Year: 1876

Ab Lno blme when the ursG open court of law was established in Russia, lady, dressed with the utmost elegance, was walking on the Moscow promenade, leaning upon her husbands arm, and letting the long train of her rich dress sweep the dust and dirt of the street.

 A young officer, coming hastily from. side street, was so careless as to catch one of his spurs in the lady's train, and in an instant great piece was torn out of the costly but frail material of the dress.

 beg thousand pardons, madam, |" 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 I sincere ly regret, and I 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 detain me. am obliged to go on duty at once. As to the two hundred rubles- really cannot help the length of your dress, yet beg your pardon for not hay 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 cer's pay, and the amount of that pay hardly reaches the sum of two hundred rubles in whole year. can, there lore, make no amends for the misfor- tune, except by again begging your par don."

 "Ohl anybody could say all that but we'll see if it's true; we'll find out if you have nothing but your pay. I de- clare myself not satisfied with your ex- cuses, and I demand my money" per- sisted the lady, in the hard voice of a thoroughly unfeeling woman. "That is true-you are right" the husband added, dutifully supporting her. By good luck we have the open court now just in session. Go with us before the judge and he will decide the matter"

 l All further protestation on the off, cer's 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 had leave to bring her complaint. | "What have you to answer to this complaint 2" said the judge, turning to the officer, who seemed embarrassed and half in despair.

 "On the whole, very little. As the lateness of the hour, and being required on duty, compelled me to hurry, I did not notice this lady's train, which was dragging on the ground. caught one of my spurs in it, and had the misfor tune to tear the dress. Madam would not receive my excuses, but perhaps now she might find herself more dis posed to forgiveness, when 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-"

 A murmur ran through the gallery evidently from the people taking sidel with the defendant, and against long trains in general and the lady in par ticular.

 The judge called to order, and asked "Are you satisfied with the defendant, explanation ?"

 "Not at all satisfied. I demand twt hundred rubles in payment for my torl dress"

 Defendant, will you pay this sum ?

 "I would have paid it long befor this had been In e position to do so