The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-01-06
IVAN THE TERRIBLE.
Bsrbsrie Cssy Who Loved 10 Barn,
BoiI and Torture His Subjects.

Some Of the reasons why Ivan, car
Of Russia, was called 'the Terrible"
have been retOld by X. Wallszewski In
his book. Persons who displeased him
he would saw asunder BY the constant
rubbing Of rope around their waists or
sprinkle alternately with ice cold and
boiling water. lie marked his sense Of
a bad jest by delugiDg the perpetratoi
with boiling soup and then running
him through with knife. He rebuked
an unmanncrly envoy by SUNNI Jning
a carpenter and ordering him 10 nail
the mans hat on his head. There were
also wholesale orgies. rs at the punish
mcut Of NOygOrOd. when lie had a hun
drcd persons roasted over q slow fire
by new and Ingenious process and
then rlm down on sledges into the river
10 be drowned At Moscow the ear
had u disappointment There was % he
great execution Df 800 victims who
had already been tortured 10 the last
extremity. and loyal subjects had been
summoned 10 the function. ITO Ivans
establishment the great square was
empty The instruments OF torture
that stood reHdy-the stoves and rel
hot pinchcrs aud iron claws and nee
dies. the cords, the great cOppers full
Of boiling water-lad failed To attract
this time.
"But there had been too much of this
sort Of thing lately. ana the execution
ers were growing too long armed Ey-
cry man sought 10 hide deeDer than
his neighbOr The cZar had 10 send re-
assuring messages all over the town.
Come along! Don't be afraid. NObo1y
will be hurt" At last ont of cellars
ana garrpts the necessary spectators
were tempted forth. and forthwith
Ivan. incxhaustible AMI quite I'M
abashed. began Il lengthy speech.
Could ne do less than punish the trail
tors? But he had promised To be- mcr-
ciful. and hc would keep his word,
Out Of the 300 who had been sentenced
$50 should have their lives Torture
and execution were. however. In the
case of Ivan very much more than the
mere instruments of birb#ric Justice.
They were his recreation and delight.
As n boy his amusement was 10 throw
DOGS down from the top of one Of the
castle terraces ANA watch their dying
agouiCs. A. man he used 10 20 the
round Of the torture chambers after
dinner one of his first crimes was the
execution of his earliest friend. FcDdor
Vorontsoy. one Of his last was the
murder Of his own son.
According 10 WalisZewski. il was the
recognized thing in Russia for the up
per dog 10 make things aS uncOmfOrta-
bic for the under dog as knOutS and
slow fires could make them. So "the
Terrible" only talked Of his subjects
i'm the language they could most rcadi-
ly understand Ivan was by no means
unpopular with the people. In many
ways he was an enlightened and pro
CressivC monarch. He took the first
steps toward TN" founding Of RuSsia's
great eastern empire. He made more
or less successful attempts toward po-
liticnl and legal reform. ana he had
certain gift of leadership and instinct
Of craftsmanship which he used To the
best advantage. Personally he was
coward as was shown ut the siege Of
Kasan. when he kept diligently To- his
devotions I'm spite of the repeated en-
treaties Of his men 10 come out and
hclp them