Connecticut western news., 1881-08-31
THE SWISS SOLDIER.

THE SWISS SOLDIER.
 "Do you think the people of Russia are free to-day? No. Why, even 8 foreigner loses his freedom the moment he sets foot on Russian soil. Do you think all exiles are Russian subjects {? No. l, a Swiss, was in Siberia p
 "You in Siberia !? An exile ?'
 "Yes."
 "How could that happen?"
 T will tell you, because it will show you how great is the power of the Czar and how defenseless are the people. My case was one in thousands, and my suf- feriugs nothing as compared to those which many exiles endured.
 ''I was a soldier in my youth, and served in many parts of the world. In my last engagement I was severely wounded. It is nothing now, but for a time was incapacitated for active mili- tary service. I had always had taste for music, and had received 8 good musical education. When retired from the army, therefore, Isought to support myself by teaching. St. Petersburg seemed to present good field, so I went there. I was we'll supplied with letters of introduction, which procured for me the influence of some of the most important personages in Russia, and I had no difficulty in obtaining pupils of high rank. At first I taught music only, but soon found that cou' d materially add to my income by teaching the Eng fish, French and Italian languages, of which I had thorough knowledge. Within year was well established and had even laid by little money. I had every reason to congratulate myself upon my position.
 "But an evil day came. I was sitting alone in my little library one evening when two agents of the police entered and placed me under arrest"
 "For what cause ?"
 "For what cause? That was the question I myself asked, but it was many long day before it was answered. The police would tell me nothing. They simply hurried me off to prison. Nc formal charge was preferred against me there was no trial, but in two weeks ] was on the way to Siberia. It was win ter, and the journey was terrible one Think of it Thousands of miles in al open sledge was taken to the Ouk boul mine, and there in the dark, breath ing poisonous exhalations, I worked with convicts of the lowest class, whil, a guard, armed with whip, stood read, I to lash us if we relaxed our efforts This lasted for six months. could no have stood it much longer. Already m, strength was beginning to fail, althougl when entered the mine I was as strong as three men. I determined to escape
 but before had decided how or when
 was transferred to Irkoutsk. The Gov
 ernment was building roads and neede
 laborers. It was hard work in the burr
 ing sun, but child's play as compared t
 the mine. After while they found
 was an engineer, and that they cou]
 make better use of my head than of m . hands. From that time my situation W,
 much pleasanter
 "One day found an opportunity
 escape. It was in winter-my seco1 e winter in Siberia. A courier was to = <, sent to the Czar. He was going in r sledge, and was to be accompanied pa 1T of the way by guide. had made go' e use of my tune in the engineering d IS partment, and knew the route from 1r n outsk to the frontier as we'll as it cou l. be learned from maps. I resolved, e possible, to take the place of the guid IS Fortune favored me. The courier W <; to start early in the morning. T E night before I found the guide, pli fl him with brandy, and left him in e drunken stupor. Before daybreak F. returned and aroused him. He W e still intoxicated and very thirsty. A f 7- more drinks of brandy sufficed to ags t stupefy him. Then took his cloth 1t his horse and his sledge, went for t or courier, and in an hour we had left Il 7e outsk far behind us. The courier s1 'e pected nothing. He had never seen '' real guide, and had therefore no reason
 suppose was an impostor. Iaccompani ,r him as far as Omsk, where he procu1 Is. another guide and another vehicle. Y p, may be sure I was not sorry to part W at him for at every posting house since Sa left Irkoutsk had expected arrest.
 felt that I would be safer without hi
 There was one difficulty, however. o- had very little money-scarcely enor lls lss to keep me in food until I should re' tc. the frontier. But fortune again favo th me. A merchant bound for Perm
 1 nnired a convevanca and a o1lida ana