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September 9, 1854.] THE LEADER. §55
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MEMOIRES D'UN SEIGNEUR RUSSE. Memoires c...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Hxtit^Aitran Sketches. Hungarian Sketche...
from tlie flict that it escaped , in a great measure , the watchful jealousy of the censor . If political discussions were forbidden in the public journals , abundant opportunities were afforded to the novelist . Often * , in the description of scenes of domestic life , we conae across' allusions '" only too -well understood b y those to whom they -weie addressed * " The Hungarian Sketches were written subsequently to tliat terrible civil war of which the reooll « etions are still too fresh-, and which , terminated in the disastrous defeat of the Slavonic population ia the south of Hungary . Haynaa was sen * to complete the work , to kill , imprison , and impoverish , the men who had < 3 aa ! ed to raise & voice or linsheath a sword in tlie cause of national independence . Ifcvpas only when . He began to weary of liis degrading task that Hungarian literatsve revived . Jokavin conjunction with " afew stragglingJrfceratV' Commenced a literary periodical , and these sketches * -writSea under theuname erf ^ Sscfo , * ^ re among the few works -which escaped the vigilant censorship o £ . Austria . We
. nave only to add that , apart from the almost- painful interests -with which they are associated ,, from the very nature of their subject , the leader wMl fold in these tales the most vivid and , obviously truifiiftjl descriptions of Hungarian life . They are translated byan Hungarian , who seen ** to have an extraordinary comrnaad of English ; and not the least charm tbey possess is that of novelty . We s hall nasike bo apology for th ^ length of our extracts * The first is taken frpia- the story of the Bur & y F & nitty ,: ^ " It was tbfteai-ly spping , j > £ 1848 i "A party ^ consisting of tiiirteehpeKsons , had assembled ill the dining-room . They were all members of pile family , and- all bore the , name of JBUbdt' : At thehecid'of th > board-satthe : grandtmbther , ait old lady of eighty vears of agei whose saow ^ wfoiteJaair ^ aadressedaccord ing to- tlie fashion of her tirries % neath ; her high : white cay . Berfocfe was pale anJ muchwririlled , ' andthe eyes turned cbnstently : upwards , as la tlie case , with jpersonswlsq have > lost ihew sight . Her hand and voice -ttembledwith agej
. aad there was jsomething peculiarly striking in the . thicksaow ^ biteeyebnjW'e . -y . "Pn h er ^ Slit : hand sat lier eldest son , Tho ra ^ witttaiiauglityand : cotnTnanding countenance , penetrating glance » lofty figurej aod noble men , he < . wis * true # p » 6 f-t ^^ c ^ PPPsitetp . liimyat th ^ old : lady ' sleft handy sat the darllngof the family—a : lovely girl ot about fcfteetw Ber golden- hair fell iri luxuriant tresses round a countenance of singular peauty and sweetness ; Tlie large ; and lustroua deeorblne eyes , > er « shaded by long dai 3 c ^^^ ni » -1 P complexion ^ vas pale as . tie lily ,: exe < epting , wheQ she smfled ; oc : spokeyand 3 slight flash like the day ? n of morningoverspread her cheeks . " «• : Jblanka was-thebrphaii « hild'of a ( listant relative , whom the Bardys had : adopted' . Tfiev conldnot allow one who bore their name to suffer want ; and . ft seemed as if e & h lherabef of the family had uniteito Iieap affection and-endearment on the orphan girl and thus prevent her from feeling hferseK a stranger among them . ^ : " There were still two other female members of the family : Katalin , the old lady ' s who tor
a * iigarer , naa Deen inany years a widow ; arid the wife of one of her sons , a pretty , yowng woman , who was trying to teach the little prattler at her side to use the golden spooli which she had placed in his small fat hand , while he laughed and crowed , and : the family did theirbest toguess whathe ; said , or what hemost preferred . ' " Opposite to them , there sat two gentlemen . One of them was the husband of the young ixjother , Jozsef Bardy—a handsome man of aboutfive ^ and-thirty , with regular features , and black hair and beard ; a constant smile teamed on his gay cottntenance while he playfidty addressed his little son -. and < gentle wife across the table . The other was his brother , Barmbas—a man of herculean form and strength . His face was marked by small-pox ; he wore neither leard nor moustache , and his hair was * combed smoothly back ; like a peasant ' s . His disposition w . melancholy arid tacituin ; but lie seemed constantly striving to'atone , "btf tlie amiabihty of his manners , for an unprepossessing exterior . " Next to Kim , sat a little ¦ cripple , -whose pale countenance bore that expression of suffering s ^ VBetness sp peculiar to the deformed : while his lank hair , bonv hands , and misshapen
sliouiafrs awakened the beholder ' s pity . He , too , was an orphan—a grcuidcMld of the old lady ; his parents had died some years before . '' Two little boys of aboiit five years old sat opposite to him . They were dressed alike , alia the resemblance between them was so striking that they -were constantly mistaken , They were twib-childven of the young couple . " ¦ Jib the lowep end of the table sat Imre Bardy , a young man of twenty ; whosehandsorno countenance was full of life and intelligence , his flguro manly and graceful , and' his manners courteous and agreeable : as-light moustache was beginning to shade hia upper lip , and his dark hair fell in natural ringlets round liis head . He was the only son of the rnajoresco , Tanuis Bard y , and resembled him much in form and feature . ' * Beside him sat an old gentleman , with white hair and a ruddy complexion . This wag Simon Bardy , an ancient relative , who had grown old with the grandmother of the family . " Tho same peculiarity characterised every countenance- in the Bardy family—namely , tlio lofty forehead and marked brows , and . the large deep-blue oy « s , shaded by their heavy dark lashes .
