New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-29
KOROLENKO.
s1Y-pY OF THE RUSSIAN NOVELIST.

The famous Danish author. George Brandes, recently
contributed account Of the Russian author, Vladimir
KoroIeniso. to the Berliner Taseblatt"
an Moscow" says Brandes Of Korocnko, now
one Of the great Russian writers. saw him Tor the
first time 1t WAS at one OF the monthly dinners at
which the professors OF the university always met.
Korolenko and I Invited as guests Broad
sacudered powerful with the simplicity OF child and
iresh red cheeks. he had returned from his exile III
siberia. ] remember that he had passed the winter
In the Government Of Yakutsk. the least ierue
district of East Siberia he lived In tho midst
of alfciviNzed natives and Russian criminals ana
vasabonds. He had dwelt In a hut covered with
animal SKINS and related that the windows In such
4 Init during the winter, made OF blocks OF Ice
In the spring. when the ice began 10 melt they were
replaces BY panes Of glass during 'he 'o"s
winter there was never mild day. The thermometer
registered. as u rule 40 to 80 degrees Reaum'ir In
order to breathe 1t necessary to cover the mouth
with kind Of boa made Of the tails Of squirrels.
Tho sun broke through the ice blocks In coiors re-
sembling those Of the rainbow. The approach VI
spring brought with it an entirely different Kind OIL
life He did not disclose the 0Dr his exile,
unaware what they WERE. They were never mace
known TO him.. Brandes continues
Vladimir Galakhtionovtch koroenko was born In
the Government Of wolhynia In 1858. and passed his
the school As ms father pSSs but ,a h00s ,Ss
ss dI ss SeSs man TO st. in
hope Of bettering his condition liz was obisea,
however 10 battle with the greatest d lrenIG Ini e
tuto. and then entered the Academy OF Forestry In
MOSCOW. After sojourn OF eighteen months, how,
the leader Of depa,ation Of students he had d eom
planned of some Of the regulations: INDEED ne WAS MAS
surveillance Of the police AS soon as ne had again
become his own master he returned to ST. %
ways. often he suffered from hunger; He began to
write In 1870, and In consequence OF his literary ac
VT was seut IN Government
later to siberia There he WANDERED from ss 10
sse at he Received
!u to Russia The various works which have mase
ana 1886. Later he published novels and contributed
articles to the liberal journal Russkaya Mysi the
Korolenko possesses original talents. The material
for his writings he has taken Party oara and md pSy
from his memories and experiences during his exile In
More instructive and more effective than these tales
Of West Russia those which describe SIBERIA rhe
lives Of the convcts and escaped prisoner in whcS
the Russian criminals q the CLASH, tse d pso ms
and describes their relations with those VINO nave
from their walls since pCstTe%sa rO w5Es
peared. Koroenko. in fact. is less partial ana Tree
In his manner of treatment than his great preoe-
The Introductory description of the, siberian night
In which the escaped exile comes 10 'ne 4ny r nous f
questions, is strikincy powerful There follows tie
story Of the life board the ship which carries the
criminals behind iron bars below the deck across tne
Japanese Sea to the Sakhalln Peninsula. The murder
of man on board and the inability to discover the
SLAYER fills several Of the exiles with such fear OF
nmdeserved punishment that they determine to escape
from the island 1t Is Interesting to read Of the
preparation for and the execution OF the night.
Is rather to be found in the description OF Ire IN
tellectual and spiritual condition Of these Russian
cr1minas: the pictures of their deep melancholy,
their naive morality and Instructive immoray; their
pity for another: their suferinss ana me sym
pathy which they find on all sides. The love OF
liberty on the part Of the author has placed the
same love In these poor fellows IN poeticai heh'