The New York herald. [volume], November 09, 1874, Page 4, Image 4

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THE RUSSIAN ARMY
In Immense Power for War,
but in a Poor Condi
tion for Action*
Three Great Difficulties? Poverty,
Ignorance and Inefficiency.
QUEER SCENES IN BARRACKS QUARTERS
The Oar's Relations te Germany and Asia ?
Can the MawoYite Go To India
London. Oct. u, is 74.
Some yean ago, wnon I was iking in Russia In
an official capacity, mj bouse was in the neigubor
hood ol the infantry barracks in one or the largest
CiUea of the soutu. Jurlng the fierce beats of
summer in the south of Ku?sia there went up a
stencil from tliose barracks which was absolutely
pestilential, li the wiud set in the direction of my
house tne wiuduws had to be closed and the rooms
fumigated. When 1 passed the barracks on horse
back, as I rode daily to my office In the city, I
went by at a hand gallop, with my handkerchief
to my nose. I have never seen so flithy a place.
Onulde, indeed, the barracks were whitewashed,
and the long range 01 buildings which contained
them looked clean and even stately, hut within
were all the plagues oi Egypt. The oliactory
nerves could distinguish co ohierence between a
soldier and a polecat. Being determined to visit
the barracks, however, in detail. 1 went one day
witn tiie captain on doty, who was making his
roouds while the soldiers were at mess; and I
think that tneir food stank worse than them
selves. Though we were in a corn country, where
wheat was plentiful and cheap? so cneap some
times that it was not worth snipping, and waa
left to rot in heaps when there had been a good
harvest in Europe ? the bread of these soldiers
?rao biaca and mouldy. Their meat was putrid,
rod was the oil'al and reiuse of the market,
?.neujrh the province also exported much cattle,
tna meat might have been bought wholesale lor
about lour cents a pound. The inevitable result
of this diet w as much fever aud dysentery. The
soldiers died like flies in autumn, and those
who lived were sicuiy and out of condition.
I spoke to Field Marshal Luders on the suojecu
Be was a very brave and kind-hearted man, who
was moteover, the most po. ular general in tne
Rhss.an Army, and 1 enjoyed :be honor of bis
friendship; but he only si. rugged his shoulders,
and did not seem to tliink that anything could be
done or nee:!eJ to be done about these barracks
and the most miserable herd of hnman beings
which they contained. who were deprived of all
the necessaries and decencies ol life.
MO KALE IN BAIiKACKS.
ihe moral character of the poor fellows was sue n
?s might have been expected irom tlielr condition.
rha> were concmon thieves. It was dangerous to
meet tiie^a 111 the dark, tor they or tea comm.tted
robberies on the highway, and sometimes mur
ders. They were. However, ratter pllierers than
high way men or assassins, and they prowled
about the neighborhood lite lnmishea wolves, ir
a chair was lelt out in my traraea at night, or
If any object worth a cent could be seen at a bal
oony or through an o.cu winuow in an empty
room, It disappeared. There was no reason to ask
what had become or it; every one knew it had
been stolen by the soldiers, to be used lor firewood
or to be tnnied into a little money. Ifa cloak or a
cushion was leit lor a lew minutes on the Mat or
a carriage, or li t e carriage lamps were loose,
they were stolen by the soldiers.
THE COMMAND.
The officers, in their way, were as bad as the
men; dirty lellows in umiorm were forever calling
open me to borrow a rousle, or. in other words, to
Dear lor alms. Their pay was pitifully small, and
do man under the rank of a colonel, unless some
gangster of good iainiiy m light civairy regiments,
was recognized as a member of good society.'
Most of the subaltern officers wore neither shirts
noi stockings. They nad tlielr uniforms and a
mlutary great-coat, aud taey lived in those
clothes, never undressing or going 10 bed, or
having any beds to go to. ihe common name for
a woman of the town was a "captain's daughter,"
?r a "capta n's wife." Well-to-do tradesmen bad
as great a horror of tiiese subalterns as of tne
Worst sort of rogues, foriftney succeeded in getting
Into debt they could not be compelled to pay.
Several of the wealthier merchants, however, nad
halt a score of them hanging about their ware
houses, and used them to ruu on errands for their ?
wives and children. They would do anything,
poor creatures, lor a lew cents, and their oi.ly
pleasure in this world was to get drunk whenever
they had an opportunity ol so doing. They were ac
customed to lerodous treatment Irom their supe
riors, and I remember that on one occasion, when
I hid givL>n a lieutenant something to do. and ex
pressed displeasure at his having taken money lor
i service which he had not performed, tne de
paded gentleman lell suddenly upon his knees
and put tiie palms oi his hands together tn an atti
tude ol supDiicarlou, as one to whom tie posture
had become familiar by lung use.
A PAUPERIZED AIDE IN GKEAT TROUBLE.
Even the Governor General's aides-de-camp were
wnetimes queer customers, and preyea upon
tradesmen as hawks swoop down on sparrows.
One of them, who was a' colonel, had contrived to
get in debt so deeply witn au innkeeper, at whose
expense tie hail uvea lor a ion? time, that the inn
keeper repeatedly threatened to complain to the
Governor General. The Colonel implored Dim not
to no so. for tne Governor General was a stern
high-hearted, honoraolc old soldier, and would
certainly take unpleasant action toward a swln
oung aide-de-camp. But at last the innkeeper's
patience wus worn out. He had suff red himself
to be put off irom urging his cluUus by so maav
false pretences that Anally he could not and would
Dot believe a word that the Colonel said to him
Bo he dresseu himself m his best domes and
presented himself at the Governor Gen
eral's house a: the time which His Excellency
set apart lor receiving petition*, or course the
first person he mot tn the Governor General's
anteroom was his deotor, the aide-de-camp, an 1
there the old scene or supplication and entreaty
began again. The Colonel said he would serve the
innkeeper like a dog lor tho rest of his life li he
would only withhold his complaint; that he wonld
pa } every r.nble he owed the next day or that
"ay, or in ten minutes ; he said every ;hlng and did
everything which apparent despair couid suggest
to induce the mi-keeper to go awoy. But the
ii au was dogged and augry, and ne held resolutely
to ins purpose. <>w on," concluded the Colonel de
jectedly, '-ii you arj determined to rain me I must
Introduce you to the presence of His Excellency,
und heaven help us both." He then took the Inn
keeper respectfully by the sleeve and led him into
he innei chamber where the great man sat. It was
us a.ter the commencement oi the present reign,
hen tne military despotism which had weighed
.oheavuy upon Russian thought during tne rule
W the Emperor Nicholas had somewhat relaxed,
! rn?r Ue,10ril, "aa a weakness It was
a cer tain new bom des.re ior popularity. The
Colonel, his aide-de-camp, knew or this bent m his
min<1< or at ?e??t suspected it, and, there
tore. having Miut-d the Governor ue.-.eimi witn
more than the usual stiffness and ceremony, he
pointed to the innkeeper ana said, "May it please
*our Excellency, this poor man, who has ie. eouv
set up a house ol entertainment. *ias preuared i
gwat public break iusr, in the hope that you w.m
deign to be present at It and that be m.ty oueu ni?
establishment under your angu?t Auspices, tie i>
a deserving le.low; bat 1 have told nim taa' his
expectations are t xtravairant, and that Voui Ex
cellency can m t condescend to ?lo so great a thins
5* ("??? Mevcrtiioieea, e? has instate* oa ocsriug
his humble duty ou this occasioa."
