Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-07-05


Ten in prison. IN the character of
the young student Mischa, he ie-
scribes his impressions of Russian
prison lfe-impressions whiuh threat
en- to be lasting, as it is feared that
his stay in the prison has completely
undermined mis- health. The title Of
the book is In the Prison
Mischa lay on the wooden bed sound
asleep. He dreamt that he was run
ming with difficulty through a dark
harrow street, while an invisible
form was pursuing him. 1t touched
him on the shoulder and spoke to him
some harsh, unintelliglble words:
Gees up. Time for rollcan."
He opened his eyes, raised his head
a little--beside him stood the fat, red
headed warden, who pulled at the
skirt OF his coat, while the prison d.
reetors overgrown, sto.p -shouldeGed
assistant looked at him with MS mock
ing gray eyes and said:
You will please get up promptly
you aren't by your mamma here"
"An right" Mischa answered
laughingly, without being at all offend
ed, and jumped up from his bed.
The assistant looked him in the
face, turned toward the door and said,
somer At more gently:
''Yo must ask for writing paper
to write home-about the bedding
and the other things"
17bn,, 40 won't ont
around.
Mischa now went to the end of the
corridor to wash himself. Here over
a long, wide iron trough, which was
fastened into the wall, there was
row of brass faucets out of which
water was running in a round, thick
stream.
Gray-clad prisoners were passing up
and down with tin teapots in their
hands, and every now and then some
one would call out:
Hey there! Bring some boiling
water!'
With his chains clanking behind
him, a prisoner condemned to the gal
leys came up to Mischa. He was
large, spare man with pale face and
a thick, blond beard. He looked at
the student, wined knowingly at him
and said laughingly:
We'll, my young man, did they
catch you?'
The red-headed warden brought
Miso1a pot of weak tea, and large
piece of black bread, the crust was
like sole leather, while the inside was
sift and clammy, and had an unpleas-
ant, sour smell.
There was a hum in the prison like
in a frightened wasp's nest. There
was Laughing, 'scolding, spatches Of
songs, the harsh tones of the war
den; from the corridor came the soft
rustic Of brooms, the splashing OF
water; and Mischa, filled with
strong interest for the human lives
who we're shut up in this wretchei old
building, listened intently.
He had read little and seen less.
Until he went 10 the university he had
lived a moDotonous life under the
strict care of his sister and her hus-
band, and he did not feel at home
among those students who freely and
eagerly discussed the different social
problems in finely chosen words.
The wave of general dissatisfaction
with life had already touched his soul,
and awakened in him vague, but
healthy, protest, although ne did not
yet understand how to direct this pro-
test. Now, feeling himself to be a
l.
with the eagerness of boy, and let
them take possession of his young
soul, which was more than ready to
be filled.
After ne had drunk his tea he crept
up onto the window sill. A dark,
broad-shouldered man in cap and
short, heavy coat was walking rapid
ly along the path on the top of the
wall which surrounded the prison.
He frequently raised his head with
Quick movement. and, without stop
ping, cast a hasty glance at the win
dows. Several times Mischa felt the
bright, searching eyes rest on his
face He wanted to say something
TO this man, tell him his name, ask
WHY he was III pllSOI, anu az IuS AhetA
reached his window again, Mischa
called cut softly:
Listen to me-"
From somewhere a sentinel appear
ed under the window and called out
sternly, while threatening with the
finger:
Hey. there! That is forbidden"
The man in the cap shrugged his
shoulders, smiled to Mischa, and walk
eG on Mischa jumped down
to the floor of his cell.
The sentinel confused him; the bright
eyed mans smile made him feel glad.
1t seemed to the youth as if this smile
had established pleasant feeling of
fellowship and sympathy between
them.
During the midday hour the young
overseer came back. He was as
thin as a rail and horribly pittei with
smallpox. He remained standing be-
fore the door ana said softly. without
looking at Mischa:
"You will please come out and take
a walk"
1t was very damp outside Water
was standing in the holes between
the paving stones. Three prisoners
were going around the courtyard with
brooms, lazily pushing the water to-
ward the gate. but the thick, dirty