The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-23
THE CARS NINE TAILS.
EOsging as a Punishment and as a
Means Of Moral improvement.

Sorts of Purposes on the Bodies of
the Lower Glasses of the People
vicarious Suffering.
From the New York Mail and Express.
London, England, Aug. 2S.-Very few
people believe the stories of whipping in
Russia. They are called travellers
tales" and newspaper inventions" or
at least gross exaggerations." The
special correspondent of one of the great
London dailies lately received instruc-
tions to personally investigate the truth
of the matter, and from his voluminous
report l send you the following:
He begins by asserting that the CENTRE
Russian people feel a perpetual hankering
after the birch rod aud the knout." In
oIden times, no doubt, it was so. The
Slay peoples of bygone ages felt weak
ness for the rod and a strong affection
for him who welded it. When
ever the boundaries of field, an
estate or district were to be
marked of, the method in vogue was this;
A number of boys were taken to the
boundary mark, which was generally a
mound or o hill and told to note it well,
walking around and over it. Then the
little urchins were uudressed and logged
numerically on the mound to within an
inch of their lives. That impressed the
scene on their memory, and they ever
after remembered that spot. Some years
ago, at Moscow, IN the course of a lawsuit
about the ownership of certain acres of
land, one of the witnesses, a hOary old
Lithuanian, depOsed; The Leltis Hill is
a boundary. i was togged on the place
as boy"
The upper classes are exempt from fog
ging in Russia, but only the upper with a
large u" Government officials of a GER
tain rank are liable TO receive the rod for
remissness, and here is recent case: An
exoificiai was logged in POltara last
March. Eight years ago he was eXiled to
Siberia for something which he did or
left undone But he never reached his
destination; having given the slip 10 his
Cossack escort on the high road, he re
turned in safety to Jitomir near Kied,
became lawyer and yet very honest
man. His services were in constant de-
mand, especially among the poorer
classes, whose cause he defended
always ably and often sue
cessfully. One day, however, his
identity was discovered and he was con
demned, although an old man of s. years,
To receive forty lashes and TO be sent
back to Siberia
Plugging, however, is no longer seri-
oDsly regarded as punishment in Rus
STA IL is one of the privileges of the lower
clRsses-a sort of sacramental means of
receiving political grace. This view was
brought into strong relief during the trial
of number of peasants the other day for
taking part in riots during the cholera
epidemic. On being asked what they
had TO say to the charge, one of the pris-
oners naively replied I'VE were logged
II nlt
might let US go noW.n "Oh, as to fog
ging," remarked the presiding Judge,
that was merely a salutary measure
adopted on the spot for your own good.
The punishment for your revolt has yet to
come"
HOW THE FLoGGINGs ARE GIVEN
This the way st. Petersburg paper
describes the process: Instead of taking
place, as formerly, in private room, the
patient is laid down in the public street
and whipped in presence of his family
and Of the men, women and children of
his village. The elder and secretary
fchief officials of the town or village)
drive up and administer the first two
strokes, which are understood to be the
most vigorous and cutting of all Such
spectacles delight the village children
in their scanty repertoire of rural games
new one has now been introduced-the
game of logging, in which the whole pro-
cedure of their elders is rehearsed with a
fidelity of modern realism"
Every petty town or village in Russia is
ruled by its elder and secretary or peasant
chiefs, and these men have no other dis
cipline except the rod. What are you
generally logged for2p a peasant was
asked the other day. For everything
you do or don't do was the reply; 'for
lying, for speaking the truth, and for
sill fArs lnsv, 4
IN paying the taxes, for not uneoyering
our heads when peasant chief passes
j Couldn't tell you all the reasons"
In the government of Smolensk the
peasants refused some time ago to assem-
bic and discuss some communal questions
They were officially summoned TO appear
in the government house IA larger kind OF
hut, but, contrary to the rule, were not
told on what business they were wanted
Seventeen of them responded to the inyi-
.tation, and, instead of the eighteenth, a
young lad came as the representative OF
his father, who was ill. AS soon as they
were all inside the key was turned in the
door; Now what might this be for2'
cried one OF the rustics. For a sound
no right! The law says you must first
give US notice! We won't lie down !!
shouted the peasants in chorus. Then
you'll get double allowance-thats all, >
said the elder.
VERY SHOCKING SCENE.
One Of the Oldest of the patients" ther
addressed his fellows in affection
brothers, let US strip. It's no use fight
ing with fate" Who'll lie down first2'
was the next question, ~ will, If you
like" replied the same speaker Its al
one whether get the stripes first or last
Wen all get the same number" And
screwing his courage to the sticking
place, he Invested himself of his super
iiuous garments and lay down.
The thunder doomed and the hail rat
tied outside, and every now and again
dazzling flash of lightning illumined tn,
the dark hut revealing the naked human
back with its long red marks, the rudd,
beard of the conyulsed form on tn,
ground, the scared crowd covering clos,
10 the walls of this chamber of horror
and crossing themselves piously or moan
ing piteously, the smart figure of tn,
executioner welding the lash with tht
self-complacency of a consummate artist
and the ironical smile of the conceitec
secretary. The group composing thi.
scene of tiogging by lightning light wal
well worthy the brush of Verestchagin
Suddenly there was a tumult amonl
the villagers. First hum, then a chorus
OF angry voices, and during a momentar.
pause a shrill, thin, boyish voice wal
heard ~ won't lie down I'm not a man
] didn't do nOthingN (Which OF The dew