Year: 1873

!


Perhaps not you have not been tried
yet"


"They put in here only such people as
are to go to that horrible country" he
sobbed. "Trial and sentence will be a
mere form -


The prisoners in the larger room sub
stantiated his statements, but before we
had much conversation a soldier was
sent in to drive them away from the lat
tice work. Otherwise, might have been
spared weeks of suffering, as / should have
told them who was, and requested that
they get word to Mrs. Morrow, who would
have notified my uncle, the minister, of my
arrest. Some of the prisoners were in there
for no greater offence than drunkenness
and disorderly conduct, and were, Of
course, soon to be restored to liberty.


1t was anything but pleasant news, and
had l credited it as fully as the sailor did,
/ should not have had wink of sleep. 1t
seemed improbable that they would con-
demn me without fair show, and hardly
probable that they would dare punish me
at all, knowing that they would breed di-
plomatic war. Hugging these delusive
ideas, fell asleep two hours before day
light and was bitten, stung and annoyed
by fleas until felt like one who had run
naked through growth of nettles. In or
der that may not forget it, will take oc-
casion to say here that even the frigid tenn
perature of Russian winter does not in
terfere with the lively habits of Russian
fleas. Nature may have brought them
forth prepared to gambol merrily with the
thermometer marking thirty degrees, or
they may have bred from the very snow /;


whichever theory you accept, you can sup


port my assertion that Russian PRISONS


and novels, and cabins, are fea-shingled


and fea-foored, and that getting used to


fea-fghting is as much of business on


the part of a foreign resident, as getting


used to eating Russian food
Daylight was the signal for the Russians
in with us to commence weeping and
bowling. They were worse than children,


and they somehow got the idea that Joe
J and could. save them if we would. 1t
J was with much difficulty that made them
! understand that we were all on the same
platform, so far as accusation was con-


cerned. One of the men had said some-


thing unfavorable to the character of a


government official, and the other two
were accused of conspiracy. They assured
me that the charge was made by business
! rival, and was without word of truth
encouraged them to believe that the judge
would unravel the plot, and restore them ia
liberty, and they finally ceased their walls.
Breakfast was brought in about hall. past


eight. Joe fairly rayed when he saw how
they we're going to feed us. There was a
piece of black sticky bread, and slice OF
dried meat which was half mould.


~ don't want anyv growled Joe, as he
flung the bread at the head of the man in
the little door. "Bring me a cup of coffee,


three fried eggs, piece of steak, loaf OF
white bread, and bottle of cognac, and
be quick about it, or you'll get into


trouble ~


threw my bread down in disgust, and
the soldier said that If we had money we
could send through him and secure a good


breakfast. Vlitchy and his rascals had
not taken away my money, and sent out


dollar, and we had fine meal. The


Russians refused to eat mouthful when
pressed, they began hoWling and lament
ing in way TO make one nervous.
"When shall we go to courts ?" asked
the soldier.


"At eleven O'clock" he answered
"Can you send me lawyer before that
hour ?'


The man looked at me in great surprise,
and did not reply until put the question
again. He then made an evasive answer,
and went away When eleven O'Clock
, came the five of us were escorted through
, the room, and up pair Of stairs, into q
courtroom. The judge was on his seat,


and Vlitchy, the two police officials, and
three or four spies, sat near him. We five
we're seated on bench, and while was
looking around for the audience, one Of the


Russian prisoners was ordered to stand
| up.


"Prisoner, you are charged with having
conspired against the government" said
tho judge, in slow solemn voice.
81 am not guilty--I am innocent p


groaned the prisoner trembling like one
having severe shake Of ague.


"No honest citizen comes here charged
{ with such an offence continued the Judge