The Governor General, Whe wee a ruj t*U IM,
will go to tbe enter ru:.iui?i t <T ...? , . ",n?- 1
hn L'rniJuVe' koiY ?Ut 01 *n# roi>?- ''"ustlu^u
the Mint ??^^- .d0Ue y,m u ""f'1*1 &?????{ and
tlnn? Whtnh W.7. f^ww!' ruu,,n?'*ng over retlec
c?neout .itJr? m0u bl* ,or Woro,i- Tuostorjr
No o?e ^2 Ii 1^. In ?? ?n0 e*wvh*<?r lawrtied at ?t.
hHviar i%0ri hf.n- ?, .tmpr"p,l#tr ,u ta'' Lionel
h^a rmnn. ?.. ? ,e. 1 I'013 u When put to
ijis <ruuips oy piaying a lilg one.
_ TIM? (iEKnlCALS.
Of If.?.4 ? h,KbeM""l (>nmiM Into tbe behavior
lean niu-r KV"""" woulu "?? a thank
less <UM. liut ii w cert nn mat whenever mere
is a war tttey become miraculously rich. me tnau
ner in wattja army contract* are disposed oi and
managed is perfectly astounding. Wuen tbe al
lied armies were in tbe Crimea one getieral pur
enased several nerd oi imaginary oxen lor tbe
Use of bis troops. Ho then reported
thai some of these Imaginary oxen bad
died and that nt> their carcasses miirbt
putrefy with evil result*, he had caused them to
be oar led at some expense, which he duly charired
lu rus accounts. Theu be reported thai a murrain
bad spread among me rest, till all tnese nerds of
imaginary oxen had disappeared to the lam baas',
causing more and more expense to tbe (State .is
they died. 'I lie General had, he observed, caused
some of tlieiu to be killed when tbe rest died
So last, and tie bad employed a provision mer
chant to ?alt ana pot their Ue*h. but It had un
happily proved unit lor ute, and tUcre were ti?e
receipts of tne provision tueicuant lor the bots
and salt walcn tuey bad consumed; even the pots
baa to be thrown uwuy and destroyed, so that tbe
herds oi oxen, alter having gone ikrougn all these
vicissitudes, had leit not a ventage behind, and
he had been necessarily compelled to buy other
herds ot oxen, which were perhaps more or leas
imaginary ais-o.
I Hi BTRKNliTH O* THE JSKOl.NE FOB WAK.
aow, alifcomrh and Luauv &truui?er thiusrs
may be tolu about the Kussiun aruiv, loreiiru
statesmen wuo should underestimate its sueuirtu
as an engine of war would come to extremely un
sound conclusions. It is ul-paid, iu-led. ill tuiigbr.
but it is composeu oi au innumerable host, wuich
i'^A* ?IUl?le Wl 1 uud wbica is simply in vine. inc.
1 purpose now u> treat oi tne graver fide oi ibis
suojeet, and I have collected Horn trustworthy
sources such information upon it as is, or suoulil
ge. oi singular interest at least io tbe Kuropean
10 Kuglaad at tne present
' ne;, l^e ^rst Place, there is tue all important
question oi expenditure, which there are several
ways oijuamujr, the easiest but least correct beiujr
f?- one eenerally adopted. This method consists
in "imply comparing tbe total oi the mili
tary budget oi one country with that of
anocner. ihus, lor example, u the estimates are
taken of France, Germany und Austria, a com
parison higuly uniuvorable may be drawu, show
ing ttiat tue percentage of military t xpeuditure
oil expenditure oi all Kinds is much greater in
ttussia thau in any ol the above mentioned States.
Moieover, financial critics who maintain that the
war budget could advantageously be reduced do
?? V,?.l,.n?,p.ul*t ou5 tuat nmn* 01 ,ts ?eu">- ?ucn
as clothing, horses, lorage auu so iort b, are cheaper
in Russia than elsewnere; also that the pav of
officers as yvell as of soldiers is less than
tne pay in other armies,
CUMFARED WITH OTHER COtJNTKlKS.
ComPur"?on-:. however, nave uo analogy
witn tbe real state oi things, inasmuch as the sa
nations oi tbe countries compared are not. identl
hl^'B.*a,. anu 1"'rtiuce ^ve conditions more
luvot able lor tue purposes of military organiza
tion, their armies can be kept within a limited
f,nfvUft'u?nn lQej? peace establishments demand
tf number oi troops, chiefly as cadres lor
tne lull lorce to be 'brought out in time oi 'var. In
both countries munition of war and commissariat
stores are easily supplicu by native industry and
while Germany has this lurthei advan
tage, that, owing to tbe superior education oi her
lower classes, she has all tae elements ut hand to
base tbe military hierarchy on a solid loundatlon
Oi general euucatiou and morality.
AUaiCCLTl;HK AS BASKS OF POWEB. '
other Uund, is poor, lier popula
tion, so larirom being educated, is hardiv emera
ing lroui barbarism, and with such insufficient
materials ahe must cover with her troops au ex
tern oi ground more thau ten times the superficial
TU'itlila, i,'r*riCe Hid uermaoy put io
getuer. l.ie deveiopmeut other wealth, except
ot liuji,iuu agricultural prouueo. has
baruij commenced, the energy displayed durum
tue lust lew years not witlistauding. Many oi the
necessaries of ordiuary l,iC have to be imported
lroui abro.?d a. a proportionate cost, while there
are otaer expenses which are peculiar to tue mill
J* ^ owing to her climate and
^i1 ? fUu?tlon- 11 ue' Is a necessity to tue
Muscovite so.dier In seasons of tue year when it
would only be a luxury to Frenchmen o"
Germans. Agaiu, in tue northern parts of the
fampire w nier is almost one long Arctic nliriit.
and light in such regions is a heavy nem oi ex
pense. ihose criilcs who grumu.e most at tue
cost of the army are, nevertueles<, the hrst io
coiiiptatn oi us iu."uillcient power of development
tnr?'MUU?l!0H 11 18 clear ll;aL Hussia cauuot briuir
Into the tteid uu army equal in uuuioer to that oi
Li tll.il AN y ANb ACSTK1A COjiidNkD.
Those two countries can muster Vioo.ouoof men
?5?u Wttr looiliig, while llusiia. even under tbe
wjT> iSSi4 "!!' could -not oring more thau
l.Uia.ooo into the field, a inrtner increase, rattier
than a reduction in the budttei, would be neces
sary to remedy this iuieriortry, aud in order
to nave 2,ooo,u(X> of organized troops aud
no militia tuere would have io be created cadres
proporiloned to those oi Germany. Tne effective
01 the Kusman army in time if peuce d^s
! 400,00a men, say with a muximum of
Wttr- I'o obtain a numerical
strength oi -,0o0,000 It yvonld be nece?surv to main
,u,r, ,cffftlve ?feajfih in time of "peace of
^7 ? s constitgtes exactly tne dimcultv
ol tne new oigauizatiou. io bring about a greater
^f^o/opment lu time oi war anu to keep the peace
cstaLiishuient within tlie narrowest possittie limits
ad local troops now cousututing Ino miutla of
reserve Wuii.d have to be draited into the cadres. !
It is obvious, rhereloie, that a greater develoD
men. is impossible without a relative increase or
tue peace establishment.
Tue etiective sirength of the Russian Empire. !
