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.

Officers and Men
OFFICERS AND MEN
One of Many
ONE OF MANY

Our fellow-passengers deserve a chapter to themselves—a chapter that should be written by a novelist, for there is material in nearly every compartment for a romance, a character-study, or perhaps a detective-story.

A Siberian Town
A SIBERIAN TOWN

A Mysterious Personage
A MYSTERIOUS PERSONAGE

A picturesque old man, Oriental in garb, Asiatic in feature, speaking a language we have never heard, would serve as a fit protagonist for the projected "penny dreadful."

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 Nondescript
NONDESCRIPT

The New Home of the German Bride
THE NEW HOME OF THE GERMAN BRIDE

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
SLUMBER

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
BRIDE AND GROOM
Fellow Passengers
FELLOW PASSENGERS

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