The Portland daily press., 1881-06-25
THE PRESS.
[Cornhill Magazinel
The White Gar.

lnaU Russia 'Sulkeu, or Lflal Russia resi-
ed"-the words getting to be characteristic
In England, the one of the patriotic school
(those who had been, or who would like to
have been thought to have been, sin the
Crimea damme"), the other of the Man.
chester school and its humble admirers. In
a certain narrow sense, both terms were
true, in a wider and better sense, neither
as has been abundantly testified by recent
contemporary writes. Russia was smitten
with wonder and shame at her defeat, and
at the utter collapse of the magnificent auto
cratic system of Nicholas. But these feel
ings did not last long. Only those who
know the Russian character can believe how
quickly shame and Indignation passed in all
sincerity into penitence before Heaven, and
how the wild throeS of that again gave
speedy birth to ecstatic resolves and schemes
for the most searching social and fiscal re-
forms-in theory.
The philosophe liberals In particular, when
the country got wind of the Cars enamel
patton idea, were carried away by the most
unbounded enthusiasm, such enthusiasm as
ordinary Englishmen have no conception of,
as seems possible to be felt on this side of
Europe only by people of Celtic stock. En-
glishmen have foolish insular habit of
sneering at anything of this kind they fail
to understand as sentiment, ;, by the mere
name condemning and dismissing it; or of
denying its reality and calling it hypocrisy.
Of the genuiness of this Russian enthusi-
asm there can surely be scarce doubt, when
it is remembered that very many, if not
most, of the enthusiasts were Mobiles, who
fully expected to lose seriously by the great
emancipation and other projected reforms,
but who were ready to sacrifice their inter-
ests for the good of their country to prove
in fine theoretical way, how sweet it is
pro pdtrid mort. They expected that in
something less than NO time" their dear
country, with reforming White Gear at its
head, would be not merely abreast of the
Nations of Western Europe, but far ahead
of them in the very van of liberty and
civilization. Whether it was wise.
enthusiasm, likely to lead to much practi-
cal result, is another question.
1t will be remembered how these gener-
GUS gentlemen were disappointed and
snubbed as soon as the great idea began to
take practical shape; how the noblesse had
been asked to send through their Marshals
to the Gar Suggestions as to the great
emancipation and cognate questions, how
they rejoiced at this because they thought
the Gar was to break the Tchinornik
or bureaucratic yoke, snd to settle and ar
range all reforms in consultation with a
Parliament oflhis mobiles and notables; and
how, after all, it was apparent that the bu-
reaucracy had triumphed over both Gear
and mobiles, and were arranging things pref
ty much as they pleased. The following
authentic story concerns that crisis and is
very charac terisric of the temper to which
the Russian mobiles had been brought
In the winter of 1S60-9l Olgaroff, a
wealthy noble of a northern district, was at
home skulking and smarting under what he
considered the humiliating trick that had
been played on him and his peers. He was
Marshal OF his district, and the long elabor-
arte and eloquent report he had drawn up
and sent into st. Petersburg had been, like
other repeats, disregarded and thrown aside
for waste paper. He was eight-and twenty,
liberal, philosophic and excitable; he was
unmarried, and had now for company in
the house with him his old mother, a
shrewd, cheerful friend of squat Finnish
figure, and a collection of new books, most
ly magazines.
One morning Olgaroff and bis friend sat
smoking in the sitting stove-warmed room
he called his own, when in the still crisp air
without could be heard the jingle of bells,
and presently the strange remonstrant cry
with which Russian driver appeals to his
horses.
Ivan" cried Olgaroff, letting the Maya
zine drop which he had been loosely hold
ing in his fingers. ''Ivan Ivan'itchp'
In thespassage was heard growing like
that OF big dog leaping and the door was
opened and disclosed big old man in a
sheepskin, with sharp, fearless eyes looking
out OF mass OF gray hair He stood in the
doorway without word
"Oh" said Olgaroff, Ego and see who
that is come"
Ivan went out, leaving the door open for
his return. In few moments he returned
ieisIrely, and said: "Feodor Demidoff."
lvan," said Olgaroff, turning to his
friend, lis quite Independent and republic
can already. 1t only wants to turn his
sheepskin the other way to make him free
citizen at once'
t'See." said Ivan, taking no notice of his
words, you are burning your shoes on the
stove"
&C.," said Olgaroif, "and bring Feodor
here"
Feodor entered, tallish. fair. middle-aued
man, wrapped in furs. With an easy nod to
Olgarof and his friend he began Kidding
himself of his wraps.
See there, blockhead," said Olgaroff to
help?' ''N
"Old sticks" said Ivan, lending an un-
willing hand, ''must stir about, while young
ones get warped with being idle"
Feodor, with laugh, and with an inclina-
uon OF his head toward Ivan, and quick
glance to Olgaroff as if to say, ''He is still
se@AAAS AfoAit euCl, ouOOh OIL LIS WrdDS
into VANS hands, and sat down. But turn
ing suddenly as the old fellow was going out,
he cried: mo, no, Ivan, my friend, I am
not going to lend you those things to curl
yourself up and go to sleep in See, you
had better leave them here" Ivan turned
and did as he was bid with a look of disgust.
NOW you can go and warm yourself with
prayers for the Little Father, and with con-
tossing the many sins you must have com
mitted in your foolish old life.'
'Feodor Demidoff," said Ivan. coming a
step nearer, without a trace of anger. .sI
have never in all my life done any wrong l
know OF; except, perhaps" he added, after
an odd, reflective pause, "that have never
mad enough food or enough Sleep" And
he went out.
"The lazy dogr' exclaimed Feodor. Oh
garoH looked at the stove and was silent
The Finnish friend smiled. ''Does he,"
continued Feodor, "know? Does he under
stand what is going to happen?"
HE knows, as they all do. He believes
what he hears said, that the good Little
Father is going to take all the land from the
masters to give them, and he thinks it good.
But as to understanding liberty and that, it
Is to him nothing. He has been all his
days more Independent than if he were free
and earning wages"
Yes" said Feodor; "my creatures all
lnink Inc land is going to pass all into their
possession. used to find them on the sly,
before the ground was covered. standing
alone coveting some desirable plot; and of
course they feel sure of it, because it looks
as if their Little Father were doing this
against the will and over the head of the no.
bles."
at is unbearable! 1t Is atrocIous treach-
ery?' exclaimed Olgarof, starting up.
1T isw echoed the Finnish friend.
"But of course we know" said Feodor
with quick look, "that we have the offii- |
cials and the court to thank for this. know |
Alexander Nicola'tch well enough before he
became Gar; if he had been surrounded by |
his old friends he never would have put this |
disgrace on his loyal, generous MOBILES"
NO." said Olgaroff; "but what does that
matter now?'
swell, this. I have a magnificent idea.
have driven over expressly to have dinner
and to discuss it with you. We must strike
a grand coup. See here. The Gar is com
ing in day or two to Zeliadoff's for bear
hunting; there will then be many old |
friends about him. The ukase, as YOU |
know, is not yet issued. Could we not in a
week or SO get many of our party, of our
way of thinking, assembled at Moscow, !
and-hey, prestoNwhisk our Little Father
off there, impress him with the iniustice |