The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-01-11
ST. PETERSBURG LETTER
From Our Special Correspondent.

Considerable interest was excited
in the Russian capital a short tine
ago by curious case tried before
the chief magistrate of the eighth
police district, both plaintiff and de-
fendant being persons well known in
the upper circles of st. Petersburg
society. The former, Michael Gnes-
dinski, a noble by birth, is fash
ionable dancing master, patronized
by the Court and aristocracy the
latter, Captain de Brerenski, a staff
officer Of the Imperial Guard it
appears that Gnesdinski had given
twenty dancing lessons, at the rate
of two roubles per lesson-his regu
lar charge-to the Captains youth
full daughter, and had applied re-
peatedly for paymentof his bill, but
in vain. One evening he called upon
10 Brerenski in person to collect his
forty roubles, and was shown into q
dinning room, where the gallant
guardsman, whose speech and de-
meanor exhibited unmistakable
symptoms of vinous exeitemen,,
greeted him with affectionate jovili-
ty, and, in reply to Guesdinski's re-
spectful request for a settlement of
account, declared himself ready and
willing to pay up on the spot, to the
last copeck, upon one trifling condi-
tion-that his creditor should there
and then dance the "Kamarinski,"
for his-Brerenski-special and
particular delectation. This the
terpsichorean professor steadfastly
refused to do; whereupon Breren-
skis cheerfulness incontinently for
sock him, and, summoning his SER
wants, be commanded them to
throw the dancing dog into the
street" They fulfilled his orders 70
the letter. Charged with the assault,
Captain de Brerenski attempted 10
excuse his conduct on the ground
that he had intended to pay Gren-
sdinski compliment in asking him
to dance, and on his abrupt refusal
to comply with his request, had
been moved by natural Indignation
to throw him out of doors. The
Court, however, failing to recognize
the force of this argument, sentenc-
ed Captain de Brerenski to suffer
three days imprisonment, and TO
pay the outraged dancing-master's
claim in full.
Reports having reached the Gov
ernor of Poltova that the nuns Of
Welikobud were stirring up the
Senkoff peasantry against the Sani-
tary Commission visiting that dis
trict, they are denouncing the Com
missioners as imps of Satan, and
their disinfectant procedures as sor-
cery inspired of the foul fiend, his
Excellency dispatched an official in
high authority, accompanied by n
strong police force, to the convent in
question with orders to 'bring the
seditious sisters to their senses"
When the official arrived at the con-
vent, high mass was being celebrat-
ed. He awaited the conclusion of
the ceremonies in the church, and
then. as the congregation were pre-
pairing to leave, he addressed them
in energetic language. representing
to them that the Sanitary Commits
sion had been sent to them for their
good, and that the nuns in denounc-
ing it as o work of the devil, had
greatly imposed upon their creduli-
ty. ITO prove" he added, show
utterly unfouEded are these wicked
allegations, ! shall proceed forth
with to disinfect this church and
He had hardly spoken
these words, when o tumult broke
out among the nuns, some of whom
attacked him and his following,
whilst others rushed to the belffy
and rang q furious alarm peal. Soon
a number of peasant women, arm
ed with brooms, fire-irons and hay
forks, appeared upon the scene and
set upon the policemen with such fe-
rocity that the latter were compelled
in sheer self-defence, to make use OF
their side arms. Repeated charges
upon the enraged women, however,
allied to disperse or put them to
tiight and after desperate strug-
lie. in which several of his men
we're disabled, the officer himself
severely hurt, was compelled to
beat q hasty retreat.
Y.