron Arpod LoprestI, who died a short
time ago at his castle in Sosdia, near Temesyar,
must have been one of the most remarkable
noblemen of his or any other time, if the sto-
res of his eccentricities that have recently
obtained. publicity be founded upon tact. He
was. indeed, a man of many strange resolves.
One of these IN which he persisted for many
years previous to his lamented demise, was TO
pay no taxes to the government of his country.
He kept pack of huge and ferocious hounds
for the express purpose of dealing with tax.
ga,herers whenever they should present them.
selves at his castle gate in their official capacl.
ty. One Of these fiscal agents-an enthusiast
in his profession-succeeded some years ago
IN obtaining lngress to Sosdla, disguised as a
peasant, with view to levyng execution
upon the Baron's goods for arrears of taxes.
He was shown into Loprestis study, and had
lust commenced to take an inventory of its
contents when the door opened to admit say.
age wolf, which made for him without mo,
ment's notice. The unfortunate official got
severely bitten, only saved his life by Chamber
ing to the top of a monumental heated stove,
inaccessible to his four footed assalant. Since
that epoch the tax collectors Of the district
have exhibited steadfast reluctance to their
office within the limits of Baron Loprestis es-
tate. 1t appears, however that the authorities
of Temesvar, indignant at his audaclOus def.
ance of the law, contemplated invoking the
aid of the military to bring the recalitrant Ba-
ron to reason. He got wind of this project,
however, and forthwith caused Q declaration
to be made public to the effect that he had
undermined Sosdia with dynamite, and would
blow it up himself, and any force attempting
to take possession of it, skyhigh whenever the
Temesvar officials should try TO carry out their
threat. Knowing what sort of man he was,
the authorities thought tit to let him alone to-
the day of his death, by which time his ar
rears of taxes, had mounted up, with interest,
to more than thirty thousand forms. That his
was no idle menace has been conclusively
demonstrated by the discovery of three dyna
mite cartridges, weighing nine pounds each
concealed in the cellarage Of the castle by Its
late lord.