Burton Holmes on the Trans-Siberian Railroad
Chapter 6: Fellow Passengers
The Russian soldier is in evidence at all the stations.
Not many of him at a time, but little squads of him all
along the line. Always as respectful as he is uncouth,
always as sturdy as he is good-humored. His cap is
spotless, boots well-cleaned, but the rest of him is
usually more or less unkempt.
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OFFICERS AND MEN
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A SIBERIAN TOWN
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As for the romances, almost all of them were nearly
completed, the most charming being that of the pretty
little Berlin bride, who with her capable young German
husband is on her way to Irkutsk where she is to spend the
remainder of her life. She is extremely young, appealingly
pretty, with big soulful eyes set far apart, eyes that
seem to look tearfully toward the fatherland now left
so far behind us. But it is dangerous to begin to pity
a pretty little exile. I verily believe that every man
aboard the train was sadly and secretly in love
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NONDESCRIPT
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THE NEW HOME OF THE GERMAN BRIDE
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with her, for just nine days. Had she started unprovided
with a husband she could have had her pick of all the bachelors,
and the long-haired priest would have been called upon for
nuptial blessings before the journey ended.
There is not much to photograph along the way. But rarely
do we get away from any of the stations without the customary
interview with the police and military guards. As courteous
as in Russia, and even more strict in the
SLUMBER
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performance of their duties, the watchful officers, at
sight of cameras in foreign hands, or, for that matter in
the hands of Russians, invariably demand by virtue of what
official paper the camera is being used. The letter given
us by Prince Khilkoff, the Minister of Railways, proves a
most potent "Bou-maga," and that august document is
continually produced and is very respectfully perused
by the police at almost every station that lies between
the Baltic and the Japan Sea.
BRIDE AND GROOM
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FELLOW PASSENGERS
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Other pages about Holmes on the TSRR
| the previous chapter
| the route
| the contents page
| the next chapter
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