Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-07

round cupOldS, the white m1naretS ana the
greenish domes of Irlzoutsk. He could not
keep back an exclamation Of joy.
Situated upon one Of the high banks OF
the Angara, the waters of which spar1led
with thousand spangles, and impregnated
with the dazzling light of sunset, which
gave it background of Byzantine gold,
the capital of eastern Siberia appeared to
the exile with the marvellous destinations of
the mirage.
His delighted eyes followed the long line
| of embattled walls which defend the city:
they were arrested by the tall crosses Of
pierced iron with which the cupolas of the
Greek churches are surnounted, and, then,
falling upon the houses grouped IN black or
white knots, seemed to be searching for the
roof under which Davidoff and his daughter
had found shelter.
The troika crossed the Angara on wood
en- bridge, entered the city through a gate
guarded by Cossacks, and traversed large
public square surrounded by important
buildings, which differed in nothing from
those Of the large towns of Russia.
Irkoutsk, Whicl has now about thirty-five
thousand inhabitants, is the residence of a
governor general, who exercises authority
over country ten times larger than France
| The Importance of this city has been in
| creased by the acquisitions Russia has re-
Gently made upon the Amoor. Certain trad
ers Of the couL1ry are enormously rich.
! Their luxurious dwellings, furnished with
all the comfort and refinement of Partisan
| life, contain greenhouses, the tropical
| plants of which were transported at great
| expense from Europe across the steppes of
Siberia.
Nothing seems too dear to these prodigal
people, who appreciate things only from the
price they cost. More pates de foie-gras
and champagne are consumed in Irkoutsk.
upon the borders of the savage world, than
| in any town OF france. France produces
the wines, ana Siberia drinks them" says
local proTerb.
Iegor was surprised as he passed the ba-
gar, where Europe and Asia mingle their
most precious products: Lyons silks and
| cashmeres from Thibet French porcelain
! and China porcelain, Paris dolls and play
| things from Japan, English knives and &C.
neva music-boxes, Russian balalaikas and
Chinese gongs, petroleum lamps and little
| lamps of horn, etc
Mantchoo merchants, in sky-blue robes or
! wadded jackets, wearing on their heads the
| little skull-caps to which are attached the
| false twists which descend to the heels,
with great spectacles across their turned-up
noses, stood behind piles of chests of tea,
holding their fingers with pointed nails over
chatting dishes which emitted the perfume
| of sandal-wOOd.
| Jews. ia greasy caftans ornamented with
| a collar Of short fur, with Astrakhan caps
| pulled down over their foreheads and with
| pointed boards, motionless before their
stocks of furs and skins, fixed their round
! hawks eyes on those who passed
Booriat chiefs, belonging to a nomadic
| race living on the steppeS which surround
| Lake Bai1al were seated, with legs crossed
| In the Buddhist fashion, before enormous
bales of wool transported by RATS on the
| Angara.
Around the bazaar were erected actors
| hutS and barracks of rOpe-dancerS and
| Sharpers. AS it crossed the vast square
which is fifteen hundred feet long, the
! trOika encountered French, English and ma
| tive vehicles.
On quitting the square of the bazar, the
| troilza left the fashionable quarter, with
streets furnished with pave1nents and ma
| cadamized, to plunge into the lanes crowded
with miserable wooden houses and furroWed
| with cutters and deep ruts. In all Russian
towns, as a rule, where everything which
| approaches civilization is of recent importa-
| ton, the palace and wooden cabin stand side
| by side.
1t is in this dirty repulsive and dilapidat-
| ed part of the city, in these melancholy
| crossroads whore a prison light reigns,
| that the wretcheS, whom the clemency of
Muscovite justice has drawn from the depths
of the mines, where they were slowly dy ing,
dwell.
Left to their own resources, the eXiles
carry on small industries and low-grade
! trades to obtain livelihood. Former gen
erals become joiners or shOemakers, jour
nalists sink into wigmakers, and doctors
| of law into merchants of zibelline marten
| fur.
Yegor as he passed through this quarter
| of misfortune and poverty, attentively eX-
amined each door and window hoping to see
arise there the graceful head of Nadege,
with its aureole of faxen hair But the
troika stopped before one of the last huts of
the suburb without the young mans hopes
being realized.
1T is here" said the coachman, "that my
master babe me conduct you"
And he aided Yegor Semenoff in carrying
his valise into the cabin. Then, he returned
| to the troika and disappeared.
| CHAPTER Iv.-DAvIDOFF'S DEATH
Yegor had recovered all his energy. Very
easily impressed, like all the Slavonians. he
passed suddenly from one extreme to the
! other. Though he had been terribly dis
couraged few days before, he now felt
himself strong again, ready to struggle furi-
, ously against fate and resolved to continue
the battle of life to the end
| Without even examining his domicile he
returned to the street. stopped the first
passer-by and asked him if he knew in Irk-
outsk an exile by the name of Davidoff
| 'Davidoff!"
1.-The poet" added Yegor, quickly
''Davidoff. the name sounds familiar to
me. But question Issal1off, the innkeeper,
who resides at the extremity of the suburb
he has good reason to know everybody, for
he gives credit"
Il thank you," said Yegor. And he start
ed off rapidly.
The Jew Issakoff informed him that Davi-
dof and his daughter dwelt in little ham
let in the environs Of the city
L am a good walker" said Yegor: chow
long will it take me to reach their house,"
Twenty minutes"
But night had come on, and it was difficult
for stranger to find his way. Tegor, there
fore, begged the innlzeeper to procure him a
guide. as he wished to see Davidoff and his
! laughter at once.
''Ah! if you were the bearer Of his pardon
you would be doing a good action" cried
lssallof, the poor man is not long for this
world! The announcement of his pardon
would give him new life.n