A Wife's Devotion

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 77, 29 December 1891, Page 2

A Wife's Devotion

♦ •Karely indeed do we read of a truer example of womanly heroism and deyotion than that recorded in a recent number of the "Christian World." The | story comes from Russia, and relates to tho despotism exercised by the Bussian (Joyernment towards those who presume to use the privilege of thinking for themselves on matters of political, religious, or social import. Sons Pliasfern. editor of the "Szoboda," wrote an article in which he expressed indignation at the tyranny practised by the Moscow University authorities. So animated did the students become, consequent on the publication of this article, that ther collected in large numbers around the University buildings and cheered for Boris J?haskin until they had to be riden down by Cossacks. For thus stirring popular feeling, the Writer of the article was put in gaol. His papers being examined, it was found that ne had been corresponding with the so-called Nihilists of Zurich and Lucerne This fact was sufficient to condemn: him before a Bussian court, and he was accordingly exiled to Siberia for life, part of the sentence being that he should spend ten years in penal servitude in the mines. But the saddest part of this sorrowful story has yst to De told. Anna Michaelovna, the condemned editor's wife, announced her intention of joining her husband in Siberia. She left Moscow, and, after- travelling 4,500 miles, oxperiencing many hardships during the journer, arrived at the mines where her husband slaved. Eluding the vigilance of the sentries, she reacted the shaft of the mine ia safety. She then adjusted the ropes, threw herself into the basket, and let herself down. When she reached the bottom of the shaft she observed a solii tary glimmer of light, and felt sure that her husband was at hand. She divined rightly. Soon husband and wife were clasped in each other's arms, only, however, to be rudely torn asunder shortly after their meeting by the mine inspector. Brave Anna Michaelovna, who is only twenty years of age, was immediately sent to Irkutskand, and then, after several weary months of yainless peti» tioning, ordered to return to Moscow.