St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-12
THE BROADER.
BY IVAN ToURGUENIEFF.

houses which abounded twenty-five or thirty
years ago in the Ukraine Of Great Russia?
Few remain at this day, and perhaps-as
they are built of wood-before ten years the
last will have disappeared without leaving
trace. One observed at first pool of run
ming water bordered by reeds and dwarf will
lows, where paraded broods of duck, with
whom at times was associated q shy teal; be-
yond the pool garden planted with lindens
ithe pride of our region of dark earth), and
cut into long borders, where bellflowers,
vetches, and stray cars of rye and oats ming
led with strawberries; then thicket OF req
and black currents and raspberries, IN the
midst Of which at the hour Of the dumb heat
of noon, one was sure to see pass the striped
Berchief of maid servant singing at the top
OF her voice. Further off scanty Kltcheh
garden, where swarm Of sparrows covered
the stakes while q cat crouched on ruined
well, surrounded little greenhouse raised
as our fairy tales say, on chichens' claws;
further off still, a meadow of tall grass, green
below, gray at the point, thick set with pear
trees, apple trees with bushy heads and
cherry trees with slender arms. Near the
house reached flower garden full Of peoples
peonies, and the flowers we call ''Aniouta'
eyes" and'' maid in green" An incessant
humming Of bees and hornets, joyful and
dense, was heard in the tufted, gluey
branches Of the wild jasmine, yellow acacia,
and lilac. At last one reached the house.
One story in height raised on layer of
brick work, with greenish glass in its mar
row windows which projected from plank
roof formerly painted red, it displayed a
doorstep, surrounded by worn-eaten balus
trade, under which in hole lived dumb
old watchdog. Beyond the house the vast
courtyard extended, covered with nettles,
dock, and NORWOOD, with the work build
ings, such as the cellar, the kitchen, and the
barns whose matched roofs, burrOwed by
mice, were the dwelling place of pigeons and
crows. And last rolled into view the high
Way with streaks of soft dust in its deep
ruts the cultivated grounds, the long torn
hedgerows which surrounded the hemp fields,
Che poor scattered iSJds of the village, and
the immense meadows inundated in spring
time, from which rose the clamor Of thou
sands of geese. Do you know all that read
er? Within all is askew and shaky; still it
uO-uS IUSclllCl anu hCCPo wal liz 1liCiC diC
elephantine chinneys, and incongruous
pieces Of furniture made with the household
tools. Narrow whitish paths, worn by feet,
wind over the oiled and vanished floor
boards. The antechamber is full of little
cages enclosing larks and greenfnches; an
immense English clock, high as a tower and
bearing the mysterious inscription. ''Strike
and silence,n stands in the dining room.
Ancestral portraits with an expression of
severe dulness, or perhaps frayed picture
representing either flowers and fruit or some
NEUROLOGICAL subject Offering nudities under
blown draperies, are the ornaments Of the
walls of the room. Everywhere is the odor
of kvaSs, Of apple, Of rye bread, Of leather;
swarms of flies hum and buzz in striking the
ceiling, while active moths play with their
feelers behind the worn gilt frame of mir
Tor. All the same, one can live there, and
well.
Such cottage I happened to visit thirty
years ago; an old story, as you see. The lit
tie domain in which it was found belonged
to one Of my university comrades. He had
inherited it quite recently from q bachelor
uncle, and did not live on it himself. AT
short distance however, extended some large
marshes, where during the passage of sum
mer abound great snipe. My comrade and
/, passionate sportsmen, had appointed a
meeting at this house for st. Peters Day, the
opening Of the season. He had to come from
Moscow, l from my village. Ny comrade
was detained and did not come till several
days later. l did not begin shooting without
him. l had been received by an old servant
I r
arrival This old servant did not at all
resemble Caleb or Savelitch, but deserved
more the nickname of Marquis, which my
friend jocularly gave him. He had bearing
full Of assurance. almost of dignity, and
manners refined in their sloEness. He
looked with pity on us young fellows, and
eyinced little respect for the class of gentle
men. He spoke of his old master with a
disdainful negligence, and as to his fellow
servants, he despised them profoundly "for
their ignorance'-that was his expression
In fact, he could read and write, expressed
himself with clearness and precision, drank
no brandy, and rarely went to church, which
caused him to be held hereto. He was
tall and spare, had long and regular face,
nose sharp, and eyebrows thick and always
in motion. He wore a long and very neat
overcoat and high boots pointed in form of
a heart.
The day of my arrival, Narkiz, after hay
ing gravely served my breakfast, stopped in
the doorway, considered me, moved his
thick eyebrows. and said at last:
''Well sir, what are you going to do
now3"
Il don't know. If Nicholas Petroyitch
had kept his promise, we should have gone
out shooting"
''Huml Then you hoped, sir, that he
would keep his promise faithfully"
Certainly, l counted on it,
''Hum!''
Narllz regarded me anew fxedly, and
shook his head with an air of compassion.
eff you feel inclllIed to amuse Yourself by
reading we still have some OF the old mas
ters books Only, SD far as 1 can suppose,
you will not read lhem.n
''Why!'
''They are goOd-fOr-n nothing books; they
are not written for gentlemen of the present
day"
''Yor have read them2"
eff had not read them, I would not
speak Of them. A book of dreams for in
stance, what sort of q book is that! There
are others, truly; but you would not read
them either.''
Because
''They are books of divinity''
l remained silent, and Narkiz Also A
sort Of inward sheer moved his lips.
''What is above all disagreeable, y" resumed
I, ''is to remain in the house in such fine
weather.
''Walk in the garden, go in the wood; we
have birch of wood here. Or would you
rather fsh2''
''Haye you any ishl"
eyes, in the pool-perch, tench gudgeon.
Tne the season is over: we are near July