^ rC.li t>?eu ruduted during tue last ten years
lowest looting, is not uioru taan equal to
tuat of auy army in neignboring countries. The
Kussian ariuy is a political and technical instru
ment, requiring improvement as much as anv
other Institution ; and '
Ot Jf, ?L88'A REALLY wants A MLLITaRV force
cannot be less thau that ol other conn
tries, auu should always be ready at a moment's
fi?D C?.^ nLU!r 'P10 conuict with them, while the
slightest aesUct maybe loUowed by latal couse
violation of tbo?e principles lout
koniggratz to Austria; Metz and bedan to
fiance, n Trussta came out ol her wars
lnntaV0118!*. 41 Wa6 ^scause the government
looked at th? army, not as a burden weigh
i ?mrUpon lbe ecouoinical interests of tne
countij, out as a lorce wnicn guaianieed to
toe L in pile its very existence, should, however
?,M?oi'*tUjBkJlt Dpoa V116 ol having an army
t Combme,> lorces of Germain and
tUeo?"J involved lu tins proposition Is
i? i ii as a general principle ot de
* a5ere '"ll0wed by other nstions it might
fi^L^"tiaofaiu*r? rfcauU?- For lustun e. If
Germany considered It advisable to have au armr
equal to those oi Austria and i.usaia combined or
it Austria siiouid fiud it necesaary to eauai the
united lorces of Russia aud Germany tS onl
would soon And itseii in no liable S*on. T^?e
Is a ieeung that, sooner or later, a clash of inter
est- in tne Baltic may take pm'ce, iZ ?ioS
pv?!rhi* tl b' tne "Uicovlte toward
'* Uerm"n conduces very much to
bring about resmts which seem likely enough to
produce this danger, even supposing that it does
?h J wX1^ i h#a^y' ftUd tl,e cooimercial interests of
the world should prepare for contingencies.
EDUCATION' IN THE ARMY.
Reference lias oeeu made to itie advantages
wnicu tne super. or etiucauou 01 her peasantry Has
con eirea on uermanj in respect oi military or
gan zation. H r nun-commissioned oiticers are
prooauly iietter informed man tue auoalterns of
tne trench army, or, indeed, o: the British, under
tue old sysiem. As lor Russia, she caunot coiu
pare witn tier poweriul neighbor in regard to the
intellectual and moral qua.ltlcatlons ol ortiC'-rs or
men. 'the standard oi education among oftloera
ot inferior giaue is lamentably deficient. Oiten
trey can no" write their own language, and, up to
the ran.i ot colonel, a great portion of military
m? n lack u knowledge 01 the ordinary rudiments
or military duties. It Is conlenu luted to establish
a rule that all candidate* ior first commissions in
the army shou d be subjected to examination. If
tins regulation were to ue enforced against
officer* in actual service, every second lieutenant
would be caahiered.
COMUKKCK AND ITS RESULTS,
I have alluded to tue tardy development of the
national resource*. The country is indeed in the
isiaucy of its commercial pro-perity. It has no
artinaal roads communicating with the Trans*
voiga provinces, the W hue Sea, the Caucasus or
Tursestan. With a population ol 8-\oou,ooj of
Inhabitants Russia is in iew places thickly set
tled. rue average population oi tho Czar's do
minions m Europe, mcluding ('inland and Poland,
Is only 760; ol the Caucasus, a#o; ot lurkestun, 70,
and or Siberia, 17, to the geographical square
mile, in the uninhabited portion* out a small
amount oi capital is distributed among the in
habitants. Fi-w of the Rnsalan cities can com
pare wl h foreign ones; ior the main part they
are dimply large villages, some oi which their in
habitant? see periodically destroyed by fires.
ihe industry ot a country m always on a level
with Its wants an t with its degree of civilization.
Tne wauts ot the Russian people must be measured
by tne iact that up to February, lsoi, large num
bers were st ill in a Place ol slavery; tnere.ore it is
onlv within the lust tlit, Men years t>.at the wants
began to increase. Thanks to the efforts of the
government1, various branches ot trade are now
ueginning to pros er; and a decisive influence
has been orongnt to b;ar on the progress of mod
ern society ib .he Norm. At the same tlm'; the
low standard oi education which detracts so
greatly irotn the efficiency of the army makes its
baneful influence felt In civil me; It is even .ittn
cult to Und ngents lor government purposes,
which are oteti those of jreace and trade, and tue
mass o. the people la anil in a lamentable con
dition ot ignorance. Hardly two or three in a
hundred know how to rea I or write.
It is obvious that m a country only in
TUE INCtMBNT STAOf Of CIVILIZATION
the probjem of government is especially compli
cated and dltilcuu. in the military organization
of the :->tate more thaa one end lias to be kept In
view, the Roman armv being designed not only
for the defence 'of tne Empire, but to be of service
in its Internal administration. Tne border prov
inces and a lew ol the central diftiiote are gov*
ernea by a Military executive, not from any
??prtee, irat ma mwsi iiimif. With Mu*
ta nana u4 iltfurtiun dAtua iHMii M Mk
und with tk e direction doc or ?m, bat of ueverat
armies. at* rtbuted throughout Russia, ironi St.
Fcicniburk . to TeiUs ?u?i irorn Warsaw to Tashkun.
the War lief ariuieat hud to reijr lor the rcciutt
nieiit ??l tiio lorcM on raw or iiall
weight it) u ti rial, wlitle the demands lor technical
knowledge c -'ii only be met by truinli g men fur
the mauuiats cure ot tho needful 001 cut. and then
trausroriin | them thousands oi miles to the vari
ous depots. i ue department maintains a tlior
ouk" s> steu i 01 educations establishment* ? -cieu
tiiic, genera.' an<l *i ecuil. Hie pupils graduating
tuere.rtMB lu uiauy cases leave toe service 111 con
sequence oi i luimeinents otfered to youuir iuen of
euucation b.\ the Oeiter pant employments of
civn II u. lh^vure not. as tu Germany. oucour- 1
aged to reuia.3 i hi tue army by the hope o| prom >- ]
tiou irom the i anks, or even the assured prospect !
0 i i he e 'Biiuru bie pay and r** pec table portion of 1
a Prussian put Uhiptu (it, rang between comuiis- !
stoned and u i'U-comnn>sioned officer), to whlcu i
anv c.ever anil well conducted soldier in the Em- .
pel or William' I army may umpire.
SPHVKVINO.
Jhis is anotler serious item or expenditure, :
owiug to me e i urinous area oi the Russian terri-.]
lory, yet the co It oi the Ordnance Department id >
Us- i ii. in in Gei rinany, rnouirh, consideriug the im
mense tii-tauci K In the l.wpire, it might well be
twice as heavy is eisewheie. indeed, enough has j
hardly beeu acl keyed in this direction, the me- ;
rid tan of come places Jo the Euxiw not having >
beeu ,>et ascertained. Again, the increase of the j
yearly contingent of recruit*, the shortening of i
the term oi serv u :e, nave necessitated a large in- 1
c/i-aai in tne tiai?'port services, The more com
plication there n in the arrangement and disirl- j
button or the aisay the greater the uuuiber both
01 conscripts wi mi have to be despatched to their i
depots and oi men who, after tneir terui ol service
is expired, must t?J seat back to their respective
homes, situated, i erhaps, at a distance oi thou
sands ol miles, at tho puollc rust, tha
more need there is lor the War Department to
provide arnnust unioresoeu and extraordinary
expenses. Vet no ftwitnsunding the extreme ine
quality oi the sit lation lu regard tu the cost of
this munch of the udminlst ration Hussiu dues not
speu i mote tiuin lu i. uoiatibors on the transport
service. Mill she li us, since l sue, set to work with
some vigor in tu. w direction, and government
has late.y sanctioned uu outlay of |3,00d,0o0.
There ts now a good stock oi regimental wagons
constructed alter itie newest patterns, besides a
suiticletit number >U carts lor temporary ambu
lances.
MINISTERIAL KE3PONSIBILITT.
