Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol1.djvu/22

10 signboard. More often than anything he observed, somewhat darkened by age, the two-headed imperial eagle which is nowadays replaced by the laconic inscription: 'Beer and spirits.' The pavement was everywhere in a bad state. He glanced too into the town park which consisted of skimpy and drooping trees, supported by props put in triangles and very handsomely painted green. Though these trees were no higher than a reed, yet in describing some illuminations the newspapers had said of them that: 'Our town has, thanks to the care of the municipal authorities, been adorned with a park of spreading shady trees that provide welcome coolness on a sultry day,' and that 'it was extremely touching to observe how the hearts of the townspeople were quivering with excess of gratitude and their eyes were brimming with tears in recognition of what they owed to his worship the Mayor.' After minutely questioning a policeman as to the nearest way to the cathedral, to the government offices and to the governor's, he went to have a look at the river which flowed through the middle of the town; on the way he tore off a poster affixed to a pole in order to read it carefully on returning home, stared at a lady of prepossessing exterior who was walking along the wooden side-walk, followed by a boy in military livery with a parcel in his hand, and after once more scrutinising it all as though to remember precisely the position of everything, he went home and straight up to his hotel room, slightly assisted up the staircase by the waiter.