Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-12-10
.I%CONrINUED. I

Iuras caught my enthusiasm and was
as ready as / to point out any fresh
aspect. When we we're fairly 10 the
country and away from the station and
people, / felt that I must sing, run or
cry TO give vent TO my e|Xu0erant emo
ton. It seemed that Taras and L we're
one. / saw with his eyes, heard with his
ears, and In my heart was a sentiment
or a pure, inefable love and divine
tenderness which belonged more to his
nature than % mine. He picked these
flowers for me; I strewed them on my
pillow and pressed my burning face on
their cool petals when 1 lay down that
night.
One more extract from this odd col
lection shall close the list. il is q coll
lection Of paintings by Prince BOr-
gensky, exhibited at the Modern gal
lery 10 Bond street. I had often heard
the word "nihiliSm" and 'nihillst'
spoken in Lambeth, and one morning
when we we're walking iD the park
we never failed 90 90 out for an hour or
two before lunch-I asked Taras 70 tell
me what q nihIliSt was.
"a Russian Nihjlist, said he, 'fs a
man who desires freedom for his coun-
try such as we enjoy here ia England,
Il we can get it. But be would be
quite content with less"
"Are you 4 Nihilist?' said I.
He nodded.
"Have you always been a Nihilist?' l
asked.
"NO; I was once a servant might
almost say a friend-Of the Gar, who
is now my enemy
"What made you become a Mill
ist?"
He reflected longer than he usually
did before replying to my questions,
and then said:
II will show you, Aura and turn
ing from the path be led me across the
park and over Piccadilly into Bond
street. There we entered a large gal
lery which was already crowded wiki
we'll dressed people. The walls were
covered with pictures. I may say with
out eXaggeratjOn that there were hun
dreds OF paintings. There were some
large ones representing battle scenes,
I and others quite small, for the most
\ part portraits, but the greater number,
Il aud those which attracted most atten-
II ton, illustrated prison and exile life
Bin Russia and scenes relating 70 the
march Of prisoners into Siberia. The
misery OF this awful march, the al
tendant horrors OF the escapes, where
men and women, young and old, where
the habituaI criminal and the teBderly
nurtured girl, crudemued without tria.
by the administrative process, were
hprded together TO lOathsOme garments
without regard 90 deCency or health
aud with less care for their prsserva-
ton than would be bestowed uUan cat
tie, were shown ia such vivid reality
that one turned with a feeling OF sick
ness from the canvas, as il the ree6 OF
pollution aud disease steamed from
them.
'sThis IS what made me a Nihilist, "
Taras said in s low voice.
''You have seen all this?" / asked.
He nodded.
A plethOric young nan with long
hair was passing judgment on the pic
i ture 10 the loud tone Of conceit.
''VigOr, I grant you" be said. "But
the thing is O~verdOne. The effect be
aims at IS spoiled By e2aggerat.O1.
Borpenskv NAV be o rabid nihilist, but
\ it is equally clear that ,Ae is making
capital out of q political boom; ia fact"
he added in a confidential tODe-"he
almost admitted the fact when l taxed
him with 10 here the other day.
THAT is not true." said Taras, rails
ing bis voice.
The knot Of admirers about the stout
-vcang dilettante turned round, and the
youth himself, scanning Taras from
head to foot, said, with impudeut con-
tempt:
"Beg pardon, may I ask who you
are?"
IF you were not a liar" replied
Taras. ''you would know that 1 AN
Prince BOrgenskY.'
Ii was 10 this way that I came 70
know who Taras was.