The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-14

was tall, slender, pale, with long, thin
beard, and bore the expression of the self
sacrifice which was his mode of life. Helived
in greater poverty than the poorest man in
his estate, devoting all his money to the rev.
dictionary cause, and carrying his saving
to such an extent that his friends often had
to interfere to save him from starving. Step
MAX says: II remember that one day he
showed US two articles, forming part of his
dress suit, which he wore when, owing to
his position, he was compelled to pay visit
to the governor of Cernigov, or to one of the
heads of the superior police. They were
pair of gloves and an opera hat The gloves
were of very delicate ash color, and
seemed just purchased. He, however, told
us that he had already had them for three
years, and smilingly explained to us the lit
tie articles he adopted to keep them always
new. The hat WAS u much more serious
matter, for its spring had been brokers' Il
whole year, and he put off the expense ! of
purchasing a new one from day to day, be-
cause he always found that he could employ
his money better. Meanwhile, to keep up
his dignity, he entered the drawing-room
HVautiiS MS opStd udb unuel HIS aIhl, his
eternal leather cap, which he wore summer
and winter alike, being in his pocket. When
he passed into the street, he advanced few
steps with his head uncovered, as though he
had to smooth his disarranged hair, until,
being assured that he was not observed, he
drew the famous cap from his pocket.
"This money, however, that he endeay-
ored to save with the jealous care of a Har-
pagon, was his determined enemy, his eter-
mai torment, his curse, for, with his impas-
stoned disposition and with his heart so
prone to sacrifice, he suffered immense
ly from being compelled to remain with
his arms folded, mere spectator of the
struggle and of the martyrdom of his best
friends. Subjected to rigorous snryeil-
lance, having been denounced for partielpa-
ton in the revolutionary movement by his
relations, who hoped, If he were condemned,
to inherit his fortune, he could do nothing,
for, at the first step, hisproperty would have
been taken away from him, and his party
would thereby have been deprived of such
Indispensable assistance. Tins his fortune
was, to him, like the cannon bali attached
to the leg of galley slave--it hindered him
from moving about.
His involuntary inaction was not only an
annoyance, cruel vexation, as it could not
fail to be to man who united in himself the
ardor of a warrior with that of prophet--it
was also source of profound moral suffer
ing. With the modesty of great mind he
attributed to himself not the slightest merit
for what seemed to him the most natural
thing in the world--the remuneration of his
wealth and his life of privation. Hence
arose his profound melancholy, which never
left him, and showed itself in his every word,
notwithstanding the sorrowfully whimsical
tone he was accustomed to adopt in order TO
conceal it. Thus resigned and sad he bore
his cross, which sometimes crushed him be-
meath his weight, throughout his whole life,
without ever rebelling against his cruel lot.
He was most unhappy man.
On August s, 1879, he was taken to the
scaffold in the hangman's cart with two
companions, Clubaroff and Dayidenko.
Those who saw him pass say that, not only
was he calm and peaceful, but that his
pleasant smile played upon his lips when he
addressed cheering words to his compan-
ions. Atlast he could satisfy his ardent de-
sire to sacrifice himself for his cause. 1t
was, perhaps, the happiest moment of his
unhappy life