SWEEPING THE STREETS.—A RUSSIAN ADVENTURE.

Southland Times, Issue 1224, 18 March 1870, Page 3

SWEEPING THE STREETS.— A RUSSIAN ADVENTURE.

(From the Western Temperance Herald.)

I have found that teetotallers are interested in knowing why I became one of their number. Therefore, aa the circumstance which led me to adopt their principles was a somewhat remarkable one, I have the pleasure of satisfying their curiosity by the following narration. It is already familiar to ray own friends ; but as it has never yet appeared in print, it will be entirely new to others. Ten yearg ago, when I was three and twenty, I was tutor in the family of Lieut.-Oolonel Polinczko, a Eussian gentleman at St. Petersburgh. He was called Jieutenant : colonel, though he held no military rant whatever. It is the custom in Eussia to obtain military titles by paying certain suras of money, or as rewards for services performed to the Government. My patron was a little, inoffensive individual, who would have fainted away at the mere "sound of a gun ; and yet, whenever he appeared in the fashionable society of the capital, he was certain to be introduced and addressed as "lieutenant-colonel." He also wore a uniform indoors and out; and I have occasionally seen him with a sword, but this was of rare occurrence, as he was always getting it between his legs, and tripping himself up. My duty was to instruct in English the four youthful sons of this valorous personage, the eldest of whom, sixteen years of age, had already attained to the title of Captain Polinczko ! I passed my time prett7 comfortably with them; they were quick and anxious to learn ; but I was constantly getting into trouble with the Lieutenant-Colonel through my indulging too freely in the wine bottle. Several times I had nearly lost my situation in consequence of this, and had only regained it on promise of better behaviour for the future.

It was in December, a week before Christmas, and 1, . with the LieutenantColonel and his family, had been invited to a party at the house of General Verasif, whose experience in generalship, however, had never extended beyond the limits of his own household. "Now mind, Mr Southev," said the valiant Lieutenant-Colonel, in his weak voice, " that you are moderate in your glass tonight." " And don't get taken up drunk by the police, or you'll have to sweep the streets to-morrow," chimed in the officious Captain Polinczko. The idea of a tutor having to " sweep the streets " was so rich as to send all the Polinczkos, including the Lieutenant- General, into fits of laughter. I had been sufficiently long in St. Petersburgh to understand the meaning of the allusion made. It was the custom in Eussia for those picked up by the police to be compelled to sweep the streets the next day for a specified time. No position or rank would suffice for an exemption from this rule, as I shall show in the sequel. The party was a gay one at the General's. You would have imagined you were in the coiripany of all the great heroes of the universe, to have judged by the high-sounding titles you heard there. By the time the party broke up, however, half the generals and colonels were in a state of intoxication. Your humble servant was amongst them. "When I got into the open air some one seized me by the arm, and said, " Shall I assist you home, Mr Southey ?" Before I could manage to articulate an acceptance of the proferred assistance, I was dragged along at a fearful pace by my tormentor, whom I now recognised to be Polinczko. So completely was my breath taken away by this treatment, that I could offer no resistance, until my foot suddenly tripped against a stone, and I was precipitated at my full length on a slimy substance composed of snow, dirt, and water. No one offered to assist me up again. I heard the retreating footsteps of the treacherous Captain Polinczko, and something very like suppressed laughter. I might have remained there all night — for I could not help myself — but at last a lantern flashed before my eyes, and a strong arm raised me from the ground. I found myself in the custody of the Russian police, a stalwart fellow, completely wrapped up in furs. Notwithstanding my entreaties, offers of bribes, and incoherent affirmations of being "perfectly sober," he insisted on my accompanying him to the most miserable and filthy gaol that I have ever seen. The place was alive with vermin, and the floor half flooded. I passed a wretched night, and felt quite grateful when I was summoned in the morning by my gaoler, and brought before the Gubernator. He briefly informed me that in consequence of my being taken up drunk the previous night, I should have to sweep the streets from 9 till i o'clock. This agreeable announcement having been made, I was provided with a broom, and alight chain was fastened to my leg. I was then led through the public streets, dragging my broom after me, my whole appearance showing what had placed me in this absurd position, and subject to the gaze of the grinning bystanders. I presently came upon a group of compulsory streetsweepers, who were hard at work, and whose example I had to follow. My companions were of all positions in life, from the highest to the lowest. There were two or three mujiks (the lowest class in Kussia), but the greater part of the group belonged to wealthy families, boasting the most lofty titles, and all wearing uniforms, which might have been much improved by a judicious use of the i clothes brush. There were even — and this is a fact — two ladies amongst them. Drunkennesß in Eussia is as common with the women as the men, nor is it considered derogatory to their sex. The snow, or rather slush — -for a shower of rain having fallen during the night, it had been changed to that — was a foot deep. This we had to clear away in the Place of St Isaac. A policeman remained with us the whole of the time, directing our labors, and not allowing us to pause for

an instant. I had not beea long at work, when, who should come sauatering pist me, with a cigar in his mouth, but my treacherous ally of the preceding night, Captain Polinczko. • " Ah, how do you do, Southey," drawled the young rascal coolly ; " like your work, ehP Healthy, isn't it. Capital thing for keeping you warm. G-lad I'm not in your shoes, though. Thought, last night, you would want some one to pick you up $ so I seat the policeman to you. We'll wait dinner for you till you have finished your work*' - ; I gave no answer to thii speech, although I was boiling over with rage, i»nd plied my broom with savage energy. Another humiliation was in store for me, however. Soon after my toruueitor hai walked off, a carriage drove, up, containing Lieutenant-colonel Polinczko, General Verasif, and several member* of their admirable families^ They alighted from ifc, and the whole of them stepped over to where I was sweeping, and insisted on shaking hinds with mi. General Verasif then gave me an invitation to dinner at two o'clock, "if I could get away from my work." To all these sarcastic speeches I maintained a sullen silence; and, after compelling ma to shake hands once more, they left me. The four hours were over at last, and I, with my companions, were permitted to go about our business. I neither went back to dinner at the Lieutenant-colonel's, nor accepted the General's invitation, bufe dined at aa hotel privately. I shall not attempt to describe the chaff I received for months after. My adventure, however, had cured me of my intemperate habits, for I signed .the pledge that very day. So that I gained something by my compulsory street sweeping on that cold December morning. How would it answer in England ?