The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-01-07

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from which | voluntarily awoke at
length, to find myself carefully COW
cred up with the furs of the natives.
Travelling by deer-sled, though
rapid work-some of Mr.. Meiville's
posting was done at almost railroad
speed. as l40 versts in Ii hours, 50
! ia ct hours, and 800 versts (the verst
l. two thirds of mile) in 3 days
and Is hours-is not always pleas
ant, either to traveller or to animal.
The wilds are pathless /; occasionally
the driver has the excitement OF pur-
suit by a dog-teain rayenous FOR ven
ison; the sleds overturn on the
slightest provocation. The deer are
kept to their work by being punch
ed in the launches with a pole.
when driven al the top of their
speed they labor painfully along,
with heads thrust forward, nostriis
dlstended, sides working at every
leap, like great pair Of hlacksmith's
bellows, and the noise OF their
breathing like the exhaust off loco.
motive. Maintaining their fearful
exertions for about half an hour
they suddenly swerye among the
trees, or up steep bank, to avoid
their tormentor, or dropping down
in their tracks, bury their heads
with open mouths in the snow, and
eat voraciously of the cooling dust
Tne cattle are housed, during the
winter months, under the same roof,
and frequently in the same apart
menfs, with their owners the hors-
es are not stabbed, even in the Sc
verest weather, but dig through the
snow for grass, or crop twlgs ana
branches of trees.
Concerning the Siberian exlies
Mr.. Melville tells Us a good deal.
One, whom he met repeatedly, was
law student who bad been arrest
ed for participation ih a students
street row. After three examlna-
tions the Courts could find nothing
against him, nevertheless be was
packed off TO the frozen North for
life on an administrative order,
which said: I'VE can find nothing
against this man; but he Is law
student, and no doubt very danger
ous." This exile's companions
whose ages ranged from Is to q,
we're all professional men and con-
firmed Nihilists, though several
said they had not been so until
after their Punishment. Each was
allowed SD 80 with which to feed,
clothe and house himself and pro-
cure fuel and service; this where rye
meal costs nearly 5 cents a pound
and sugar 30. Some of the exiles
with wealthy friends receive allow
ances from them, but these must
not exceed $50 at one payment,
and mails are very irregular-say
twice year, with packages at odd
intervals through travelling mer-
chants. No exile may send or re-
ceiye sealed packet. The natives
are held accountable, under penalty
of Imprisonment and the knout, ior
any escapes.
One of the exiies met by Melville
had been a practicing physician IN
the Crimea; be had neither commit
ted crime nor belonged to a So
ciety; be might, however have Of
Tended a rival by his marriage.
He had been treating the child
of the local police-master, but
she was convalescent when, one
morning, he was sent for by that
ofiicial-sent for with such urgency
that he was not allowed to finish
his breakfast or take an overcoat.
On reaching the officials residence
he was told that he was a prisoner,
on an administrative order, and,
without being permitted to bid fare
well to his young wife, or to obtain
money or clothing, he was packed
off to Siberia within twelve hours.
His wife followed him to lrkutsk,
intending to join him in exile, hut
he was moved on to Verkeransk,
1000 miles distant. just before her
arrival; she went mad and died in
despair at this ending of her 1000
mile journey, and he, after an at
tempt at suicide. settled down In
his hopelessness to practice his pro-
fession-without fee, since no exile
is allowed to gain money for him
self. He was not a Nihilist; indeed,
he was in Indifferent repute with
companions because of his modera-
ton in politics. There is some sat
isfaction in rejecting that the Nihil-
lists utilize their reputation for
bloodthirstiness and desperation in
order to worry the officials and TO
make the traders sell them goods at
discount One exile, poet and
scholar, whose translation OF the
Bible was appropriated by the Bish
op of the diocese, attempted an es-
cape by securing "double"-a Cos
sack closely resembling him, and
trained and educated till the de-
ception could hardly be discovered,
being substituted for him, but his
clever plan miscarried, and he was
sent into a severer captivity. The
only contented exiles are the
''Scaups" (skoptzoi?), who mutilate
themselves SO that they con neither
beget nor nurse children. They are
teetotalers and vegetarians, live in
communities under police survell-
lance, and farm extensively.
An Enu TO Bone Scraping.