The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-02
Recruiting in RussIs.

Early In November in passing through
Toula. / saw at the entrance Of the
CRY Hall the crowd that is 50 familiar to
me, in whose general noise was heard
the hoarse shouting Of men. and the tear
fu lamentations Of women. II was the
gathering Of military recruits. l never
could pass this Spectacle without stop
ping; IL attracts me against my will.
/ mixed with the crowd. asking questions.
watching. and was amazed at the recS-
lessnesS with which this terrible crime
is committed In the centre of the city,
and in full daylight.
Every year. towards the first Of No
vember, in all The towns and villages OF
Russia, the starOsta get together the
young people OF the requisite age. their
own sons often among them, and take
them TO town on the way the recruits
get beastly drunk. and the officials DO not
prohibit drunkenness, because IL would
be altogether too cruel TO force them TO
leave their wives. mothers, and every
thing dear 10 them for no other object
than 10 become a passive instrument
of destruction. without obscurng their
reason by drink Ana thus they 90 In
slelghs singing shouting abusing and
nghting each other. The night is spent
in the liquor saloons. IN the morning
they again drink whskey 10 retain their
courage. and they then gather around
the city Hall. There they stand. with
faces swollen from drink. Some emit
wild cries. others are quiet and sad.
awaiting their turn at the doors. sur
rounded by wives and mothers. and others
again press into the ante-room oil the re-
cruit examination hall
Meanwhile. inside. the work goes on AZ
a rapid rate The door opens. and the
door-keeper calls Peter Sidoroff. Tremo-
ling and crossing himself. the candidate
zoos into the little room with the glass
door. where the recruits undress them
sslves Sidoroff's comrade, pronounced
good" had just come in from the eN-
animation -hal. naked ana shNellnS'
and is hurriedly dressing himself. Sidor-
of reads on his face that he has passed
and wishes 10 speak 20 him, but he is
oraered 10 get ready and lose no time.
ne undresses himself ana perspiring,
trembling. and emitting the odor OF
tobacco and liquor, walks into the OK
amiuation-han. naked and shlVerins'
u,,th his muscular hands. I'm the hall.
in a conspicuous place. hangs the picture
OF the car IN full uniform, while I'm
corner Is "a small likeness OF Jesus Christ
I'm the centre OF the room is large
table. covered with green cloth; around
the table. with calm, confident EXPIRES
one smokes a cigarette, another copies
napars. AS soon as Sidoron enters. the
door-keeper approaches him, leads him 10
the stand. puts his legs together. ana
raises his chin. The gentleman with the
cigarette-who is the physician-cOmes Up
and without looking into Sldorons face
mes sures and examines him WIN
evident disgust. lie makes Inn open
his mouth, breathe, speak. some one &c
cords the doctors statements. Finally
the doctor says Good! Next. ana SITS
down with q tired look. Another young
man Is hurried forward. while Sidcron
dresses himself in confusion. lhen ne
is led into another room. where those VINO
have passed are gathered. a young man.
a peasant like themselves, but from
distant province, and already sol
dier" armed with a gun, watches thein,
ready TO pierce any one through, should
ne conceive the idea Of escape. On the
street the crowd Of fathers. mothers,
wives restrained by a policeman. pushes
forward. desiring 10 learn who was ac-
cepted and who rejected. one or me re-
crIilts comes out. and announces that
Peter j. accepted; at the same moment
4 cry Is heard from Peters wife, 10
whom the word accepted means sepa-
ration for five years: and the life OF
soldiers wife. like that OF servant, Is
q life of prostitution. But now a man
comes in carriage whose dress dis-
tireuishes him from the crowd. Inc
policemen make a passage Tor MIN. II ~
the father" the priest come To aoni'h-
ister the oath to the new recruits. nus
FATHER" who was taught 10 believe that
he Is the exclusive minister OF christ,
and who. In the majority OF cases does
not see the lie surrounding him, enters
the room where the recruits are await
ing him. lie Iuts on a SILK garment
arranges his long hair. opens the Ivan
gel. In which swearing is plainly pro
hlblted ana takes the cross All these
unhappy. helpless. deceived Young men
repeat after hin the words wnich ne
reads IN a firm trained manner;
promise and swear by the Almighty Goa
and His Holy Evanger' etc. that
I will defend Thy murderD all those VINO
may be pointed out to me. and DO All
that people whom DO not know ana