Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-18

their homes but are sent to strange dis
tricts, where the customs and the very
language of the people are as unknown
to him they would be to a native of the
United States, who knew nothing but what
had come under his personal observation,
for the average soldier cannot read and
therefore knows only what he sees or what
he is told. As a result OF this practice
there is no sympathy between the people
and the soldiers who are placed over them.
This condition not only prevails in Poland,
but in all parts of the Russian empire,
Deing more acute in the capitals, st.
Petersburg and Moscow, than in some OF
the provinces. In fact, 1t might not be
safe for the soldiers to maintain a different
attitude at present, for the people have
been so long taught to look upon the troops
as their oppressors that strange men, in
army uniform, would be attacked or treated
as spies were they not to stand together
under their officers while in strange parts
Of the empire.
Between Soldiers and Citizens.
To gain an idea of the feeling existing
between the people of the towns and the
soldiers, and the reasons therefor, will
give literal translation OF an incident
reported by the Moscow correspondent OF
the Daily Russ of st. Petersburg. Mr.. N.
Kiriloff. whose reputation throughout Rus
STA warrants all in putting implicit faith
in his report. Under the heading, "Hor-
rible," he writes:
On December q, near the bridge Gar
baty' in the eastern part of Moscow, there
were congregated several soldiers of differ
ent branches of the service in company
of an officer They were holding loud con-
versation and laughing. when a student
passed. He was instantly surrounded by
soldiers, and the officer exclaimed:
Now, rebate (comrades), make room for
the boy and we shall have a performance"
Then turning TO the boy he commands:
Take off your trousers" O.
The poor boy, pale, stands silent and mo-
tonless.
Take of your trousers saidr' repeats
the officer, furiously.
showing in his face, whittier than the sur
rounding snow, stands silently looking
around him. He sees the triumphant smile
on the face of the soldiers and with head
hung down awaits his doom.
Forward, comrades, you have to assist
the student His hands are frozen and
they refuse to obey him" The officers
voice changes and from harsh and strong
stdnSt Obser,sas tb,s anu poor
e to his assistants.
They, obey the order and lay the boy
Give him a portion" is the command.
Instantly the infantrymen step forward
with the ''naghaykas" in their strong
hands. The lashes begin. This work is of
long duration, accompanied by jokes and
laughter; but the student lies silent with
his face In the snow. He makes no reply
TO the irontcal questions, nor does he move
when KICKED in the head.
Stop! commands the officer, but the
soldiers, who are suited With the work,
obey slowly.
Your honor, we also would like to have
hand In t." said two soldiers Of the ar
tinery,, saluting the officer with real
Certainly, you shall have some fun in
IT," replied the kindly officer
lerists take the blood-stained "naghaykas"
In their muscular hands and follow the ex-
ecution on the body of the poor student,
whose face is stuck tight in the snow and
whose body only mechanically trembles un-
der the strokes of the whiD.
Your honor We should also like to have
show In the exercise" said a dragon,
addressing the officer, who naturally did
fresh hands, but the mutilated body has
already ceased to tremble under the lash.
Now. l think you have had enough, my
boy, as you have now finished three fac
ulties," and the words are seconded by
loud and joyous laughter OF the braves.
So closed the execution OF the student
OF the Moscow university, while his face
still stuck in the snow. How many
long years OF llfe man would give, knowing
that thereby he would abolish such scenes
from the world.
In my next letter l shall give you more
joyous descriptions, telling something OF
the preparations for the elections TO the
Donna" which are being conducted with
no more idea Of what the thing means than
an American would have OF how to behave
himself In Polish police station. F. g.