San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-09


One Sunday, this lively and pleasant
house suddenly found itself empty and de-
serted. Those who came, according to Gus.
tom, were informed that M. Dsvidoff had
departed on long journey. The truth wa,
that the police, rendered uneasy by these
reunions, had become alarmed at them, and
that the aged poet, suspected of belonging
to the advanced liberal party, had been ar
rested between two and three o'clock in the
morning and sent to Siberia by simple ad'
ministrative measure. In consideration o.
his years, they had permitted his daughter
whom he adored and separation from whom
would have killed him, to accompany him in
his exile.
This dolorous event filed Yegor with un.
speakable grief. .. ... ....
The reunions of the poets friends, how
ever, were not interrupted; Yegor offered
to hold them at his house. Three years at
forwards he was arrested, in his turn, and
without trial, without sentence, was sent
like Davidoff, to Siberia.
These last remembrances recalled to him
all his sufferings since the night he had
been torn from his bed, thrown into dun
geon and afterwards dragged, for nearly
three months, with irons on his legs, in a
hbitka, over the long and cruel road of
exilel
At last, his lot had received sudden and
unhoped-for amelioration. 1t was almost
liberty that had been given to him by the
grantee Of the mines, M. Nadeieff
ST 1 should find," murmured Yegor,
"Davidoff and his daughter alive-really re-
siding at Irkoutsk! Alas! perhaps they
have died from bad treatment, fatigue and
privationw
This thought froze his heart-he had such
an ardent desire to see his old friends again
He would so like to devote himself to them,
make their life easier, and bestow upon them
words of consolation and hope.
He adroitly questioned the coachman:
"Have you ever heard tell, at Irkoutsk,
of an exile by the name of Davidoff!" asked
he.
''In the first place, don't know any yer.
max (exile) either there or elsewhere" an
swered the coachman, who probably wished
to say nothing
The third day, after two nights passed in
the troika where he had scarcely been able
to sleep, Yegor perceived, lighted up by the
rays of the setting sun, the tall belfrys, the
round cupolas, the white minarets and the
greenish domes of Irkoutsk. He could not
keep back an exclamation of joy.
Situated upon one of the high banks Of
the Angara, the waters of which sparlSled
with thousand spangles, and impregnated
with the dazzling light of sunset which
gave it a 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 surmounted, 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 troiSa crossed the Angara on wood
en- bridge, entered the city through 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
Tkoutsk, which has now about thirty five
thousand inhabitants, is the residence of a
encouragement, who exercises authority
over a 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 country 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 lrkOutsk,
upon the borders Of the savage world, than
IN any town OF France. "France produces
the wines. and Siberia drinks them, says
local provcrb.
Yegor was surprised as he passed the ba
gar, where Europe and Asia mingle their
most precious products: Lyons silks and
Cashmcrcs from Thibct, French porcellip
and China porcelain. Paris dolls and play.
things from Japan, English knives and &c.
neVa muSic-bOXes, Russian balalaiGas and
Chinese gongs, petroleum lamps and little
lamps Of horn, etc.
MantChOO merchants, in slIy-blue robes OF
wadded jackets, wearing on their heads the
little slzull-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, in greasy Caftans Ornamcnted with
a collar Of short fur, with Astrakhau caps
pulled down over their foreheads and with
pointed boards, motionless before then