" * How singular 5 ' exclaimed one of the party ; ' we arc thirteen at table to-dny . ' " * One of 11 s will surely die , ' said the old lady ; and there was n mournful conviction in tlie faint trembling tones . "' Ono , grandmother ! we arc only twelve and a half , ' exclaimed tho young mother , taking tho little ono on her knee . This little fellow only counts half on the railroad . ' *? AU tho party laughed at this remark j even tho littlo cripplo ' s pale countenances relaxod into a sickly smile . '" -Ay , ay , ' continued the old lady , ' tho trees are now putting forth their verdure ; but at the fall of tlio leaf , who knows if all , or any of us , may still be sitting hero ?'" Several months had passed , and the eldest son had left the castle to take his imrt in the Civil War . On his way , he foil in with a wild band of Wallaehians , und . was only rescued by the generous interposition of the leader : —
Nutna , Decario of the Romish legion—who sheltered Iiiin in his own house . In the morning , the rude conquerors wcro assembled under the window . They had lost their prisoner , but they found his helmet , and the fatal name of Imre wos inscribed on it . Already they were on their way to avenge themselves by the destruction of tlie castle . The Decurio was bravo ami cluvalrous . He bade has captive Ay to protect his home from tlio invaders . Imro arrived to find Ins father ' s castle burnt to ashos , his kindred slab * . Only ono had escaped , —Jaliska , tho betrothed of Imro , was under tho protection of Numa . Ho had saved her for licr lover . Tho two met in tho ho-uso of thoir common onemy , and lie . sent them home in safety . The sequel must be read in Jokai ' s own words : — " Tho moon hnd risen high in tho lienvfins , when tho Decurio wna ronsod from his oloKip it " w ^ ' oate ^ ° P i l ^ ov s'X WnlhiohiaiiH , among whom was Lupuj , atootl before him . t Wo hnvo brouglit two ononiios' hcncls , ' fluid tho hitter , with a dur c look at tho Docurio 5 ^ "U ) ^ f'V > v-ortii 1 ' and , Uiking two heads from liis pouch , ho Inid them on Numti ' a mat , it -ivr Wiuluohiana wivtohoil tlioir lendor ' u countenance with uharp , HUspiulouH gluncOH . Jsuina recognised tho two henda by tho light of tho moon . Thoy wore thoso of hnro nua . Joiankn . but hia ( buturcH did not Imtray tlio slightoHt emotion . x < m wlU know them , pvobnbly , ' contiinunl LupuJ . ' Tlio young mugnnt <' , who osonp ^ OI mi at tlio p ; m » , oumo for the girl in your absence , nud nt tho muno tiinu wtolo your money , " t , '« wJl ^¦^ ' c \ wo founii y ° " pn- ' -Bttni upon him tilso . " u « > j f , m K ftl ) lted tli 0 Oeourlo , in hia iwwnl culm voiao . £ iono ot us , roplicdUso Wnlliicliiau i ' us wu » 'U » hod upon Uioin , the young magnate wSb ' h ' K il " ai 0 ' " Ud bhl > 1 ' ° ' rl thmi S » lho llC 0 tl flrbt » limi Mniiolf ufter"' Woroyon nllthoro ?' 41 ? And mojo of us boNidos . '
"' T ? T f l ^ "S resfe l wU 1 divide th : e mo ^ ey you havfe fiiurid on them aaiona there l > ' * ' <> al * one of you remain behind , his share will be divided among to of
mtI ^ f alIa ° nian 8 hastened seek their Comrades with cries joy ; ine Deeurra then locked the door , and !' , throwing himself upon the ground beside the two heads , he kissed them an htrndred timesi aodisobbe * like a child . I warned you not to go towards Hungary ! ' he said ,: bitterly . ' Why did yon . not hear me , unhappy children ? why did you not take my word ? ' and he wept oveu hU enemies ' heads as if he had been their father . 4 He then rose , his eyes darting fire , and , shaking his terrible fist , lie cried , in a voice hoarse- with rage , ' Czinemmtyel ' . ' ^ H . * - few" Lour & the Wallachians had assembled before the Deearitfs houBe ! . They were ? n 4 y ° * Slxty' ^ U wiW » fearfuWooking men . > K « nia covered the two heads with a . cloth , and laid them on tile bed , after -which he opened the door . " Lupui entered last . . . . ¦ . " " Lock the door , * said Ntimaj when-they Wereafl inr ' wemtlstnot be interrupted ; and making them stand in * ciwley lie looked Mtsad afr them aH , on * by one * "' Are you aHheie ?? he asked at last . "' Not one ia absent . ' . ;• . ¦ . ¦ ¦ ' « ' . 'fe . ¦¦ consideryoossdyes alleojaaujr deserving of sharing the bootyP AXx Ot US *'
