The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-07-12
IN A RUSSIAN PRISON.
A SUSPECTS ACCOUNT OF HIS FIRST
DAY IN A FILTHY CELL.

DAY IN A FILTHY CELL.
Covered Almost Instantly with Hor-
rid and Hungry Mountaineering
the Cloak of a Diseased Convict.
How Time L. Passed In the JaiIs of
Russia.
was taken into one Of the little courts
in which were four cells, each with room
| for ten persons. The sleeping berths
were for ten persons, but the space be-
tween these berths and the wall was so
narrow as to make 1t difficult for all the
ten to walk at once. Several of them
generally sit or lie on the berths. All the
cells were open, and the prisoners were
in the court. Some were mending their
ragged clothing, some knitting stockings,
some merely lying or sitting In the sun.
Most Of them, however, were employed
in destroying parasites In their hair or
clothing.
Several persons surrounded me and
asked who l was, how long 1 was to
stay and where I was going. No one
inquired why I was in prison. That
question is considered impolite in prison
society. After having satisfied the Curl
osity of the Questioners, most of whom
were In chains and were to be trans
ported to Siberia, ! was taken into
CELL where vacant place was shown
me on a sleeping berth an ell wide, with
a dirty pillow stuffed with straw and no
mattress or blanket, for both Of which
the prisoners cloak serves.
The prisoner who showed me my place
was the "elder Of the ward" (starosta).
He was very amiable to me and recon-
mended one berth, remarking: There's
plenty of room here. There are only ten
Of us. In all the other cells there are Is.
That's why put you here" The fact
Is that the elder was building hopes on
me. He had noticed that l wore spec
tacles and had therefore concluded that
l must be q gentleman" and of course
must know how to write, and he was just
then very anxious to write petition.
I Of course consented and asked him to
explain to me his business. He began an
account, from which my attention was
distracted by a sudden sensation of burn
Ing all over. "Ohl Is it they?" he asked,
breaking off. "They?" repeated, won
dering. He nodded. My experience was
familiar to him "Never mind" he said
consolingly, they only bite SO furiously
Just at first. You won't feel them after
Bit"
tore off my cloak. My shirt was lit
orally covered with vermin. They were
In such swarms that stood horror strick-
en-. 1t seemed to me that l must die from
them. My new friend, still trying to con-
sole me, helped me of with my shirt, and
we went out into the court. Laying down
the cloak In the hot sunshine to get warm,
we employed ourselves In Nclearing the
shirt OF vermn. Before laying the cloak
ON the ground the elder held 1t up for me
to look at, and II seemed to me to be al
most free from insects. But after few
minutes he called my attention to 1t
again.
The vermin hidden In the coarse canvas
texture had come out to the heat 1t was
only then that understood in what con-
dition the clothing was that had been Civ
en- me. ] drew back with the bitter con-
viction that II was useless to struggle
against such endless legions. But my in
structor assured me that there was no
need to despair, that l must have pa
thence and that by working at it IL hours
a day one could get rid Of a great many
In two days. There was nothing for 1t but
to follow his advice; not that l had any
hope Of success, but rather from sheer
desperation. But We had not long to sit
in the court. At p. m. our names were
called over, and we were locked up In the
cell. We lighted some tiny lamps, filed
with grease, and went on with our work.
Some had contrived to get hold of a
pack OF IDS and spent the time in play
ing, though with frequent Interruptions,
as at any moment the sentinel might look
In and catch the gamblers in the act,
which would have resulted in a search
- T.
the prisoners, therefore, stood admiring
the beauties of the darkness. acting mean
while as scout, and gave notice with a
movement of his foot every time the SEN
tinel approached. Then instantly all the
gamblers would put on the most innocent
air and occupy themselves In some other
way. At 8 a. m. we were let out. | had
not slept at all nor obtained one moments
relief from the torment of the vermin.
The prisoners crowded round the well
and drank. Some took off their clothing
and washed II, remaining naked while
they did so. The morning chilliness was
sill In the air. / and my new friend re-
sumed our toll of the day before. He
was evidently well accustomed to the
work and looked compassionately upon
my ignorance and clumsiness "You
don't bit know how to manage. You
look half afraid of them. You shouldn't
60 at II so gingerly. know whose
cloak that Is" he went on. "a fortnight
ago there was a fellow here-'Jack Fool
we used to call him. Quite natural one,
Jon know.
"He was always soft In his head, and
then he was I'll. too-just all over wounds
and sores from head to foot. Well, there
he'd lie, and of course he got all over
these creatures He never tried to get
rid Of them. OF course a decent fellow
wouldn't let his cloak get into that state,
but the fool didn't care-not he. He
didn't seem to have any feeling some
how"
On learning the biography of my cloak
| appealed to him in horror to know
whether could not possibly get it chang
I'd for another. He at first maintained
that 1t was quite needless, that he could
get rid of the verrnin. that one could not
catch diseases from clothes, ETC., but he
failed to convince me. "Of course" he
remarked at last. lone can get it chang
ed. It'll cost a lot, but it can be done.
Here. sir, anything can be got for mon
w. Why, not only clean things, you can
have spirits, playing cards, paper, pens
and ink-anything you like"
My cloak was changed that day. Pris-
oners are not allowed to have money in
their possession. but prisoner who has
money to bis account In the Office can
buy things In the prison shop by order.
The dealer. like a banker. cashes your
order. though in goods instead of money,
and takes 20 per cent himself for trouble
and risk.
That evening felt far less miserable
In consequence Of q clean cloak.-Free
Russia.
Made II Crown Points.
Lord Beaconsfield Is said to have been
the only man who ever succeeded in get.
ting Edward VII when he was Prince
Of Wales to play for small stakes.
The prince was on a visit to Hughen-
den. and after dinner the usual game was
suggested. When the stakes were an
nounced Dizzy" turned pale. He was
Foe rod n