The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-03-09
THE GARDEN OF TERROR.

2 THE GARDEN OF TERROR.
This story being vigorously exact in the
ourselves justified in printing the name
Of ~ family we'll known in Russia.-FSgaro
Jliustrc.l -
We were shooting last autumn in
the govern ment Of RiazaD. The whOie4
morniug we had been after wild ducks
on . large sheet of water which was
evidently an artisticnl lake formed for
the purpose of ESTABLISHING some ma
n0rlsl park, but all traces of nan's
hancitwork mad long ago been nbiiter.
ated by the easy work of nature. Al
the sud Of the lake, through an open.
Ing between the trees, one conid see al
aume distance, in u depression in the
around, q vast building partly con-
cealed by the remains Of fortified
wall. This appariiion from the feudal
past perplexed me very much, ss had
never seen anything like it before in
the Russian provinces. The high
walls, provided with embrasnres, are
only met with surrounding some old
monasteriss which formerly served as
advanced fortresses to resist the Tartar
invasions, When the sportsinen met
at luncheon asked my neighbOr, who
owned come property In this district,
II tts mansion was an ancient convent.
ooh, NJ" he replied, tive are on tie
estate of the B. family. DON'T you
know the history Of the house and the
man who built it, the too-famous Vas
sill Iva0oyItch B.? II is one OF the
most mournfui episodes In the annals
Of sertdom. ;"
I had some vague acquaintance with
the legends connected with the name
Of Vassiii b., who was one Of the rich-
eat and moet cruel of Russian seigneurs
of his time. mistrusted these leg
ends, we'll knowing how the romano
lists had taken pleasure in biackentng
the days of serfdom when, even at it's
worst, the arbitrary power of the Bus
sian nobility was nearly always tens
peTed by their patriarchai customs. I
mentioned my doubts to my companion.
,t.You are right" he said. eve were
not go black as they have painted US.
The principle was detestable, but the
application Of II wac miider than that
of the feudal code ia many parts of
Europe. Our annals are comparatively
humane when set side by side with
those of the brigandage Of the Burg
graves 10 Swabia and Bohemia. We,
who were civilized, as it were, but yes
terday, committed our greatest crime
Ia showing such customs to Western
Europe, which had previously discard
ed practices precisely similar, and had
become publish and easily scandalized
In such matters. But, this said in our
defense, We must confess there were
come painful exceptions, and Of these
Vassilt B. was most notorious specs
men. During the first years of the
century he treated this district as u
conquered country. 80
"Vasslli b. lived behind this stone
rampant, surrounded by a body guard
Ut freebooters, villains only too ready
to pillsge and destroy in carrying out
the murderous behes,s of their master.
One Incident will give you an idea of
his summary jusiice. The. peasants of
small village adjoining his lands had
rsvolted against their proprietor. The
latter complained to Ii, of not being
able to suppress the revolt.
s'Sell ne the village. I'll undertake
to bring them to reason said Vasslli
Ivauovitch to his friend. Tho bargain
was concluded then and there. The
next day b. went himself with his
guard to the inutin0us serfs and sur
rounded the village. His men had re-
ceived Instructions not to let pass man,
woman or beast. sN@t even chicken
must pass OUT was Vassili's order.
They brought straw and faggots and
set fire to the village at various points.
Everything was consumed; not hut
remained; not living soul, not even a
chicken, as he threatened, escaped.
Vassili had kept his word.
"The man was fond of flowers. Hell
spent a portion OF his immense revenue
In embellishing pleasure-grounds.l
The entire place over which we are
now shooting was then park, main
tained with great care. The people
had given this park q significant
name-'the garden OF terror 1t was
chosen as u place of punishment by
the truculent seignaur. A pillory, Il
gtbbet, a wheel were kept there per-
maueatiy. Few Of those taken to this
spot ever returned, aud the serfs. were
led there for the least offense.
ssMaDy-tisnes the administrative au-
thorities attempted to put stop to
this tyranny, but always in vain.
Vassiit B. had great Influence, we'll
lined purse and consequently powerful
advocates ut s.. Petersburg; and more
over there was dispute about jurisdic-
tiou which served his purpose udmira-
l.