Evening star., 1897-01-30

mines, which produces q SHOW OI pity
toward the victim they are destroying IN
the most cold-blooded manner.
A Strange Religion.
Misfortme-and the bradiaga is one of
the most unfortunate of beings-uncon-
scsously turns their thoughts toward re-
ligion. In justification of their crimes they
invariably say, 1--WE are poor sinners. but
also most unfortunate, and therefore God
will forgive all our sins" Whenever
they see a cross they always take off their
caps and cross themselves. In converse
tion, 1 am told, they are very fond of quot
ing what at first sight seem Scripture texts,
but what in reality are phrases made up
by themselves for their own justification,
such IS, God hates the rich ones of this
world ''Sin committed in perfect hui
mility Is no SIM" IF you must kill a man,
don't kill his soul"
Besides these religious sayings they have
a great many proverbs which clearly indi-
cate their lawless nature, viz:
He Is not a thief who steals but he
who allows himself to be caught"
Dead men tell no tales"
"a fool gives. a wise man takes"
What you can get Is yours; what you
cannot is other peoples"
To describe more graphically this class
of men whose type Is wholly unknown in
Europe, 1 will relate the following fact:
In one of the more important Siberian
villages. called Balacf1ta, lived two settlers:
sent there punishment for some small
offense, ole Russian called 1nteZgu, the
other Pole They were both shoemakers
and entered into partnership to con-
centrate their efforts in earning small
living. One day they made an excursion
from the village, some ten or twenty versts,
with the intention of cutting small pieces
of wood used by shoemakers in pegging
boots. Reaching few struggling bushes
they separated and each began to cut the
small twigs they required. AS ill-luck
would have it, a party of twelve tramps
Just then passed. Perceiving the Pole.
alone thew surrounded him in instant
Intezgu, who was but a few PAGES off, hid
In the bushes and witnessed what follow
ed. He could not help his friend, as he
knew that If he showed himself he would
be killed at once. Trembling with fear he
was compelled to remain an unwilling wit
ness of the tragedy.
off their caps. Bad luck to you that you
have met us, but you see it is not our
fault. Such is the will of God. How much
money have you got?"
Five roubles which will give you, as
well as my clothes. if you only spare my
life."
Gentlemanly Murderers.
"Your life Is Of To use to us, and We
would really like to let you go. but you see,
dear friend we have cur laws, which we
cannot avoid. If you were to escape alive
you would report us to the police, and we
| might be caught. Therefore forgive US poor
sinners-but die you must"
Il swear will not report you"
Yes, yes; one always says that when
afraid, and forgets it afterward, we know.
You had better lose no time talking but
| pray little, like good Christian. We
don't wart to torture you; you can choose
your own way to die"
| All this conversation passed in a subdued
voice, as if in gentle persuasion. The coun-
| tenanceS of the murderers bore no trace of
| anger or fierceness.
The Pole tried to soften them with his
| prayers, when one of the tramps who ap-
peared to be the chief, took him kindly by
the hand and said in friendly tone:
Good man, don't be a baby and ask for
a life we cannot give you. You and we are
| both the children of one father. Let us
! finish this business in brotherly fashion
By resisting you will only suffer more.
Choose which death you prefer. The knife
| or stick or river, which is very deep, or
perhaps you would prefer to kill yourself.
| We will even allow that"
Il will not willingly take my own Hfe."
he said. God has given 1t to me- and I
but pray kill me at once"
BE quite assured: we have had a good
deal Of practice. and you won't feel any
| thing"
And now let me pray"
| He knelt down and irtrusted his soul to
| the Most High. When he had finished he
locked at his murderers. standing silently
| around him.
Are you ready?" asked the chief.
| Ready. he answered in a low voice.
1t was his last word; a few blows with a
| senseiess on the ground. The tramps then
stripped the corpse, tied a stone to the
neck and threw it into the river.
"A pity, said the chief. walking slowly
away and lighting his short pipe, that
some other man did not meet us instead of
| this one 1 am very sorry for him.
| True" answered another, "he seemed
| a good sort of fellow"
80 quiet and not at all quarrelsome," /"
| added a third
In that he showed his good sense" fin
| ished the chief.
| And after having thus sung the prais es
| of their victim they lost themselves in the
| woods.
| Their last words were his funeral grafton.
THOMAS G. ALLEN Jr