In fact, tue events ot ls>70-71 have at length t
awakeued tue Alin.nters of tae Czar to the need, !
most imperative in modern wariare, or Keeping
puce vim events. Ji was to the neglect oi this
precept that Russiai owed much ot tue loss sue
sustained in her conflict wun the better ,
equipped lorces ot tiujilaud and Prince. ,
Vet, uimng the first few years that toilowed the
Crimean war, miiUat* entries occupied but tue
necouu place in the liudget. ltussia was cumpelied
to economize. She bad expended her reserve of
military storeB. and ..|ad to postpone the most im
portant requirement ? oi the army. While Russia
remained quiet Eui*op# had completely trans
formed its armament b. Latterly Russia has en- i
deavored to muke up for lost time. Much has been
done : yet, lu the opinion ol competent officers. [
mucu remains to be done, in 1807 the reserves of j
clothing, equipments!, Ac., were estimated at
$3,00o,txi0; but the stKfc ou hand was either bad
quality or or obsolete patterns, and the Commissi ]
riat had considerable difficulty In supplying the
then current requirements oi the army. Never- .
the ess, the present permanent aud extraordinary
reserves of tue imperial a,-my comprise clothing |
and equipments ior apwurd oi tO'J.OOo men, the
stock being valued at to fc-ss than $i3,50O,uOo. Ail ,
articles oi clothing and equipment required \
lor immediate mobillzntion ot the army are ;
now in the very places waere the troops j
are quartered, or in neighboring locall- |
ties. The rapidity with wdicu clothing can ,
be produced is lurthiM' assisted by tue estab- i
llshment oi larue workanops. Since 18C1 or lNti^ it i
has beeu the practice ot .rne itnssian Commissariat !
to draw upon the pernuttient reserves lor the sup- '
ply oi ordinary requireone ats, bat this has proved
A. UOCLTFVV. ECONOMY,
and Is being abandoned. At present the War
Department can fall bass, in emergencies, on a ,
reserve ol provisions, aaionnting lo more than
l.uoi,ooo bushels ol hour, valued at $^,250,0oo. 'liie
hospital aud xurgical services have also been re
mouelled at a cotiniderabl .; cost, and would, it is
tnonght, be able to bear ttjie strain oi a campaign.
Turning to the service, which every successiul
war raises to greater importance, we find that tho ;
reserve of
ARTILtaiRY
has cost not more than $-2,^0.000 in six years. Tins
sum does not include tue active uianulhcture oi
cannon. 1 he reserve oi lead, wulah was lormerly
estimated at less than auu^Xiu pounds weight, has
been raised lately to mtarly 00,000,000 pounds
weight. The expenditure on lortresses oas
amounted to no; inss than |4.00o,<XK> oi late years
ior eacu succeeding onditct. Russia, like (ier
many, is reconbtrncting her first class fortresses.
At me same time it na* betm tound necessury to
renew all tne engineering in* teriaU to build new
pontoons and thoroughly to reorganise the tele
graphic services.
ORDNANCE DKPAjaTMENT.
01 course ttie most senoiu items in the military
accounts oi Russia, utt oi all other nations at tha
present time, are occasioned oy tue wonderiut
changes s lence lias effected in all kinds ot arma
ments. Tne czar's tro.-p-i suffered as severely
from tbe Mlnte rifles of the Unglish and r'reucn
lu 1854 as i he Austrian solcri Mrs strtttrea iroin the
eaeets of tbe needle gun in nou. In tills respect
tbe War Department of at. Petersburg has re
cently made enormous srrtCvs. 1 t>ere are now
stored in the arsenals more ttn u 1,W>0.000 01 quick
hring rifles and l.nou breech-Mii idmir cannon witn
iron gun carriages for tielcf service, and 400
mitrailleuses. Trie armaments; 01 the lortresses,
whlcn in 1800 counted aoout 9.000 serrlceabie
smootn-bore nans, nave oeen ?augmented oy up
wards of 8, coo cannon oi ncier patterns. Tne
sums tuns expended may be r jctoned by teas of
millions ol dollar*.
WHAT THE ARMY ILi > TO DO.
Tbe services required or tbe /lussiaa army are
much more stvere tnan those ? u loretga armies.
Soldiers Have to periorm tbe dunes of escorts
over iiamcm-e distances, to kee '> order In remote
provinces and guaid distantly ii\ uated factories.
They nave also to work at tu< maoufacture of
their clothing and equipments. upsides doing ln
ierior service iu military workUii >ps. Such a task
is this extra service tbe ume ? u tue men tbat
oiteu, out of a company of s? venty men, not
more tnan thirty wui be available) lor tbe muster
on parade.
l be Russian army is Uins a vast- industrial boar,
formidable in war and yet not useless in peace.
Perhaps n would be lairer to say tDat it is equally
loruiidable in peace ?nd in wa;% for tbe solaiery
aie generally quartered on the id J) abitants. Ttiey
are, as l have sbown, tmevish to a degree, and at
tbe present time tbe discipline* maintained is
extremely lax. Old officers ue<S are tbat since
the knout was abolished tbere is no
serious argument left with wnicj rto appeal to tbe
conscience oi a Russian private. An elaborate
system oi military law nas superset led tbe prompt
justice which lormerlv overtook: an offender.
Crimes bave not decreased unt ?;r tbese well
meant relorms, but the new tribunals have
created a good many offices of emolument ana
adued to tbe patronage of tbe A Liulsrer of War.
Heace tbey are not to be lightly cr tricised.
THE TRUE DEKKNTR OK R! 71 SIA.
It bas been alleged that Russia -needs no bul
warks," no lortresHes along tbe line ot her fron
tier; that tbe enormons extent oi Ih r territory is
its beet defence. Certainly Ru/sia cannot be
overrun in a campaign, but lnctWu datable misery
and disgrace might be inflicted in her by an
armed occupation oi the western pt evinces of tbe
Empire, winch, li left unauarded, wo uid lail a prey
to the winner oi the tlrst buttle in i Rat direction,
and the western provinces are th< ? wealtniest.
Moreover, it should not be forgotten that trie vast
aevelopm-bt ot Russian railways di iring the last
lew } ears im made every part oi the Tzar's Euro
pean dominions easier oi access. Tne ablest strat
egists agree that Napoleon would ha re remained
master of the country in 1812 had a railway sys
tem been theu in existence. As the i atroductlon
of steam Into navigation bas deprived
ENGLAND
or much of the security she formerly it It in her in
sular position, and ha> made her devi ? witnin a
lew. years $45,ouo,ooo to fortlljing tie.' coasts, so
thes'eam engine nas aunlhilatt-d th It distanco
Iiom his neighbors wiiicii was the old s. lifeguard of
the Muscovite
OS THE SIDK OK ASIA.
There is of course no .'ear oi invasion, i md only
a lew small lorts art necessary, rather .is ? jut poms
01 civilization anions the I artar tribes than lor
anv purpose-) of deience. Russian office ts know
perieciiy well that if there ever should b t wur in
tnose regions Knglund will nut be the as irressor.
Nor will Ru'sia, if sue be wise. Long > ?eiore a
Russian army could ever arrive within iSight or
Peshawar the government oi India wou W bave
tunc to concentrate a force on tue fronti lr quite
sutllcient to lepei the lorces which the En %>eror's
generals could lead across the deserts. In
M. UK LKSSEPS' OPINION.
India la impregnable. To attack her In an the
sme oi Europe steep mountains and tri ?;kless
wuds have to be traversed. I he difllcultles -oi the
commissariat department would be to an invad
ing ai iny msupei able, wniie the army oi 0 Hence
would oe kept constantly supplied from tne ?r*na
ries ol the most lei tile country in the world, which
is, moreover, bem* rapidly covered oy a tie *work
oi ranwajs, under the direction ot the indlai i War
Office. Moieover, the >u? /. c.ibal would e l.ab.e
England to despatch rciuiorcements iroiu 1 Ports
mouth to Bouiuay in less tnan a month's Ume.
in Mty gears' time the situation may ' be
considerably altered. ny that date t kere
win oe not one, out several lines of rail
way lrom the borders oi the Caspian ? to
the iiontieroi India, Persia, Afghanistan end
Cubool will nave siaited into a new lne under 'the
luiiuence oi Kn.opean capital and European en
gineers. Tbe march iroin Khiva to Peshawar . nay
then t>e as easy as tne march lrom Weisenbui I to
I Paris. But duriiiii the Intervening period li ilia
win also have inaoe gigantic strides in wealth. ? tn
population and in means oi civilization. at 111,
time probably lights lor Husnia, whose statesrt * n
have not yet given up ambition as a worn-out id * A.
