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from the fact 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 come across allusions " only too well understood by those to whom they were addressed . " The Hungarian Sketches were written subsequently to that terrible civil war of which the recollections are still too fresh , and which terminated , in the disastrous defeat of the Slavonic population in the south of Hungary . Haynau was sent to complete the work , to kill , imprison , and impoverish , the men who had dared to raise a voice or unsheath a sword in the cause oT national independence . It was only when he began to weary of his degrading tasTc'that Hungarian literature revived . Jokai , in conjunction with'" a few stf ^ ggliftgirteratii * ' commenced a literary periodical , and these sketches , writtenilhder tlie'tfame of ' Sajo ^ a " re
among the few works which escapedthe vigilant censorship of Austria . We ' have only to add that , apart from 'the almost ' . pairi ^ il lifterest with Which they are associated , from , ihe-vety nature of their stibject , the reader will ] find in -these tales the 'most'vivid and obviously tru"tlrful descriptions oft ¦ Hungarian life . They are translated by an Hungarian , who seems to have an ! extraordihary command of ^ English ; and ' not -the least charm they possess is that of novelty . We shall make no apology for the ldhgfti of our extracts . ! The first is taken from 'the story dftfc'e Bdtdij frMiity : — ¦ "It was theefci-ly spring of 1848 . i " A . party , consisting of thirteen persons , lad assembled in the dining-room . They Verej all members of one family ,-and all bare 'the name of ^ BiAjarfy . "At the head of-the board sat-the gtfandtnotlier , an old lady of eighty ; y&irs of age , whose ^ isiiovr-white hair \ vas dressed according to the fashion of lier times beneath . ler high whitei cap . Her face vras pale and much wrinkled , antfthe eyes turned constantly upwards , as is the case-with persons who havelost their sight Her hand and Toipe trembled wiith aee , j and there was Borhethingpecttlaariy striking in the thick snaw-whifeeeYebrowsi
. « , ° 9 " ^ nfeht hand sat-her'eldest son , Thongs ; Biirdy ; a man of betweenfifty ana sixty . WitJi a haughty and commanding countenance , penetrating glaric'ei lofty' figure , . and noble m ?? A - ^ a ^ ] ae t ? Pe « f that ancient aristpdracy : which is no \ v tegiimmgio die bufcv ' Af ¦ & ^ -2 ' ^ oia ; iady % leffchaoc , sat the ^ arling of the famil y— a lovely girl of itbout'fifteen . Her golden Hair tell in luxuriant' tresses round a countenance of sinmflar beauty and sweetness . The large arid lustrois : ; deep-blue eyes were shaded by long dai-ki lashes . and her complexion was pale as t ^ ea ^ excepiang when sle smiled « r 4 > okef and a ' siiglu ) flush like the dawn of morning overspread her cheeks . . ¦¦¦¦¦ ' :. ' ¦ ¦ " Jolanka was the orphan childof a distantrelative , whom the Bardysha'd adopted . They c n ° t alloy « ne who . bore , their name to suffer want ; and itscemed as If each member otthe family had united to heap affection itndendearmeiit on the orphan girl and thus pre- * venfclier from feeling herself a stranger amorir them . <¦ -.:.. ° \ r
. iiiere were still two other female menbers of ihe family : Katalin , the old ladv ' si daughter , who had been for many years a widow ; and the wife of one of her sons , a pretty young woman , who was trying to teach the liltle prattler at her side to use the golden spoon which she had placed m his small fat haria , while he laughed and crowed , and the family did their best to guess what he said , or what i \ e inost preferred . - ' Opposite tothem there sat two gentlemen . One of them was the husband of the ^ youne SrJ ! ' ? f Bardy—a handsome man of about five-and-thirty , -with reeixliir features , and blaclc hair ^ ind beard ; a constant smile bearned on his gay countenance , while he playfully addressed hislittle son and gentle wife across the table . The other was his brother , Barnabas ^— of herculean form and
