The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-05-17
The Cost Of a Train.


~, open conrt of law was estat
H0Js lished in Russia, a lad
eJX(9 dressed with the utmost elt
gance was walking on Mosco'
promenade, letting the long train {
her rich dress sweep the dust an
dirt Of the street.
A young officer, coming up hast
ly from side street, was so careles
as to catch one of his spurs in tn
lady's train, and in an instant
great piece was torn out of tn
costly but frail material of the dress
81 beg thousand pardons, ma
dam" said the officer, with a polit
bow, and then was about passing
when he was detained by the lady
husband.
"YOu have insulted my wife"
Nothing was farther from my in
tention, sir. Your wife's long dres
is to blame for the accident, which
L sincerely regret, and 1 beg you
once more to receive my apologies
for any carelessness on my part.
Thereupon he attempted to haster
on.
"You shall not escape So" said the
lady, with her head thrown back il
spirited way. To-day is the first
time have worn this dress, and il
cost two hundred rubles, which you
must make good"
"My dear madam, 1 beg you not
to detain me. 1 am obliged to &c
on duty at once. AS to the two
hundred rubles-I really cannot
help the length of your dress, yet
beg your pardon for not having been
more cautious"
"You shall not stir, sir. That
you are obliged to go on duty is
nothing to us. My wife is right;
the dress must be made good"
The officers face grew pale.
"You force me to break through
the rules of the service, and 1 shall
receive punishment"
''Pay the two hundred rubles and
you are free"
The quickly changing color in
the young mans face betrayed how
inwardly disturbed he was, but,
stepping close up to them both, he
said with apparent self command:
''You will renounce your claim
when 1 tell you that 1 am IA
poor man, who has nothing to live
on but his officers pay, and the
amount of that pay hardly reaches
the sum of two hundred rubles in a
whole year. 1 can, therefore, make
no amends for the misfortune ex-
cept by again begging your pardon"
ooh anybody could say all that;
but We'll find out if you have moth
ing but your pay. l declare myself
not satisfied with your excuses, and
l demand my money" persisted the
lady in the hard voice of thorough
ly unfeeling woman.
''That is true-you are right"
the husband added, dutifully sup
porting her. "By good luck we
have the open court now just in
session. Go with US before hejudge,
and he will decide the matter"
All further protestation on the
officers part that he was poor, that
he was expected on duty, and so
forth, did not help matters. Out of
respect for his uniform, and to avoid
an open scene, he had to go with
them to the courtroom, where the
gallery was densely packed with
crowd of people.
After waiting some time the lady
had leave to bring her complaint.
"What have you to answer to
this complaint?'' said the judge,
turning to the officer, who seemed
embarrassed and half in despair.
''On the whole very little. As
the lateness of the hour and being
required on duty compelled me to
hurry, 1 did not notice this lady's
train, which was dragging on the
ground. I caught one of my spurs
in it, and had the misfortune to tear
the dress. Madam would not re-
ceive my excuse, but perhaps now
she might find herself more dispos-
ed to forgiveness when 1 again de-
clare, so help me God, that COM
mited this awkward blunder with
out any mischievous intention, and
1 earnestly beg that she will pardon
me-"
A murmur ran through the gale
ry, evidently from the people taking
sides with the defendant, and
against long trains in general and
the lady in particular.
The judge called them to order
and asked:
care you satisfied with the de-
PENDANTS explanation?'
"Not at all satisfied. 1 demand
two hundred rubles in payment for
my torn dress"
Defendant, will you pay this
sum?"
81 would have paid it long before
this, had been in position to dc
so. Unfortunately 1 am poor. My
pay as an officer is all 1 have to live
on"
"You hear, complainant, that the
defendant is not able to pay the sun
you demand of him. Do you still
wish the complaint to stand?'
An unbroken stiffness reigned
throughout the hall, and the young
officers breath could be heard com
ing hard.
Il wish it to stand. The Law
shall give me my rights
There ran through the rows o
people murmur of Indignation tina
sounded like a rushing of water.
Consider, complainant, the con
sequence of your demand. The de
PENDANT can be punished onl.
through being deprived of his per
sonal liberty, and by that you coul'
obtain no satisfaction, while to tn
defendant it might prove the great
est injury in his rank and position
as an officer, and especially as he i
an officer who is poor and Deepen
dent upon his pay. Do you still
insist upon your complaint? .
81 still insist upon it"
| 4 D., 4al