Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-28
RUSSIAN PASSPORTS.
REQUIREMENTS GIVE OFFICIALS
 CHANGE TO EXPORT MONEY.
Square Bit of Parchment of Utmost Importance in the Czar's Elm pire-Police Annoy
 Travellers.

However 1ndlnorenL an EngilSnman may be as to what takes place in Russia, 1t is, as a rule, not very difficult to ex- cite his interest in the subject of pass ports, says the Pail Mall Gazette. To the Briton, accustomed to liberty from childhood, there seems to be something incomprehensible in the importance that is attached in the empire of the czar to the square bit of parchment with out which it is impossible to enter or leave that country, or even, one may add, to get board or lodging. It is only, how ever, after a residence of some length in Russia that the stranger attains to perfect knowledge of all that concerns the passport; the experiences of the ordinary tourist are not of very varied nature. Having only secured the pre- cious document somewhere in England, he will, if he is wise, have it close at hand when he hears the Russian iron tier, for no sooner does the train come to standstfll than door at the, end of the corridor is flung open, and there ap- pear two dignif1ed officials, each of them wearing 8 long brown coat with red fac- ings. and sword. One of the officials, OS which is duly carried off and duly ex- amined, while the traveller, under the guidance of porter, is taken to large whitewashed hall to have his luggage ex- amined in all it's minutest details. After time he may be shuff1ed by some kind hearted loafer into crowd in one cor ner, where he hears his name called out, and has the passport returned to him a welcome sign that the authorities be- lieve him incapable of corrupting the subjects of the czar and are, therefore, willing that he should proceed upon his journey.
 The next time the passport will be re- Quired is when he arrives at his desti- nation. If he goes to hotel, the man. ager must send off the passport at once; if to private house, the dvornik, or porter, who, is in the pay of the police, will take it to the proper place. After a few days it will be restored to the owner, the back scrawled all over with writing in Russian characters, and be- fore he leaves the town where he resides 1t will again have to be sent to the po- lice. But suppose the stranger has been in Russia for more than six months, then there is fresh development There is knock at his door some morning and majestic individual enters and, seating himself before the pen and ink, proceeds to viva-yoce examinations: What is your father?" What is your age and religion?" and "Why are you in Russian" These are few of the many questions that are asked But observe. He is looking at you minutely. Now he notes down your height, the color of your eyes and hair and other interesting par Ntfculars This done, he carries off your passport, and tells you that, having been in Russia for six months, you ought to have applied for another one
 If the authorities are not satisfied on the frontier or elsewhere, they may re- quest you to retire into "durance vile'' until they have made inquiries No doubt they are courteous, and will en- deavor to soothe your ruff1ed feelings with cigarettes and tumbler of tea sea- soned with lemon, but in other respects they are memorable. Thus, suppose there is traveller of unimpeachabIe vir- tue named Smith, who has black hair, and the police are looking out for a criminal named Smith of about the same height, and also with black hair, 1t is not at all improbable that the un- impeachable MT. Smith will at some point or other, be unable to proceed on his Journey. There IS no redress for the delay, or even an apology And, strange as it Haly seem, even the Russian off, cials can make a mistake and stick to it. Not so long ago an English officer, whose name shall be Jones, lost his passport in Russia, and applied for another The new one arrived after the usual delay, but unfortunately, the officer was de- scribed in it as Miss Jones" Anticipat- ing possible difficulties in the future, he returned 1t, asking that the error might be recti1ed. But the passport was sent back to him with curt note, intimating that it was not likely that the official who had filled it in had made any mis- take in the particulars
 He Raised Chickens.
 Some amusing incidents occur at tha