Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-03

a porcelain basin fixed to the wall under
a water tap in one of the corners and. last.
but not lease, an ordinary water closet
without any lid or screen. The bedstead
had a thin mattress, so that the iron trellis
underneath could be distinctly felt; a sheet,
a blanket Tor two is necessary and a
decent pillow; a small copy of the New
Testament In Russian and a quart mug
on the table; such were my surroundings.
Plencing the wall 2hx3 feet thick, was
the window, about 2x3 feet, with dauble
glass framed in iron and wired to prevent
doves from outside visiting the cell through
the ventilators. This window admitted a
very limited amount of light. principally
due to another external wall OF the flrtress
of the same hight as the Trubetskoi Bas-
ton itself, arising at a distance of ten 10
fifteen feet from the windows Of the cells
of both floors; consequently only a very
narrow strip of sky could be seen from the
upper cell and none at all from the lower
ones. as l learnt subsequently, being tenn
poraily placed in one of these lower cells,
The dark brick external wall reflecting very
little sunlight through the windows leaves
them half dark even on bright sunny days.
Moreover these lower cells are positively
damp, and this together with the dark
ness must act terribly upon the nerves
and the health of those who are unlucky
enought to be incarcerated therein for any
period over a year. SOLITARY confinement
in the fortress even for two years is not a
rare oc~currence.) Fortunately for me, / was
placed on the upper floor, and in order to
escape rheumatics asked the authorities at
the very beginning to allow me the use OF
my own wooden underclothing, to which
had been accustomed for the last thirty
years of my life in England. This request
Of mine was granted. 1 was informed, out
of regard for my age. A few months later
was even transferred into what was said
to be the best and lightest corner cell in
the whole bastion where the external wall
retreats from the window and leaves an
open space for the southwest sun rays.
When I entered the Trubetzkoi Bastion
the food allowed by the prison consisted
of hot water and black rye bread in the
morning. two courses of meat for dinner
at noon and a pudding or stew OF some
kind with hot water for supper at six. All
additions to this, such as tea and sugar,
milk, white bread, fruits, sweets, tobacco Il
did not smoke), etc, had to be ordered
once a week at the prisoners expense
from shops outside. / had no reason to
SOihpldln OF lhe dlet, especially as L had
money and could buy all the extras that
l wanted; materials were fresh and the
supply sufficient, although the cooking
was somewhat Indifferent.
There is a small, but select. library OF
books left by previous inmates, for many
many years. Each prisoner may borrow
through warders two books at the time
three times a week, having not more thar
five books altogether in the cell. It is
curious statement to make, but a goo,
many young Russians, especially artisans
owe whatever higher education they have
such as knowledge of languages, philo
sophical works, ETC., 10 prison libraries
? AS to myself, 1 wrote once TO my daugh
ter from the fortress that was Their
passing through a supplementary cours
OF higher education, as l read and Studio
! In the course of eleven months over Il
. volumes OF different works. My wife an
daughter supplied me through the au
thorities, with books wanting in the nbrar
and when l left the fortress left abou
twenty volumes.
= Letters are allowed 10 be written fror
the fortress twice a week 10 near rels
d tons only. All such letters undergo IN
c inspection not only OF the fortress author
; tiles, but are also forwarded to the mir
. istry for the ~strictest censorship OF prc
curators and examiners. No current pol
tics or social topics are allowed to be dis