" R : was you / hecontinoedi turning to Eapujj ' who struck down theoidman ?* ' ' It-w « st . ¦ ¦ ¦ . ,. ¦¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦' ¦ ¦ . ¦¦ .. '¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ' " ' '" " ' AndyouNwho ; piercad , the magnate , with ^ .. spike ?' "' You are right , leader . ' "' Attd you really kaiedattthe . women . ioi the castle ?' turning to-atiiird . ^ ' ^^ amyowniand , ' ;; " And one and all , of ; you canboast of iaifingmas 8 acred , Land pluadesed ^ audtset oafire ? " ' . sail ally they ^^ eried ,. strikingthehj breasts * " ¦ 'Pp 1 not lie before Heaven . Seel yOur wives are listening at the window to what you sayiaadyrtiH : betray -yoa : i £ . . you do not sp > ak ; the truth . ' ^ 'Wespeaktrutli i' - . : ;¦ . ' : ' ¦¦^¦ ::- ' S- " ' :.: ^ :. . ' :- ' ¦¦ [ ... . ¦ ¦ .. ¦ . / . - ;\ . " / ' * 'It i & wellV said the leader , as he calmly agptdactieil the bedVaa ^ r seating hirnself on it , uncovered the tvp-o heads and placed ttem on his knees . ' Where did you put their bodies ? ' he asked " . : ¦ ¦¦¦ - ..,. ¦ ' ¦ : ' . ' - ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ : '¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦¦ ' ¦¦ ' ¦ :. . ¦ .. ' . ¦' . '¦ : ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦;¦
j ' . " We cat them iapiei ^ esj and strewed them : 611 the high-jroadl'' ; " There was a short silence . Numa ' s breathing Becanne more and ihqr 6 oppressea , and his large chest heaved convulsively ; ' Haye yotj jprayed yefcH' he ; asked v aa an altered vf ice ; v » Not yet , leader- T ^ att 8 ^ Quld : wei . pray : n > r ? : 'Said ; XnpTij . ' - '" Fill down on your knees and pray , for this is the last morning , which-will dawn on ^ any of you againJ ¦' ¦''¦' : '¦'¦¦ .. ' : : ' : ¦ . ¦ : ' \ '¦' . ' ¦'¦ '"¦ - ^ ¦ " ¦ , ; - " ¦ . ¦¦ : ¦ . ' .. ¦ ¦ . ¦" :. ¦ . ¦ ; ' ' . . "' . " ' •' "' Areyouih ~ yoar senses , leader ?^^ 'What are you going to do i" ' ""'I am going to purge the Roumin nation of a set of ruthless innrderers and brigands ^ i Miserable wretche & l instsead of glory ,. ^ you iiave brought dishonour and disgrace ug > on our arms wherever you have appeared . "While the brave ^ fought on the field of battle , you slaughtwed their wives and children ; white they risk « d their lives before the CEmnon's mouth , you attacked the houses of the sleepers , and robbed and massacred the helpless and the innQcent . Fall down on your knees and pray for youi souls , for theangel of death stands over yoil , to blot out your memory from among the Kouxriin people 1 ? " The last ' . words were pronounced in a fearful tone . Numa was no longer the cold , unmoved statue he had hitherto appeared ; he was like a fiery genius « f wrath , whose very breath-iras'destruction . "
' The Wallachians fell upon their , knees ia suent aw-e , while the women , who had bcea standing outside , iusTied shrieldrig dowii the rocks . " The Decurio drew a pistol from his breast , and approached the cask ofgunpowder . " With , a fearful iowl they rushed upon him—the shriek of despair was heard for an instant , then a terrible explosion , which caused the rocfes to tremble , while the flame rose with a momentary flash amidst the clouds of smoke and dust , scaring the beasts of tlie forest , and ' "scattering stones and beains , and hundreds of dismembered limbs , far through the valley , and over tlio liouses of the terrified inhabitants . " ) Vhen