Year: 1876

At the time when the first open court
OF law was established in Russia, a lady,
dressed with the utmost elegance, was
walking on the Moscow promenade,
leaning upon her husbands arm, and
letting tho long train of her rich dress
sweep the dust and dirt of the street.


A youGg officer, coming hastily from
side street, was So careless rs to catch
one of his spurs in the lady's train, and
in all in ,tant great piec was torn out
of the costly but frail material of the
dress.


IL beg thousand pardons, madam, I"
said the officer, with polite bow, and
then was about passing on, when he was
detained by the lady's husband.


"You have insulted my wife"


"Nothing was further from my inten,
tion, sir. Your wife's long dress is to
blame for the accident, which l sincere
ly regret, and beg you once more to
receive my apologies for any carelessness
on my part" Thereupon he attempted
to hasten on.


"You shall not escape So" said the
lady, with her head thrown back in a
spirited way. "To-day is the first time
] have worn this dress, and it cost me
two hundred rubles, Which you must
make good"


my dear madam, beg you not to
detainme. I am obliged to go on duty at
once. As to the two hundred rubles--
I really cannot help the length of your
dress, yet l beg yonr pardon for not hsv-
ing been more cautious.


"You shall not stir, sir. That you
are obliged to go on duty is nothing to
us. My wife is right; the dress must
be made good"


The officers face grew pale.


You force me to break through the
rules of the service, and shall receive
punishment.


"Pay the two hundred rubles and you
are free"


The quickly changing color in the
young mans face betrayed how inwardly
disturbed he was; but stepping close to
them both, he said, with apparent self
command:


"You will renounce your claim when
tell you that am a-a-poor man,
who has nothing to live on but his off
GERS pay, and the amount of that pay
hardly reaches the sum of two hundred
rubles in whole year. I can, there
lore, make no amends for the misfor-
tune, except by again begging your par
dom"


cob! anybody could say all that
but we'll see if it's true; we'll find out il
you have nothing but your pay. de-
clare myself note satisfied with your ex,
cuses, and 1 demand my money" per.
sisted the lady, in the hard voice of a
thoroughly unfeelipg woman.


"That is true-you are right" the
husband added. dutifully supporting
her. "By good luck we have the open
court now just il session. Go with us
before the judge and he will decide the
matter"


All further protestation on the Off
GERS part that he Was poor, that he was
expected on duty, and so forth, did not
help matters. Out of respect for his
uniform, and to avoid an open scene, he
had to go with them to the courtroom
where the gallery was densely packed
with crowd of people.


After waiting some time, the lady haC
leave to bring her complaint.


"What have you to answer to this
complaint2" said the judge, turning tc
the officer, who seemed embarrassed and
half in despair.


"On the whole, very little. As the
lateness o1 the hour, and being required
on duty, compelled me to hurry, die
not notice this lady's train, which wa:
dragging on the ground. I caught one
OF my spurs i'll it, and had tie misfor
tune to tear the dress. Madam woult
not receive my excuses, but perhap:
now she might find herself more dis
posed to forgiveness, when 1 again de
clare, so help me God, that I committed
this awkward blunder without any mis-
chievous intention, and earnestly beg
that she will pardon me-"