The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-11-25
An INCIDENT OF RUSSIAN LIFE,
An Example of Modern Russian
Fiction,
Written by MuscOvite Gentleman
of This City.
A Sketch That Shows tho Powerful
Simplicity of Russian Writers and
Remarkable Command of tho
English Language.

IL written by Mr.. Cnarles Won RACK,
Russian who has recently come to this
city to reside. 1t is entitled Anita, and,
while simplicity itself in style and con-
struction, shows the rugged power and
directness characteristic OF modern Rus
sian fiction writers, together with sutfl-
cheney of detail to make the picture
stand out boldly and yet complete.
II you have never been in South Russ
STA you can not imagine what it means
when say it was July day. The air
wac anivering visibly from the heat.
and the black dust, turned into a
screening furnace, blstered the feet OF
the men who attempted to stsnd quietly
in one place for 10 or Is minutes.
1t was ON such day in 1868 that the
laborers had at 10 O'Clock in the morn
ing abandoned the fields and wers
lounging or sleeping in the shaded cor
ners of the straw-covered sheds of the
village Pokrowskaja.
1t was a pretty little hamlet, stretched
along the river of the same name,
which divided it from the fields. park.
garden and mansion of the Darn or
landlord. Only one primitive bridge
connected the property OF the gentry
y.
logs, covered by straw, as it had to be
rebuilt every spring after the turbulent
waters Of the river, swelled to an enor-
nous height by the melting snow, had
carried it off.
Six years had passed since Alexander
II. had ACCOMPLISHED q grand act OF
phisntrophy by liberating the serfs;
an act that placed him in the hearts of
10 10 - he
world at large, far above any ruler of
that country; an act that will stand
boldly forever on the pages OF history,
ae be, an absolute monarch, made this
step on the road OF progressive civiliza-
ton even before the United States, the
Land of the Free. A special "Ukas"
had compelled the nobility, who owned
the serfs. and counted these poor
wretohes by souls, as part and parcel
OF their inherited estate, to provide
each head OF family with suffi-
cient land and shelter, enabling
them to support their wives
and children. Wise, indeed, was
the clause of the imperial manifesto,
ordering that in all future time this
land, even il bought back by the nobili-
ty, had to be cultivated by free and
independent peasant. Any man or
woman that wanted to till this soil had
to join the ranks of the peasantry. losing
all rights and title previously obtained
or inherited-thus protecting one caste
through the vanity OF the other. New
maps were issued, and government off.
cials drew the fatefnl red line that pro-
tected the peasant from the arbitrari-
mesa of the "bRrin." A line, not red
from the blood of men, but ray OF re-
Election from the bright sunshine in the
heart of the confederate monarch,
alexander, the Kind" the champion
of Russia's future development and
coming greatness.
Six years ia but short time, still it
had made wonderful changes in the lit
tie village Of Pokrowsksjs. The old
huts, hardly fit to be called human
dwellings,. we're replaced by substantial
log houses, some of them covered by
weather boards and painted in bright
blue. green, red or yellow; others pro-
tected by heavy coat Of plaster and
shining in a epotlese white. The gables
were ornamental by rough and fantast-
ically carved trellis work. product Of
home industry. and the verandahs
shaded and beautifed by useful or Or
namental climbing plants. The
thoroughfare was separated from the
footpsth by q row of linden, willow and
birch trees of tender age, and above all
was perched on the top Of a pole 20 feet
high, before each dwelling, the house
for the little Startling" the pet bird OF
the Russian peasants. Even the church,
also supported by the government, had
received during this time three new
bells from the congregation, and the
sexton rang thess new additions in con.
nection with the old ones twice day,
to the full satisfaction of his listeners
and himself.
He had good reason to be proud of his
art, for an art it is, to ring the bells of q
Russian church in keeping with the
ritual! The ropes attached to the clap
pers of from three to twelve belle, are
tied to different parts OF the sexton
limbs and body, and by motions, only
known to himself, he produces melody,
pleasing and dear to every Russian
heart, and which an American COM
poser. who undoubtedly had travelled in
Russia, unfortunately put to the frivol-
GUS words of variety stage song.
The changes had also extended to the
old village well, the mute witness OF
many a little romance and stolen kiss.
1t had received new log, forked on the
top, in which, on an iron pin, was swing
ing a long pole, one end letting the new
wooden bucket hang from q thin but
long stick to the we'll the other, bur-
dened by q short but heavy piece Of
tim Der, extending into space, helped by
its weight, TO bring the refreshing fluid
from the bosom OF mother earth to
the surface.
Pokrowskaja gave the impression Of
wealth and prosperity, and no wonder it
did, each peasant owned his house and
yard and strip of land in the commun-
ity acreage. The soil, black as coal,
reached depth of six feet, and clear
and healthful water eight feet below the
surface kept the earth moist.
- Year after year the crops were hsry-
ested, and still the soil needed no fer
tilization. An attempt OF the "barin"
to improve the yield of the field, had a
fatal effect. for the wheat raised, though
seven feet high, had hardly a grain in
the head. The sun was shining brightly
over this seemingly peaceful and happy
spot, but dark cloud, invisible to the
eye, was hanging fateiully over it.
Three months before the "barin" Of @
nelghboring estate, with his whole fam
fly, save boy of 10 years, were brutally
murdered and all the valuables and
money from the house stolen. The only
survivor of the strocious crime, the little
boy. had recognized in Michael Bikow
promising young man OF this village,
the perpetrator of this horrible murder.
The evidence of his guilt was over
whelming; but the inhabitants OF Pok.