The evening times., 1895-08-31
The Cost of a Train.

| y
AT the time when the first open court OF
law was established in Russia a lady.
dressed with the utmost elegance, was walk
ing 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 a
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.
| II beg thousand pardons. madame" :"
said the officer with polite bow, and then
was about passing on, when he was detained
by the lady's husband.
| You have insulted my wife"
| Nothing was further from my intention,
sir. Your wife's long dress is 10 blame for
the accident, which I sincerely regret, and
I beg you once more 10 receive my apollo
| giles for any carelessness on my part"
Thereupon he attempted to hasten on
You shall not escape so," said the lady.
To-day is the first time 1 have worn this
| dress, and 1t cost 200 rubles, which you must
make good"
My dear madame, 1 beg you not to de-
tain me. am obliged to go on duty at once.
As 10 the 200 rubles, 1 really cannot help
the length of your dress, yet beg your par
don for not having been more cautious"
You shall not stir, sir. That you are
obliged TO go on duty is nothing to US. My
wife is right; the dress must be made good"
The officers face grew pale.
"You force ME to break through the rules
of the service and shall receive punish
ment''
Pay the 200 ru bles and you arefree."
The quickly changing color in the young
man face betrayed no v inwardly disturbed
he was, but, stepping close up to them both,
he said, with apparent self-command:
''You will repounce your claim when tell
you that am 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 q whole year. lean, there
fore, make no amends for the misfortune
except by again begging your pardon"
don."
"Oh, any body could say all that, but wen
see IL it's true; well find out If you have
nothing but your pay. declare myself not
satisfied with your excuses, and demand
my money" persisted 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 de-
eide the matter"
All protestatioDs on the officers part that
he was poor, was expected on duty, and SO
forth, did not help matters. To avoid anopen
scana he wont with them IN q courr
where the gallery was deDsely packed with
a 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 oseemed
embarrassed, and half in despair.
ION the whole, very little. AS the late
ness of the hour and being required on duty
compelled me to hurry, 1 did not notice this
lady's train, which was dragging on the
ground. caught one of my spurs in it and
had the misfortuneto to tear her dress. Madame
would not receive my excuses, but perhaps
now she may find herself more disposed to
forgiveness when again declare that COM
mitted this awkward blunder without any
mischievous intention, and earnestly beg
that she will pardon me-"
IDENTIFY from the people taking sides with the
defendant and against long trains in general
and this lady inparticular.
The Judge called to order and asked: Are
you satisfied with the defendants explana-
tions?"
mot at all satisfied demand 200 rubles |
for my torn dress"
Defendant, will you pay this sum-"
L. koF1 xt,:c
been in position to do so. Unfortunately |
l am poor. Ny salary as an officer is all that |
I have to live on"
You hear, complainant, that the defend |
ant is not able to pay the sum you demand |
of him. Do you still wish the complaint to
stand?"
II wish it to stand. The law shall give
me my rights"
There ran through the rows of people q |
of indignation that sounded like
rushing of water.
Consider, complainant, the consequence
of your demand. The defendant can be |
punished only through being deprived Of |
his personal liberty, and by that you can
obtain no satisfaction; while to the de- |
fendant it might prove the greatest injury
in his rank and position as an officer who
is poor and dependent upon his pay. Do you
still insist upon your complaint"
II still insist upon it."
The course the affair was taking seemed
to have become painful tn the lady's hus-
band. He spoke with his wife urgently,
but without effect. The judge was going
on to further consideration of the case when
q loud voice was heard from the audience:
II will place the 200 rubles at the service
Of the defendant"
During the silence which followed gen.
tleman forced his way through the cruvd
and placed himself at the young officers
side.
s'sir. am the Prince W.. and beg you