Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03
This and That
By Charles Z. TrdcemeH.

One of the most interesting char
acters in Emile Zola's "Germinal" is
rabbit by the name of Poland. So
called by Russian anarchist Souvar-
inc. an engine man in the French coal
fields.
Souvarine lived in tavern where the
rabbit was the household pet. The
reader is introduced to the mild but
bloodthirsty man in the following
words
his dreamy mystic eyes seemed to
watch the cloudletS Of smoke from his
cigarette through a dream his left
hand, nervously fidgeting for some
thing. kept gently beating the air. and
he generally ended by taking on his
knees a tame rabbit. a fat doe, which
had the run of the house.
This rabbit which he himself had
christened Poland, had taken q violent
fancy to him, smelt his legs, cuddled
up against him. and put up It's paws
until he took it in his arms like an
| infant.
Then. snugly pressed against him.
with dropping ears. 1t shut its eyes,
while he, with a soft, caressing motion.
kept on stroking its grey. silky coat
apparently Gained by the contact of
the animals gentle warmth"
The rabbit thus took the place of
house cat.
Souvarine and Poland became fast
friends. Whenever comrades came to
the tavern, they would find Poland
cuddled up on the Russians lap.
One day conversation was inter-
rupted as the fat rabbit came bounding
in from the sidewalk, where It had
ventured for a breath OF fresh air. A
band of boys, seeing the rabbit. had
assailed it with stones, from which 1t
ran bounding.
I'm her fright, her ears hanging limp
against her head, and her tail turned
up, she ran for shelter to Souvarine,
hugging his legs, imploring and scratch
ing him In order to be taken on his
lap When he had placed her on his
knees, he shielded her with both hands.
and fell into the usual reverie to which
the contact Of her soft. silky coat
scarcely ever failed to incline him."
There was in the town vicious young
boy named Jeanlin. The miners were
to have q secret meeting in a nearby
forest one night: Jeanlin determined
TO attend; on the way he came across
Poland
AS they passed the Good Luck, it
so happened that Poland was taking an
airing on the pavement. With one
bound Jeanlin then clutched it by the
ears. popped it into Lydie's basket, and
all three of them started off at gallop
They would have some fun by making
the rabbit run like dog as far as the
forest"
If Poland hadn't been so fat. she
would have escaped when the cruel
youth let her loose in the forest, but
OWif1U Tn her ci1a the lad WaS ahla IN
keep in touch with her.
They tied string to her hind leg.
and made her hobble along Then
Jeanlin tied it around her neck. and
''as the poor creature grew fatigued.
they dragged her behind them, some
times on her back. then on her
stomach, like little cart
At the miners meeting a man in
forms the boy that he was seen when
he took the rabbit Jeanlin grows
frightened. and returns the animal
The last scene in this little tragedy of
animal life shows Souvarine at the inn.
his fingers fidgeting for the warm fur
of poor Poland
Where is Poland?" he asks. at last.
lola tells the story
The landlord laughed. while exchang-
ing glance with his wife. And after
an awkward pause he blurted out:
Poland? She's being kept warm.
You had q leg of her this evening.
And what's more, you smacked your
lips!"
Souvarine did not understand at first
But when he did. he turned very pale.
and an expression of mingled disgust
and emotion came over him. Two big
tears filled his eyes.