The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-02-27
A.. FRIDAY. FEBRU AIRY 27 1891

safeguarding of the law, but rather a
palpable mockery of Justice"
The Zemsly Natshalnik Of Cloma
Government of Nijni-N Noygorodl be-
gan his administrative activity by for
bidding all peasants, irrespective of age
or sex. to appear in the streets or roads,
or 70 dance or sing, after eight o'clock
p. m; he likewise strictly prohibited
them from visiting each others dwell
ings for the purpose of carrying on con-
versations and discussions. under pain
of imprisonment and the lash. The
Liberal organs are now asking, in as
tonishment, whether il can be true that
peasants are to be punished with i'm
prisOnment and the lash merely for
calling upon each other and having u
quiet chat But even when crime has
undoubtedly been committed and the
community is interested in the discov-
cry Of the criminal, the Zemslzy Nat
shalniks use the lash as indiscruniRatc-
ly as when all are notoriously innocent.
IN a district of the Government of
Tshernigoff, for instance, a peasant
complained that his turkey cocks had
disagreeable way of disappearing from
his farmyard and from the village gem
was committing these depredations on
his property, but he suspected little
boy OF eleven, who might possibly
be aided and abetted by rela
tons who Were of an age
TO know better. The Zemslzy Natshal-
mix at once declared that it would save
much time and trouble if the child We're
hogged till he made u clean breast of
it; SO he told the peasants to assemble
and do their duty. These rude, half
civilized creatures, however, had more
scruples about carrying out the SEN
tence than their betters felt in pro-
nouncing il. Hcsitating to fog mere
child and afraid to disobey the '.Tsar's
ambassador" as the Zemsl5y Natshal-
nils liked 70 be called, they compro-
missed the matter by hogging an elder
brother of the child. In comparison
with this sort of thing, fogging peas
ants in order TO compel them to pay
taxes seems natural, legal and wise
procedure. As an instance of how II Is
done I may quote the following order
sent round 20 the peasants Of the
EphremovslCy district Of the Govern
ment Of Toola, and published by the
'PetcrbIrgsl1ia FedomOsti" a few days
ago: Il hereby order the starosts tpeas-
ant-eldersJ to call the peasants together
tomorrow. and make known to them
that they have got to pay all taxes by
Saturday next. and. when / verify the
list. all who have not paid viii be
fiogged in presence of the assembly"
Here and there, no doubt, traces of
the old spirit are still extanJ, as was
shown Il few days ago in the Govern
meut OF Snolensk. where the peasants,
having refused to appear at some meet
ing. were summoned in u body TO the
VoIost Board, without being enlight-
cned as to the object for which they
were wanted. Reluctantly they obcyed,
and when the whole seventeen of them
were safe IN the room of the hut the
yvatchman closed the door, turned the
key and put II in his pocket Now,
what might that mean?' asked
one Of the mystified rustics. 1t means
a hot poult;cc for every mothers son Of
vc-that's what II means" was the can
ala reply: fifteen piping hot for each
OF vc. brothers. Its not lawful TO
lock the door protested one. The
sentence should have been read over 70
Us" urged another. Its dead against
the law, brothers, and we won't lie
down" cried a third; and SO they
argued. protested and stOrmed until
they were tired. Better have it over,
brothers." shouted out q stout,
burly fellow with a thick skin and no
nerves TO speak Of The others list
ened in silence, and at length agreed
that he was right Then arose the inn
portant question of precedence Who
was TO handle the lash? No one was
dcsirous OF the equivocal honor. At
last the same wise man solved the ques-
ton satisfactorily. Its all one, boys;
the first will get no more than the last,
SO 1 don't mind if / lie down"-and,
suiting the action TO the words, he
made the necessary alterations in his
toilet, lay down like a lamb, and
the colOrOus operation was begun
Meanwhile I storm-cloud burst over
their heads and the rain poured down
in torrents The scene" we are told,
was highly impressive. In the hut it
was pitch dark, and nothing could be
heard save the dull thud of the lash. the
subdued moan, the wincing and wrig-
Cling on the floor, and the vague, mar
ticulate murmurs Of the peasants
around. Suddenly a brilliant flash of
lightning turns the night into day,
revealing the bare back with the red
marks made by the rods, the brick
colored, wedge-shaped, shaggy beard Of
the heaving mass on the ground, the
anxious crowd standing closely up
against the wall of the room, the
vigorous sweep of the lash, the gloomy
figure of the elder, and the ironical
glance of the secretary. L won't lie
down. exclaimed one of the peasants,
for am not the owner of house, and
wasn't sent for. My father asked me
to come and see what's up It's all
one,' said the practical elder; down on
your marrow bones and take your
| fathers share. We've no time to wait
for him to turn up And, seeing that
there was no help for it, he lay down
and received his fathers portion. The
operation was Hot over till daybreak,
when they adjourned TO the nearest
tavern, drowned their sorrows in
vodka, and returned home drunk and
disorderly, threatening to wreak venge-
ance on their prosecutors"
WOES OF THE BRIDE.