Page:Brandes - Poland, a Study of the Land, People, and Literature.djvu/130

 118 virtues and abilities is dead. She was infinitely beloved by her children, who cherish her memory and hope for her resurrection. Those who knew her may assemble this day in honour of her." It was intended to put garlands before the house of the shoemaker where the revolt was proclaimed, but the police surrounded and arrested all the members of the procession—about three hundred; they are all transported, and the young girl among them. It is said that they are isolated, each in a different place.

A student who, a couple of years ago, was arrested as leader of a socialistic group, has disappeared so completely that his brother, in spite of repeated supplications, has not been able to learn even this—if he has been hanged or is still alive.

The time has long gone by when executions were public. They take place silently in the jails, and it is said that no account is even kept of them in Petropavlovsk: they are so easy there—plenty of water around the island.

It is fair to say of the Russians that as a reigning caste they are not to be trifled with. Four officers of the Guards, who had abused their position by propagating Nihilism among their subordinates, were arrested. One of the rebellious books found at their house was a treatise printed abroad, and a note was also found stating that it had been lent the officer by a relation, a justice of the peace. The latter was arrested, and cross-questioned as to why he had procured the book. He answered, and with apparent truth, that he had wished to read the book out of curiosity without concurring in the ideas expressed in it. The four officers of course were shot; but it is more surprising to learn that the justice was hanged. There is something excellent in the system; it renders vanity as a motive of political crimes impossible. No paper dares to mention the name of the criminal, far less speak of his arrest, or anything he might say in his defence. He disappears in silence and his name is never mentioned in any paper. If this system were adopted in Italy and France the number of political murderers would probably be considerably diminished. However, it is not to be denied that it has certain drawbacks.