The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-03-31

the weather in Leghorn was now perfect,
and expressing wonder that did not re.
turn. I was his only English friend, and
I knew how dull he was when alone.
Even his Majesty's Consuls sometimes
suffer from inconsistencies, and long for
the smell of the London cutters and a
glass of homely bitter ale.
But you, my reader, who have lived in
foreign land for any length of time,
know we'll how wearisome becomes the
life, however brilliant, and how sweet
are the recollections of our dear gray old
England with her green fields, her
muddy lanes, and the bustling streets
of her gray, grimy cities. You have but
one "home," and England is still your
home, even though you may become the
most bigoted of cosmopolitans and may
have no opportunity of speaking your
native tongue the whole year through.
Duty-the duty of man who had
learned strange facts and knew that
defenseless woman was victim-called
me to Finland. Therefore, with my
passport properly vised and my papers
all in order, l one night left Hull for
Stockholm by the weekly Wilson SER
vice. Four days of rough weather in the
North Sea and the Baltic brought me to
the Swedish capital, whence on the fol-
lowing day I took the small steamer
which plies three times week around
the Aland Islands, and then across the
Gulf of Bothnia to Korpo, and through
the intricate channels and among those
low-lying islands to the gray lethargic
town of Abo.
1t was not the first occasion on which
| had trod Russian soil, and knew too
we'll the annoyances of the bureaucracy.
Finland, however, is perhaps the most
severely governed of any of the Cars
dominions, and I had my first taste of
its stern, relentless oficialdom at the
moment of landing on the half-deserted
quay.
In the wooden passport Office the uni.
formed official, on examining my pass.
port, discovered that at the Russian
Consulate-General they had forgotten to
date the wise which had been impressed
with a rubber stamp. 1t was signed by
the Consul General, but the date was
missing, whereupon the man shook his
head and handed back the document
CURLY, saying in Russian which I under
stood fairly we'll, although T spoke
badly
"This is not in order. It must be re-
turned to London and dated before you
can proceed"
"But it is not my fault" I protested.
ut is the fault of the clerk at the Con-
sulate- General"
"You should have examined it before
leaving. You must send it to London.
and return to Stockholm by to-night's
boat"
But this is outrageous" cried, as
he had already taken the papers of
passenger behind me and was looking
at them with unconcern.
Enough" he exclaimed, glaring at
me. You will return tonight, or If you
choose to stay you will be arrested for
landing without passport"
u shall not 60 back!" declared de.
family. "Your Consul General vised INV
passport, and I claim, under intern.
tional law, to be allowed to proceed
without hindrance."
1.-THE steamer leaves at six o'clock"
he remarked without looking up. eff
you are in Abo after that it will be at
your own risk"
" am English, recollect," said.
ITO me it does not matter what or
who you are. Your passport, undated,
is worthless.
i shall complain to the Ambassador
at Petersburg"
Your Ambassador does not interest
me In the least. He is not Ambassador
here in Finland, There is no Car here"
"Oh! Who is ruler of this country.
pray"
His Excellency the Governor General,
an Official who has love for neither Eng.
land nor the pigs of English. So recol.
lect that"