Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1912-12-05
The Provision
Dealer of St.
Petersburg
BY IVAN VRONSKY

In March, 1881, the world was shock
ed by the assassination Of Alexande
H., car of Russia, one of the hes
sovereigns who ever ruled over tina
empire. Proof that he was man O
advanced ideas is to be found In tn,
fact that he emancipated the serfs, Of
slaves. Furthermore, he was about t.
give his country constitution. On &C
count Of this intention it has beer
claimed that he was assassinated al
the instigation of those nearest to him
the bureaucrats, who were opposed to
reforms. But later developments have
disproved this. More than thirty years
have elapsed since his assassination
and the preliminary methods adopted
to insure it have been brought out.
The circumstances attending the act
itself were apparent at the time.
On the day of his assassination the
car was returning to his palace after
visit. Four revolutionists were sta
toned along the route on which he
was driven, each with a bomb in his
armpit As the emperor passed the
first man the latter threw his bomb
Attendants and horses of the imperia!
carriage were killed, but Alexander
was unhurt. He stepped out Of the
carriage, and another bomb fell at his
feet, SCATTERING his legs. He was driv-
en- to the palace In sleigh and died on
the way.
There is story underlying this as
sassinatiOn. Indeed, the world is but
great story book containing myriads of
stories. That leading up to Alexander
lis death has been told in various
forms. There is no need to distort the
main incidents. In the following YER
sion they are given as they were after
the tragedy developed by the police:
On the street called Malaja Sadov-
aga In st. Petersburg one morning
shop that had been for some time va
cant was opened by man whose sign
read "Peter Novgorod, Provision Deal
err" Other shopkeepers we're inter
ested to know what plan the man
would adopt to deprive them Of their
trade. for it would appear that what
he gained they would lose. So they
to see what customers would
30 into his shop. 2a
Though Novgorod soon sprang into
fair business, his competitors found
that they lost nothing Of their own.
Very few persons living in that To-
cality went into his store to trade.
Those who did go, or most Of them.
we're from other parts Of the city.
Old Ivan Balichin, who kept a butch
n shop opposite Novgorod's place,
when not working at his own business
vas usually interested in Novgorod's.
BE noticed that the provision dealer |
'eemed to be selling a great many |
GODS, but was seen to get them In only |
mall quantities. One day when Ba-
lchin was having q dull trade and |
ould devote himself to his neighbors'
FAIRS, instead Of his own, he observed
hat so many customers emerged from /
he shop opposite that II seemed the
7hole stock must have been bought out
everal times over. Before closing time
'alichin crossed the street, ostensibly
chat with his neighbor, but really |
or the purpose Of observation.
Good evening, friend Novgorod,' he
aid. How have you found trade to
ayr T
Fair" replied the other. "You know
have but recently started"
Eyes, / know that, and / do not
Understand how you have so quickly
'orked up so extensive trade"
WELL" replied Novgorod, "my trade
,mes largely from customers who have
ealt with me before. Besides, in
rder to do business I am giving long
redits. don't know how shall come
ut In the end, but hope for the best"
you will come out as any trades
ian VIII come out who does business
that way. You will make lot of
nd debts. How often do you find It
to replenish your stockT'
MY stock! oh, am supplied by a
lerchant who puts me to great |
cal Of trouble in that respect. You
,e, having no partner, I have no one
do the buying, for buying and sell
lg are two different matters, so get
through one man. But
nee he runs shop himself he has no
me to attend to my affairs during
usiness hours. The consequence is
hat he sends me goods sometimes in
lie early morning and sometimes at
ght."
II see," said Balichin 81 noticed TO-
ny that you sold a great deal and
ust have had plentiful supply on
and"
THAT is because last night l was
'uted out of bed at IL o'clock to take
two carloads of provisions"
AT this Juncture customer came In
ld, seeing Balichin talking with the
iopkeeper, offered to wait till he had
zen served. But Balichin said that he
as only gossiping and told the Gus
mer to go ahead with his purchases
ne latter asked to see some butter.
oygorod plunged knife into a firkin
ID gave 1t to him to taste. The man
ade wry face. i,
is that the best butter you hayew
! asked.
Yes. Don't you like itY' ,
Like It'll II Is nothing but oleomar. ,
r1ne from America. I will 20 else !
here for NV buffer-ra., h,tt