I and are as unscrupulous as were ever i t e
Romau proconsuls to seize any excuse '* >r
addinir to the dominions oi the Empire. Agulv nt
I the nssurauces ol M. ue I<esie|.s that Russia me. I is
no ba.m aud would not taKc India it it lay witl I in
i reach of her grasp one mav set tue repeal t d
I warning ol M. Vaiuo?ry am the indisputable le s;t
t tbat ever since tue conclusion ol peace with Ec ? (?
i laud she has been steadllv pursuing a policy -of
annexation in Asia, it will require more i&acra
concuiaioiy despatch irom Friaoe Uoruchakoff I o
reiaore 11m la?r?Mioa leu uj eigiMaa rears I >t
Maqoeat.
RECENT NOVELS.
A Story of English Life? An Idol
Turned to Clay*
A Woman's Soul for a Saok
of Gold.
Not the Expected American
Novel.
Plot* Counter-Plot, Love
and Misery.
"UNDER T UK LIMES.1'
"Under tie Limes," the latest addition to Mac
mlilan's popular novels, is a story that It does one
good to read in these days of uuhealthy romance.
1 lie book Is but a simple tale of everyday life in
England. No balls and horse races are chronicled ;
croquet playing and tea drinklngs are tbe extent
of the dissipation ol tue people whose quiet life is
here recorded. The characters are no natural
that they might belong to any time or oountry. a
rather sad story this, take it all in all. The round '
people without trying fall naturally into the j
square boles and the square people into the round j
holes. If they Had only known what was before
them how easily every thing might have been ;
made right. Rose Anstie, the heroine, is a lov
able Englian girl, living with her aunt and grand
mother, Jnst out of the reach of London 1
smoke, at Lime House. Sebastian Viner, 1
the hero, is a young artist, a straightforward, hon- ;
erable fellow, with Juat enough of the Bohemian
in him to make him attractive. Rose and Sebas- !
tlan should have loved and married in the first :
cnapter; but In that case their lives would proba- '
bly not have been worth recording. Rose did love
Sebastian, but the young artist only loved her as a !
sister. The passion of which lie was capable lay '
dormant until Etta Langel, the daughter of a rleh
banker, appeared upon the scene. Her beautiful
face attracted the artist's eye; he fell desperately '
in love, and suddenly proposed marriage to the
girl. Etta was not without a sort of affection for
Sebastian, but her nature was not one to feel
deeply. She imagined she loved, but still had her
misgivings. In the wealth of his own passion Se
bastian so overlooked her shortcomings that he
never suspected for a moment that all was not
well. It did go hard with hiui when
Etta begged him to give up his palutlng and
go to banking, so that they might live better alter
they were married. But he latd down the brush
and took un the pen without a murmur. A young
nobleman, sir Laurence Carey, an Irresolute, win- I
ning sort of a fellow, was more to Etta's mind ; '
she bad decided misgivings as to her fntnre hap
piness with Sebastian, and -finally cast him oil.
It la just as well that she did, for they were ut
terly unsulted to each other; but it was a cruel
blow to her lover. Mrs. Langel, the mother, with
an eye to the peerage, makes overtures to sir
Laurence on her daughter's account. The young
nobleman, utterly surprised, and not unjustly,
writes as much to the plotting mother. He marry
Etta when he nas been it) love with Rose for years?
but his panslon is unrequited. Ro?e feels toward
Laurence as Viner toward her, friendship, and
nothing more. Time passes slowly along. The
outside world looks carelessly on, pities Viner
for his lost love? whom, however, he
ceased to care for when be lound her
without a heart? and wonders why Lau
rence does not marrv Rose. Alas, poor Laurie !
his gentle, aimless life soon comes to a sad close.
The first time that be makea an effort to do some
thing in the world he u taken down with a fever
and dies quietly at the home of his ancestors. In
the sequel Etta marries a rich merchant, who
could not tell an oil painting from a sampler, and
Sebastian, after spending a ooupie of years under
the snnny skies o f Italy, retnrna to England and
marries Rose.
The book la ailed witu pretty descriptions of
outdoor life. One can lairly see the little garden
at Lime Bouse, and smell the delicate odor or tbe
lime trees scattered about tne lawn. Without
being at all startling, the story Is really entertain
ing. and one feels that he parts with old friends
when ne closes tbe covers on the laat page of
"Under tbe Limes."
LUHLIY BOCHFOBU.
Louts Rocnford married his wife at Bonn. She
j was teaching school with two old maiden aunts In
tbat^ualnt German city when Itochford happened
there on his travels, saw her, loved her, or
thought be did, and married her. Alter m^ing a
tour on the Continent the happy couple settled
down at the old family place In Drlpdeanham, not
far from London. Rochlord was thirty-nine at the
time of his marriage and Llnley, his wife, wus
nineteen. Sbe had never known but this one
man, and all the wealth or the love In her hereto
fore unscathed heart was lavished upon her bus.
band. Perhapa she loved too well? more like an
Idolater than a lover. This intense sort of love
pleased Roobford for a time. He liked to be ad
mired for his handsome face and manly form
rather than his good heart or mauly qualities. At
any rate married li:e was a novelty and he had a
new plaything. Llnley must sing to ulm,
read to him, sit with him and amuse him. But
l<lnley must go to bed early like a good little
girl while her lord and master sat up half the
night witb his cigar and a volume of agreeable
reading. Sometimes she wou'.d (-teal down from
her bedroom and stand at the foot of the stairs
looking at her husband as he sat reading in his
library, utterly unconscious of her presenco. In
her heart she rather liked his staying behind to
j read and smoke. It seemed manly In her girlish
eyes. If be bad seen her standing there it would
J have j. leased his vanity rather than touched any
of the liner chords ol his "manly" nature. The
beautiful picture she made in her nightdress,
with her fair tialr curling down over her shoul
ders, would never have suggested Itself to his
l mind. Llnley1* love was blind and did not nee any
of the shortcomings or her husband. They had a
toappj. quiet time at Drlpdeanhaui. The neigh
bors were few but friendly. There was old Tux
ham, an eccentric bachelor, whj had a rather dis
agreeable way or telling unpleasant truths; the
Platts. rich, uneducated, simple hearted folks,
and Mrs. Courcelles and her beautiful daughter
Cynthia. Rochiorj had one intimate, Itoche
Valentine, without whom lire wouid have been a
burden. Valentine took care of all his
iriend's business affairs, wrote his letters
lor him, in ract was all In all to him.
j When Llnley lound out how necessary Valentine
was to ner husbaud's happiness she became
Jealous of him and showed her reelings too
plainly. But, then, what moro was she than a
child f Time orten hung heavy on the yt ung wile's
bands as her husband now and theji .seemed a trifle
bored by her constant companionship. One day
she met a ragged, barefooted girl or fifteen who
had been deserted by her rather and whose
mother was dead. The girl was a handsome, wild
sort of a thing with fierce black eyes and brown
skin. She called herseli a princess, and said mat
her latber was a prince, and that he would couie
oack to her some time wuen he got his right#.
