Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-11-13
RUSSIAN STUDENTS.


universities are carefully watched by
the spies Of the Car. These spies re-
ceive liberal salaries from the Russian
Government In order that they may
not be debarred by Lack of money from
asoociatin4 with young Russian noble
men. They mingle as much as possible
with all foreign university studenta
Ihey register generally, ~ do the ma
1ority OF their countrymen, in the De-
partment OF Law. They attend all the
drinking bouts to which they can get
Invitations, and note with care what
their countrymen say about politics
and the government of the Car. They
play billiards and drink coffee IN the
same cafes with the other Russian
students. They make many acquaint-
ances in the university, a. they spend
their Government funds literally and
their real mission 10 unsupported by
their fellow students.
They have considerable difficulty,
however. in gaining admission to the
exclusive social circle Of their country
men. The Russian spy Is usually q
man OF humble birth and name. Most
OF the other Russians at his university
are noblemen Of the most stifE-necked
and conservative type As they all
are wealthy and free with their
money. they are not so accessible to q
display OF wealth as the ordinary
continental nobleman. Therefore only
in exceptional cases is the spy able
TO buy his way into this noble circle.
Usually he picks up his information
as to the politics and political connec-
lions OF his fellow-countrymen from
unwilling German go betweens. And
even these crumbs of hearsay are Be-
cured only with considerable pains,
for all Russian students at German
universities know there is a spy among
them. though his identity is unknown.
They often say, even when such abb
stract political subjects as constitu-
tional liberty are preached to them in
public places: '.N-a-a-a, my friend. but
the walls have ears"
But, like most jolly good students at
German universities, the Russians
often take a drop too much in public
beer-cellars, and then the spy gets a
chance to earn his wages. In So
cial way the young Russian nobleman
Is an uncompromising aristocrat. In
politics, especially after he has passed
q year or two abroad, he is full Of
+, radicalism. This latent radicalism
Is just what is apt to get him into a
peck OF trouble when he becomes gar
rulous over his wine. The omni-
present spy overhears the young
nobleman's expression Of radical po-
litical prejudice. reports it to head
quarters at st. Petersburg, whence it
Is communicated to officials on the
Russo-German border. and when the
tmprudent young nobleman starts
home with his brand new Phi. ID. and
foreign airs he is snapped up on the
border by Government officers. who
escort him to st. Petersburg. His
fate then depends, Of course, upon
the enormity of his crime. II he
called the Car 'tmeal-sack he is
liable to dose Of Siberia. Smaller
! offenses, like complaints of the abso-
lutism Of the Petersburg court, are
| punished with year or two In ST.
f, IBERIA.
OF course the one important remark
In question is not always tie excuse
for this punishment. The spy can
| generally get together good lot Of
more or less relevant evidence at his
university TO prove that the young
Russian nobleman was not a loyal
Russian or was guilty Of general
cussedness."
In 1881 young Herr Micalowski, Of
Moscow, studied Jurisprudence in
Leipsic. One evening in the Boersen-
keller restaurant he and his friends
discussed the last financial crisis
through which the Russian Govern
mont had passed. Young Micalowsli
said: The whole concern (that is, the
Russian Government) would go to the
devil shortly II the financial methods
weren't reformed" Eighteen months
later, as he crossed the Russian
border on his way home. an
; official arrested him. When Micalowski
! demurred, the official quoted TO him
the above deroHatory remark COM