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Show SolF-Iiifllctcri PnnlMlimciit. An amusing Incident, illustrating tho chnrnuter traits of Russian peasants is reported by tho Vicslnik of Wllnn. A party of peasants who had been cutting cut-ting wood lu a forest nenr DIsnn. nnd had spent all their earnings on drink, wero wending their wnv homeward. "Well, brethren," said ono of tho party, "wo nro a lot of bad fellows. Whllo every honest man works to layby lay-by something for tho cold winter, wo havo wasted all our onrnlugs of tho summer in braudy." "Wo aro a lot of bad follows. Indeed!" rojolnod tho wholo party in assent. "Let us punish ourselves for our waywardness," suggested sug-gested an elderly peasant; "let us each inflict upon the othor twonty-livo blows with green reeds." Tho wholo party assented as-sented again. Thoy ropalrod to a bush, out fresh reeds, aud begau executing the self-imposed punishment. Thoy each stripped themselves naked in turn and received the strlpos stoically. Tho last onu of tho party, however, demurred, de-murred, nud attempted to run away beforo his turu came. Ho was caught, nnd lu iiuulshmcut for his attempt to cscapo lio received fifty lushes, double tho number of thu designated chastise-tnent. chastise-tnent. Hardly alive, tho poor fellow was brought to Dlsna, whoro ho was laid up In tho hospl'ul for some time. |