Linley took compassion on the girl and brought
her home witn ner. Stic dressed her in good
clothes and gave her plenty oi gay ribbons to rig
herself lu. The girl, whose name was sinda
Marzell, occupied a strange position in the
house? loo high for a servant, and too lew for au
equal. Flually, Llnley and her husband weut down
to their town house in Loudon, and lelt the girl
Sinda at the head or their cuuutry house. Every*
thiug passed off pleasantly lu London
only Llnley began to feel that she was not as much
j to her husband as sue would hke to be. The Cour
; celles, mother and daugnter, were invited to pay
i tbe Rochlord's a visit. Mrs. Courcelles was tne
near relation or a bin bop, and carried heraeif with
baoomlng dignity. 8:ie bad no liking for Llnley ;
in the firat place because the and always intended
Rochford for bar Cynthia, and la the second piaoa
she knew nothing of ber antecedent*. Rochiord
aud cyuthia used to ride a if re at deal In the Row
together ; but. liien, Uuley was never on a horse
In her lire, and could not have joined them hdii
she cared to. One day, during one of these rides,
Cynthia was thrown Iroui her horse and badly
hurt. Unley came down stairs roui her own room
just in time to see Koc'ilord lay the injured girl on
a you in th? drawing room, kneel by her side and
kiss her over und over again, or course Ltnioy
was shocked, ana her husband could not lull to aae
that such was the ease. He succeeded, however,
in patching up a sort of peace with bis wile, but I
the knlle bad entered her heart. A woman who
felt an unconquerable Jealousy toward a man
whom she looked upon us a rival, could scarcely
see her husband kissing the race and hands of a
beautiful woman without leellng slightly dis
turbed. The ground that lay boiween this hus
band and wife began to tremble. Years rolled
around and Slnda developed into u beautilui way
ward woman. To be sure she lacked much iutel- i
llgeuce, but that did not prevent her belug very
attractive to the men. Kochiord she particularly
admired, and was as lavish ol ber caresses on him
in public as tn private. Llulcy remonstrated with
ber husound, but he poou-poohed ber off. Siuda
was nothing but a child, und he would like to
know who brought ber there in the first placer
tiinda was young in years, but old in the arts that
lead weak men astray. sue protended great de'
votlon to Llnley, and worked largely upon Rocb
lord's vanity. From bad, tilings grew to worse.
Rochford privately told Sluda that when Llnley
died she abouid be the reigning queen of bis heart
and home. People did not pretend to restrain
tbelr tongues, and gossip grew apace. One oright
morning Llnley came down to breakfast? they are
back at DripdeanUam now? and learned that
Binda had fled, wl lther no one Knew. Valentine
also disappeared at the same time, and idle
tonguea pat two and two together. Even Roch
ford shook a doubling bead and smiled an in
aiuuating smile when the subject was broached.
Lmley, who by thia time bad gotten over her
Jealousy oi Valentine and learned to admire his
true manliness of character, tried to disbelieve
tne atory ; but had abe not her husband's word for
its truth? Suddenly Llnley was called to Bonn by
the death of one oi her old aunta. Her husband
accompanied ber to the depot, she excused him
from taking ber to Dover, and as lie pressed her
band in larewell he begged ber not to return with
out letting turn know a day or two beforehand.
While at Bonn Llnley met Valentine in the street,
and she, alter some beating about the bush, asked
him If he was "tne caase of Hindu Marzell leaving
their house." He replied tnat he was the cause.
Could it be possible, Roche Valentioe ! Little did
Louia Rochford know what his old friend waa
doing lor his sake.
Llnley returned to London. She was met by j
her husband, who appeared very kind, but a little
strsnge. One unhappy morning Mrs. Conrcelles |
called upou the liochiords. Now she nad a chance
to crush Linlev, whom she hated, and she did so
effectually. Bit by bit she told Llnley the story of
her husband's perfidy. The wile heard it all? ner
nusouud's guilt, Linda's shame. .She did not
faint nor scream? tnere was no scene. She only
sat in ner chair, with her young, sorrowful oyes
fixed upou the author of all her misery. Mrs.
Courcelles was gone, and Rochford weut up to his
wife and touctred her on the shoulder. "Come,
Lluley," he sold soothingly, "let. us be friends
once more. I have done wrong ; 1 have treated
you badly? though not so badly as you think? but
yon shall never have cause to complain again."
Uis wile looked oeautiful to him at that mo
ment, and the very tbougnt or the girl
Slnda was hateful to him. Llnley looked
up and said, slowly and decided. y :? "I
am going away this very day. .1 am going back
to Uermany. I will teach. I know some people
at Bonn, woo will be lund to me lor tue sako or
my aunts and old times, and I will tcach there
again? language.* and music. 1 was happy tnere
once. You will not prevent mc. Louis f oh, no,
you cannot be so bad as that. 1 don't know what
power the law gives you over me. but I know you
will uot use it. Vou will let mc gu V itochford
groaned aloud. A miserable man, ludeed. Per
haps not wholly bad. but weak ami vain; selflsii,
but not luieationally cruel. Llnley listened to his
pleading that tney should live together lor a le w
days longer, so that be might have time to ar
range his a iiuirs and leave London at the same
time to save scandal.
1 There waa a diuner party at the Kochfords' the
very day that this exposure was made. The hus
I band and wile bore their part in It nooly, neither
showed signs of thr storm within, and the eventng
passed off pleasantly. * * * Just before Linley
retired to her bed that night she heard a
strange noise down stairs. What could it
be? Sortly she crept down to the library door ana
: looked in. There stood her husband's cnair. T.ie
i lamp burned, brightly on tue table, und near it
stood the books aud papers he had been reading.
But where was her husband? Quietly she stepped
I Into the room. The silence w*3 oppressive; the
; place looked ghostly In the nickering Ugnt. Lln
j ley, drawn by an irresistible impulse, hurried
around by the empty chair. Then she flung ne r
self on her kees on the sort carpct ; breathless,
wild, she strove to raise something. The dead
body of her husband wa- too heavy ror her slight
strength. Apoplexy had at last clutched Louis
Rochiord, and he had fallen irom bis choir and
dleo quietly on Ills own hearthstone.
The blow was stunning, but Linley Rochford had
long since ceased to love her husband with the
passionate idolatry of their early mar.led lire.
? * * It is nearly two years since Louis Roca
for 1 died, and now his widow is the happy wile
or Roche Valentine.
Mi. McCarthy draws a good moral rrotn ills novel,
which it would be well lor both men and women
to consider. Husbands, your wives are not to be
treated like dolls? the playthings of an hour.
Wives, your husbands are not made for vou to fall
, down and worship? > our idols are but clay.
a sack ok nor.p.
! Twenty.flve years ago Letnla Wald lived with
: her widowed mother In tho .'amilv homestead
among the New England hills. Mrs. hopeful Wald
I was a cold hearted out just womau, who took
better care of her house than or her daughter's
happiness. Letitia hated household duties and
I the llle in the quiet country village. She snubbed
i the young larmer lads who worshipped her hand
some face. t*he despised their coarse bands and
rouarh clothes and longed lor a world that was uot
conflned by a range ol hills. The nearest ap
proach to the sort of a cavalier after whom
her heart yearnod was Charles Vyner, the rather
I good looking and rather weak uuuued clerk of
Lawyer Perkins. Young Vyner was in idly lu love
with Letitla, but the course of true love, la this us
well as other instances, diu uot run smoothiv.
Mrs. Wald did not like Vyner; she said he was a
lool who would never earn his own bread and but
i ter, and she forbade him the houso. But love
i laughs at locksmiths and at opposing mothers,
i Letitia inherited hor mother's strength of will
and was not to be mustered. Many were the
trysts held ill shady woods or moonlit aroors.
Finally Letitia and Charles eloped, and liioenvtlie
enjoyed a nine days' wonder. Mrs. Wald said
nothing, only she looked a little whiter and a little
sterner thau was usual, even with her. The newly
married couple took reiuge in nn old House on M.
Martin's island, the property of the husband.
Letttla's wild spirit found congenial soci
ety in the roaring sea and the
cruel rocks that bounded Its shore. Life in
tho old house with only ner liusbuud soon bon d
her. Let the waves beat tneir hardest and the
winds shriek their loudest, tney were music to
the youtiir wife's cars, one dav the waves ocat
harder and the winds whistled louder than usual.
