ut any condition whatever. All they wanted to know was, were they
free or not? If free, why were they forced to labor for other people;
and if not free, was there any prospect that they ever would be? The
emperor asked, "Can you read?" Some answered that they could read,
others that they could not. "Have you read my order?" demanded the
emperor of those who could read. "Yes, your majesty," they replied,
"we have read your order, but we don't understand it." All who could
read and had read the order were removed on one side. "Now," said the
emperor, turning to the others, "has this order been read to you?"
"Yes, your majesty," they replied, "but we don't understand it." "Very
well," observed the emperor; "you seem to be an intelligent set of
men, capable of learning, and we shall see that the order is made
intelligible. We had supposed it was perfectly clear in its terms;
but, since you do not or will not comprehend it, all you who can read
must be whipped." The literary portion of the deputation were then
taken off by a file of soldiers, treated to a score or two of lashes
each, and sent back to their people to explain the manifesto. "And all
you," said the emperor, turning to the unlearned members of the
deputation, "must serve three years as soldiers, during which time we
shall see that you are taught to read." They were accordingly taken
off, and furnished with a general outfit of uniforms, and are now
serving their imperial master in a military capacity.

Summary justice, that, one might say. It seems, at all events, a
pretty prompt method of explaining official documents, and could
probably be adopted beneficially in other countries.

CHAPTER XVII.

REFORM IN RUSSIA.

In my last chapter I took occasion to acknowledge, in terms of sincere
respect and admiration, the noble efforts of the present emperor,
Alexander II., in the great cause of human freedom. He has already
gone very far beyond any of his predecessors in the extension of
civil liberty among his subjects, but a great crisis has now arrived
which will practically test his sincerity. What he has heretofore done
will be worse than nothing unless he remains true to himself and the
noble cause which he has espoused. History shows us that the
sovereigns of Russia have not always been indifferent to public
opinion; but, with one or two honorable exceptions, it also shows us
that they have been more liberal in their professions than in their
acts. I