the smoke had dissipated , a heap of ruins stood in the place of Numa ' s dwelling " The sun arose and smiled upon the earth , which was strewed with the last leaves of autumn , but where were those who had assembled at tho spring time of the year ? " The evening breeze whispered mournfully through the xumed walls , and strewed th & faded leaves upon eleven grassy mounds 1 ¦ " " Th « pen trembles in iriy hand—my heart sickens at the recital of such misery . " Would ¦ that I could believe it an imagination—the . ghastly horror of a fevered brain ! " Would that I could bid my gentle readers check tEo falling tears , or tell then * ' Start not with horror , it is hut romance— -the creataon of some fearful dream—let us awake , and see it no more ! ' "
September 9, 1854.] The Leader. §55
September 9 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . § 55
Memoires D'Un Seigneur Russe. Memoires C...
MEMOIRES D'UN SEIGNEUR RUSSE . Memoires cVun Seigneur Russe . Hachette and Co ., Parin * SoMfi little time since , in noticing a translated specimen of Russian fiction ,, we gave an unfavourable report of the stories comprised in the publication then under review , because they appeared to \ xa to have no genuine nationality of character to recommend them to the attention of the English reader-On tlus occasion -we have a pleasante * duty to perform , and a different verdict to record . Tho book which we now introduce to the notice of our readers has the first great merit—whatever may bo its faults in other respects —of being chaiuicfceristically national , and of presenting to us some very rc- « markable pictures of Russian life . We are informed by tho French translator ( M . Ernest Charricro ) that the work to which we allude is the pvoduc * tion of M . Ivan Tourghenief . and that the greater part of it originally
ap-{ j / eimsd , in the pages of a-Russian periodical . The plan of the book is not much locttor indicated by its original title—A Sportsman's Journal—than by the title unwisely substituted by the -translator , which stands at tho head of this article . The " Sportsman" is presented in tho character of a Russian nobleman , who undertakes various expeditions in tho interior of Russia ia pursuit ot gamo- —encounters in the courso of his wanderings some of the aristocrats of tho land—sees how their various dependents are treated—is familiarised with tho condition of tho serfs , or peasant population—and writes clown tho result of his observations in a scries of chapters , which , treat , not of sporting matters , but exclusively of the relations at present subsisting
between the governing and the governed classes of tho Russian population . A very romarkablo fact which must always bo remembered in connexion with this book is , that its publication was permittod by tho Imperial censorship-Whatever defects may attach to it us a picture of social life in tho interior of Russia ^ may , therefore , fairly bo presumed to bo defects ot suppression ,, and not of exaggeration . When wo discover that tho slio « l « ng narrative ot cruelty and corruption among tho higher cIobsois , and of ignorance , misery , and degradation among tho lower , which , ia various forms , 13 nresonteU throughout the pages now open before us , hns boon actually pernuttea to got into print by the despotic . H . ihhuui government , wo need require no fuvthe * proof of tho almost incredible insensibility oi that government to tho Bufferings of tl . oao who Uvo-or , to speak more correctly , who languish and die-undw it . Here is n record of social crimes which has appeared to have nothing orimiuatuiff in it to the Russian aiUhonties-notlung which caa oa ~
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 9, 1854, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_09091854/page/15/
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