Letitia was walking aimlessly along tue shore.
Middealy she beard itio deep booming ol a gun at
sea. In a moment she was at her Husband's sii?\
?'I neard a gun over the water; what does it
meauv" she cried oreathlessly. "I am sure I do
not know,'' <puetlv replied Ciiarle?, who was busy
j cooking some trout iur supper. The excited
I woman shamed tier husband Into removing his
I apron and accompanying her to tho shore. A
wide wnite wall or log rose sheer and ltnpetieira
ble iroiu the beach, 'v-'onietlnng moves yonder,"
said the wile, and she threw oack hei cloak uud
knelt on tho sand. A wave broke ut lier waist and
lelt something iu her grasp? a drowniug man
clinglug to a bit ol oar. Recovering iroiu Ins
aratby. Vyner took the insensible man iu his arms
and carried him to tue house. Ttien ho ran
back to tho beach, leaving his wiie to
iced the man with brandy. Soon the stran
ger opened bis eves. "Letitia Waid!'
the voice was falut and weak. "TnomasTnoruley,
can It bo you t" Indeed, it was none other. This
Thornley was well known iu (irecuvi.'ie as an ad
venturous, roving lellow, good lor n thing in par
ticular. lu truth, lie was a genius, but entbu 'ia*tic
and visionary, lie bad been absent, iroui home lor
a long time, and every one but Ills wile thought III
oi him. The dying mau thanked Cod to find him
self among mends and confided his secrct to
Letitia. Willi his lust breath lie told tins ol I
iricml i hat he was hurryiug home to lav a fortuuo
at his wile's leei. It was all iu hard gold aud on
board the sinking vesac:. ' In my berth, beneath
the mattress. Pray lor my noul. I've done my
best,."' Alas! Letitia. lorn oy a thousand con
flicting emotions, she remained siicn* upon the
subject o the <iy in/ man's last words, in t.tve
gray of the evening she insisted upou visiting the
week. 'ihe husband niu-ol to go, and threw
himself down upon tlie bed und slept alter his toll.
Letitia hated cowardice. Sho despised leeblo in
action at ihe moment wheu oraveiy was needed.
V it i out a word oi warning sho lelt tho house,
crept down to the ?horc, iiiiiijed ubo ird tho boat
and soon pulled out to t tie wreck. Fastening a
1 lie-preserver noout her body am. taking a lantern
hi her baud, she began the *i rk ol descent, But
the lantern loll Irom iter band and was oroken to
a thousand iragments. Very soou the edge of
dawn ilt the eastern horizon. The woman, guided
by tue pale Ugnt, climb, d aboard tue wreck, hup
peered Into tiu cabin, hesitated, set her lips
Uriiiiy and ran down the companion way. .-plasn.
Mie leaped into lac water lip to her knees. Where
tue water was deepest something was lying, with
one rigid arm held upright in the fingers grasp
ing an ooject the. protruded oelow tne mnttress
lu the lowest berth. Had oue oi Thomas Thorn
ley'l mates gu?M?d Bis secret trier aur Letiua's
1 area dilated ; the climbed upon the table, tanned
over and carefully drew the object to ber without
touching the thievlug dead lund. In a moment
tbe whit* arms of this oeautlfnl. wicked wona<n
were plunged up to their eibows 111 vellow gold
and her cruel eta* were dazzled by t tie 11 tan 01
uema. When Charles Vyner awoke rus young wl,e
"ood by ins bud with silver threads iu Uer wiud
b'owo hulr.
?i.rtilern' ^U8t 5,1 Wald went down to St. Mar
tin a Island to see ber w.iywarl daughter. But
?... 4*1. ""d n,!r mate bad flowu. ami she re
Bonn nloue. Tins rind I'urltan has out
ii.o ...,n 9r?8uvnie, Mrs. Thomas Tnoruiey. Wnen
?IiTu ,iUoli from St. Martin's Island this ir-end
H?' k"letl by the news of ber husband*!
inii tiu. fer one c,?'ld. ner ooy Thomas, sue nave
mm Wrs? Wald. lu tbe me.intuuo cue
!????!? Tr.f' 1 ? missionary lu Airlca, dies,
tiStiHn "l,5,orb,?aucd daughter to bis mother's pro
fuini.ntiv ? 1 0 by and the little uirl vet alone
Thomas AiiVmlt' " 1,18 ?veurH ro" around aud Uud
dlm?hfio man ?na ttie Kat" Just bud
!r miiiunt ?L J* ^"uugTom tbi ks that bia
eno !? hi'.. Ue calw M>'- Wald, has dou?
consent t . in r t" "e iulM lln,, Anally obtains bet
lie sets out orli uuU Heek h,s 'ortune.
Uu'krim^h. 1 Kreal metropolis and by good
I V te fundus the ,,ftnk,u?" "unse ?>
?t r??-rtri'hv ihn ?. P)J , t0- 0ne or ttie partuera,
ftttrfti refl b) tfto boy's boncst funf rAkM t>tfn mtn
his * MP' or uud into Ills aifecr ions us weiL This kind
Ch a r le sV ? nor II VBa?i 1? 1>e 1,0 one le!jS t,ian
inane* vyn< r, lives in elegant style up town Hit
family is away, may have been spending Years in
Frunce, aud he takes tbe boy borne to scavwltb
i ? In one day Tom comes unexpectedly Into tbe
house ol lits Iriend, and is surprised to se? a
beautilul young girl standing in tbe conservator/
llcioie be has time to make any apo logy the glrt^i
motfter enters the room and demaada bla name!
j "lam Thomas Thorniey," the boy nromnttv r?
piles. He had hardly pronounced the last word
when a strange pallor overspread tbe lady's law?
and she leil lain tin/ to tbe floor. y
When Mr. Vyner came home irom tbe omce bia
wt.e told mm that Thorniey must be sent awa?
immediately. As usual, the husband obevs and
the boy is sent West with a railroad contractor
In tbe course ol six year9 be returns to Qreen
j vtlle, iv bronzed aud bearded man. Of course tta
little Kate has grown ituo womanhood, and tbe
most natural thing lu the world Is lor voung Tom
to fail in lovo with ber, and this he does. Hi* Dai
sion Is i cciprocated, aud the two become engaged.
Then Tom stops in New York on bis return to the
Weal uud meets Kose Vyner, aud they become tba
best oi iriends. *"?
I U.v a strange coincidence Mrs. Wald dlscoveri
i that Tliorule.v's lather made a million dollars la
I Russia, waicti be was bringing home to his wife at
! tbe time lie wus wrecked. She maices up her mind
to teli young Tom this bit of news herself, so she
and Kate pack tbeir bags and come down to tba
| city. They leivrn tnat Tom la at a ball on 5iie nignt
i oi their arrival abd tbat tins ball is given at tUa
; residence oi Mr. diaries Vyner. "My daughter's
I hu-band," exclaims tbe unhappy mother, and
orders tne coachman to drive to t.ue house. Mother
and daughter meet after the inuuy years tbat bava
passed ami a partial reconciliation is effected.
1 Tom Icarus that lie is heir to a somewhat mythical
estate, but his nead Is not turned by the news
aud he leaves New York lor the West. Hose Vyuer
is engaged to be married to Archibald Yarlngton.
i an old mtliionnalre, who louds ber with the costliest
presents. Her parouts smile upon the matcu, bus
Rose is not altogether happy. Tbe day be
lore the one appointed for tbe wedding she
gathers together her little pile of bank notes and
disappears. Coniuslon reigns In the palatial home
oi Charles Vyner. In tbe anguish of her heart
Lietitia confesses everything to her mother. Mrs.
