The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-09-04
THE COST OF A.TRAIN

At the time when the first open court
Of law was established in Russia a lady.
dressed with the utmost elegance, was
walking on the Moscow promenade,
leaning upon her husbands arm and
letting the long train Of her rich dress
sweep the dirt Of the street.
A young officer, coming hastily from
. side street, was so careless as to catch
one Of his spurs in the lady's train, and
in an instant a great piece was torn out
Of the costly but frail material Of the
dress.
"Ibeg q thousand pardons, madame"
said the officer, with a polite bow, and
then was about passing ON when he was
detained by the lady's husband.
You have insulted my wife"
Nothing was farther from my inten-
ton, sir. Your wife's long dress is to
blame for the accident, which I sincere
ly regret, and I beg you once more to
receive my apologies for any careless
ness on my part" T%hereupon he at
tempted to hasten on.
You shall not escape So said the
lady. To-day is the first time l have
worn this dress, and it cost 200 rubles,
which You must make good"
MY dear madame, l beg you not to
detain me. I am obliged to go on duty
at once. AS TO the 900 rubles, l really
cannot help the length Of your dress,
yet l beg your pardon for not having
been more cautious
You shall not stir, sir. That yOu
are obliged to 60 on duty is nothing to
Us. Ny wife is right. The dress must
be made good
The officers face grew pale.
"Iou force Ire to break through the
rules of the service, and l shall receive
punishment"
PAY the 200 rubles, and you are free"
The quickly changing color in the
young mans face betrayed how inward
ly disturbed he was, but stepping close
up to them both he said, with apparent
self command:
lyon will %renounce your claim when
l tell You that l am a poor man, who
has nothing to live on but his officers
pay, and the amount of that pay hardly
reaches the sum of 200 rubles in a
whole year. l can therefore make no
amends for the misfortune except by
again begging your pardon
"Oh, anybody could say all that, but
We'll see if it's true. Well find ont if
vn, hayn n1thinr hrt -n,~ 10
clare myself not satisfied with your ex-
cuses, and I demand my money! per-
sisted the lady in the hard voice of a
thoroughly unfeeling woman.
That is true-you are right, " the
husband added, dutifully supporting
her. by good luck we have the open
court now in session. Go with us before
the judge, and he will decide the mat
ter"
All protes:ations ON the officers part
that he was poor, was expected on duty,
and so forth, did not help matters. To
avoid an open scene he went with them
to the courtroom, where the gallery was
densely packed with q crowd Of people.
After waiting some time the lady had
leave to bring her complaint.
What have you to answer to this?"
said the judge, turning to the officer,
who seemed embarrassed and half in de-
spair.
"On the whole very little. AS the
lateneSs Of the hour and being required
Oh duty compelled me to hurry l did
not notice this lady's train, which was
dragging on the ground. l caught one of
my spurs in it and had the misfortune
to tear her dress. Madame would not re-
ceive my excuses, but perhaps now she
might find herself more disposed to for
giveness when l again declare that
committed this awkward blunder with
out any mlschievous intention, and l
earnestly beg that she will pardon me. "
A murmur ran through the gallery,
evidently from the people taking sides
with the defendant, and against long
trains in general and this lady in par
ticular.
The judge called to order and asked,
Are you satisfied with the defendant's
explanations:"
mot at all satisfied. l demand 200
rubles for my torn dress"
defendant. will you pay this sum-
II would have paid it long before
this had l been in a position to do 80.
Unfortunately I IN poor. My pay as an
officer is all that l have to live on"
lyon hear, complainant, that the de
PENDANT is not able to pay the sum yor
demand Of him. Do you still wish tn,
complaint to stand:"
Il wish it to stand. The law shall
give me my rights"
There ran through the rows of peopl
murmur Of indignation that soundc,
like a rushing Of water.
Consider, complainant, the conse
quence Of your demand. The defendan
an be punished only through being de
nriyed of his DersOnal liberty and h