Wald beard the tale unpltyingly. ' Hide the sin
lor your pride's sake," said she, "and save your
race from scorn. How are you better than a com
rnon fei'^n."
| Tom Thorniey was standing idly In the railway
station or tbe little Western town that bore ma
name, awaiting the arrival of the tlrst tralu at tba
place. The locomotive came shrieking along, the
tram stopped, and ouc ol one of tbe cars stepped
Hose Vyner, who fell fainting into bis arms. Alter
To in had carried his burden to the nearest hotal
lie exclaimed, "Tell me hrst, what brlugs you
here?-' "Hecause you are the only iriend I have,"
was the reply, and Kose told him ber piti
ful story. Tue gossips of the little town were
not slow In making scandal of Rose's advent, and
the iriends ol Tom took it for grauted that he waa
going to marry tbe girl. Rose, In tne mean
while, was perfectly nappy, for she lelt that
she had found a protector, and she bad no lde?
that Tom wus engaged to be married to Kate.
One cold wluter evening, while the sbow lay plied
up against the windows and the winds howled
fiercely through the leafless trees, Rose Vyner and
Thomas Thorniey were married in the cheeriest
parior of the Wo3tern hotel. PoorToml poor
Hose ! poor Kate ! Mrs. Wald Is sterner than ever,
und Kate is almost broken-hearted. The two re
f turn to the old house at Ureenviile, anu Tom's
name is never mentioned. When Rose and her
husband return to the Vyuer mansion the con?
sclence-sti lcken Letitia makes her confession.
Tom does not pretend to forgive ner, but oflera
ber the bouse to live in as usual, but the offer la
declined, both she und her nusnand return to
the mother at Ureenviile to end their days, Cnarlaa
| never having understood the extent of his wlfe'a
: crime. Rose is but a delicate flower at, bes% and
l it is not long be tore slio dies. Of course Ton
laments her death, but his heart has always been
wedded to Kate. A reconciliation Is brought
about, without great diuicultv, and the two arei
i united at last. And thus enus a tale ol ill-gotten
gain, pride and overreaching ambition, as told hr
Virginia W. Johnson and published by Harper *
Brothers.
A WINTER IN RUSSIA.
Tb6ophile Gautter, whose "Winter in Rnaalftrt
has just leit the press of Henry Holt A Co., be?
longed to the school of Protestants in literature
of which Victor Hugo was a chiei; his opinions on
matters ol poetry were radical in the extremes
such in lact as to cause tbe hair of the old bcImmh
lut 'rateura to stand on end. Tiiere was once no
name too hard for (Jautler and his tribe; charla
tan was one of tbe epithets applied by the stiff
adherents of Moiiere aud the other superanuated
classics of la belle lYaitce. But Hugo and Uantier
won their way. It is a proof that there is tne
rignt stuff in the man when one finds him writing
tuese Russian essays without dragging in AM
boobies, without too violently showing that.
. being a Frencnman, he therefore has a right to
be ignorant of other countries. Now and
t:'cn he smacks ol the Parisian, as when ne aaya
: ol tbe Hwiitness of tue rail way tram: ? ''This sur
prises no one but myself in our marvellous nine
, toenth century." N' jwand theu be tells us com
j plaisautly what wo ail know very well. Bat
c.vutier is plainly a reader ol English and Germans
he alludes well to the poems ol bis krleud Heine;
hn has an upt quotation, winch is not exactly a
bald quotation, tor this thing and tbat, drawn
irom the Spanish. Italian or English. So. too, hla
national pride shows out in tne pardonable vanity
with which lie observes that the language and
cooks ol France are to be met with lu every laud
pretending to civilization. To tbe squeamish dig
nity oi Americans his light description oi the man
ner in which he attended a court oall at St. Peters
burg wm sound oud. Au American might be
found to bumble himself so lar as to enter br back
stairs and ascend to the cornice ol the ballroom
lor the sake of seeing the glittering mag
nificence of a ball at tne richest, most ex
pensive court ol all Europe, but It is doubtiul
whether that American would put himself tu
print even If he were master of the airy, unser
vi iO urate oi Onutler. Vet, lo any European, save
a Frenchman, au act of such a kind cau cause no
lowering lu his owu esteem, being the consistent
result oi a division of ranks. It Is a little sur
prising. however, that a brilliant writer ol demo*
craiic Fiance? of levelling, impudent, comma.
in st tc France, the admirers ol rank will say? it la
surprising that he should not have lelt an impair
ment ol dignity.
Hut when tins is said, all is said. The descrip.
lions, which have all the artless offect of super
llcial travellers, gradually cut themselves into
your memory, and, behold, you have been
reading an artist! An artist Theophlla
(iautier is in every sense, irom tbat ol
the man who knows now to reproduce
nature with brush and pencil as well
as io compare his work with all the schools ol
pulntlug, old and modern, to tbe metaphorical
artist w ho work9 In words ana Is compelled to
flit his sentences patiently over the pages, hold
his reader's attention, and at ibe end leave a land
scape perfect iu his reader's mind. With wbae
careful skill, with what apparent laziness of work
the themes arc treated it is not necessary to say.
lleing an artist poet it is hardly ii?ht to expect
deep ii!ou?:iits, political or social. Haulier bus tila
bauds lull witn other themes; there are plenty of
writers ol the sombre school. Ho takes you by
the baud through stiff Benin, through Hamburg,
the prosperous aud overlcd, as well as through
Hamburg, the ancient ami picturesque. LU
beck, paradise for pulnters, and tbe Baltic, bring
jou to (Jroiistadt aud at. Petersburg. You drlva
, iu the whirling ??drojkles," you whirr aloug in the
Hutu Dle,ghs, you watch the horse races on tba
irozen Nova and you see the while all
jriout you the wea.th-sprubir buildings,
me gorgeous fireek churches, the golden
domes ano towers or the city where sa
many nations owu mi Etnperor. A review occurs.
He see tne strange squadiou* of knights aud Cir
cassians, the solid columns of patient foot, tbe
brilliant, glittering uniforms of the officers. But
we arc also given to uudurstaud tbe setting ol
each picture, the color of the atmosphere, the
reflections of the snow or water, uud, best of all,
the laces and dress' ol the inhabitants of the Husa
capital. All this is given wlih light-hearted brill
laucv. as if the author never bad a headache,
never saw the sad sale ol life. ^
"WHAT MIUI1T H1VI 1IKK.N KXPECTKD "
"What Might Have lieeu Expected" ' la the
rather locbie title of a book tor children, by Frauk
R. Stockton, which iius just appeared irom tba
press oi Uoud A Mead. In spite oi the f?eblene?a
i>l the title, bo.vevcr, the book is one ol the strong
est oi its Kiir I willed tuts yet been written in this
country, and it contains two unique characters,
which will give it an exceptional place In onr
literature. . i heso are "Aunt Matilda" aud "Uncle
Bruddock, two very old Virginia darkies. Mr.
Stockton s sketches </i the negro character are the
only portraitures ol the e.-aeiice ot old Virginia
which may tie cailcd successful. Mrs, stowa'f
negroes wero ail tiiera puppets set uo lor a pur
nose. These are laitiimi pictures'? childlike,
,1, J??: A W'M " '? Stockton's mis'
jortuno that Ills Virginia "aunt" and "uncie,:
had to bo set witn tue surroundings whicl
pei tain to chlidi?tT9 books, not so uiui!h to mak<
tne. .i harmonize with tbe stor* a a to make th?
Btoiy ha i iuoni/.e with tlioin. but It Is the misiortunc
ol every writer who vvou.d describe the simpii
qua. Hies of the aiied ne^ro. This mucn, however,
can ue Mild for the "Ohltdreu's lloolt." part of tula
ilttle work, that it is au amusing vehicle tor pre
, sentiug the public wuu two really grant atudiaa 91
1 negro character.