aman strength . His face was marked by small-pox ; lie wor « neither beard nor moustache , and his hiir was combed smoothly back , like a peasant ' s , His disposition was melancholy and taciturn . ; but he seemed constantly striving to atone , "by ? ? J fllabmt y , of Uls manners , for an unprepossessing exterior . JSText to him sat a little cripple , wlicse . pale countenance bore that expression of sufferine sweetness so peculiar to . the deformed ; whie his lank hair , bony hands , and misshapen shopklers awalcrined the beholder's pity . Hoj too , was an orphan—a grandchild of the old lady ; his parents had died some years before . " Two little bO 3 's of about flve years old sat opposite to him . They were dressed alike , and the resemblance between them was so tfriking that they were constantly mistaken , iliey were twin-children of the young . couple , ! zxt wib
ena qt sat imre U . irdy , a voting man of twenty . whpse handsome ' countenance was full of life and intelligence , his figure manly and graceful , and his manners courteous and agreeable : a slight moustache v ? as heqinning to shade his upper lip , and his dark liiur ' . fellin natural ringlets round his head . He was the only son of the majoresco , lamas Baixl y , and resembled him much in form and feature . /' Beside him Sat an old gentleman , with white hair and a ruddy complexion . This was ???! . a y' a" ancient i"e '" ti \ 'o , who had grown old with the grandmother of the family . ' , A 10 ^ amo PPcwliarity characterised every countenance in the Bardy family—namely , tho lofty forehead and marked brows , and the large deep-blue ores , shaded by their heavv dark lashes . ' J " ' How singular ! ' exclaimed one of the party ; ' we are thirteen at table to-day . ' of will sureldie /
" ' One us y said the old lad j ; and there was a mournful conviction in the mint trembling tones . "' 0 no , grandmother ! wo avo only twelve and a half / cxclsiimed the young mother , taking the little one on her knee . ' This littlo fellow only counts half on tho railroad . ' _ " Ail the partv laughed at this remark ; even the littlo cripple ' s pule countenance reltvxed into a sickly smile . xi " p £ V !? ' ' } tf"nod the old lady , ' tho trocs are now putting forth their ¦ vorduro ; but at the fall of the leaf , who knows if all , or any of us , may still bo sitting hero ? ' " Several months had passed , and the eldest son had left the ens tie to talco jus part in the Civil War . On his way , he fell in with a -wild band of Wnllaclnans , and was only rescued by the generous interposition of tho leadorr—INumu , Decuiio of tho liomish legion—who sheltered him in his own house . In tho morning , tho rude conquerors vrero assqinbled under tho window . Th « y had lost their prisoner , but they found l \ is helmet , and the fatal name ot lmro Avas inscribed on it . Already thoy wore on their way to avenge themselves by tho destruction of the castle . The Docurio was bravo and cluvalrous . He bade his captive fly to protect his home from the invaders .
Iinro arnvod to find his father ' s castle burnt to ashes , his kindred slain . Unly one had escaped , —Jnliska , tho betrothed of lmro , was under the protection ot Numa . Ho had saved her for her lover , Tho two met in tho Jjowsg of their common enemy , and he sent thorn home in safety . Tho sequel must bo rend in Jokai ' s own words : — w " i ° moon ' llfV ( l rison » 'S' » i" tho heavens , whon tlio Decuvio was roused from hia Bleep y w i ot 8 t , ^ P ' " rul n ' <) V ( li -t Wallachians , among whom wa » Lupuj , Htood beforo him . « n , . nu . "taught two oucmica hcmlM , ' auid tho lutter , -with u dnr c look at tho Docurio ; « ' Tifn w W ?^ ' llud ' tnkin K ll (> n ( Is fl ' om llia r » c ' ») !><> l ^ iicl thuin on Numu ' a mat . ,, i vvuiiaclnhn . s watched their leadov'n countonnnoo with nliarp Biispicions glanccH . nn ^ T ^^ ili roo " « 8 «< l tho two lionds by tho light of the moon . Thoy wore those of lmro u ; 7 ) b ; it l > fe foaturoB did not betray tho slightest emotion . us jit Hin m ^ ' l ' ^' '" ' ^) ' continued Lnpuj . ' The young miicntito , wlio esonpod \ i , /' " ' ft ) r tllB fi lrl '" 3 ' 0111 ' nhsonce , nnd nt tho mano time stolo your money . « ft w \ -l ? ° ! L wo fo " >« 3 'om' P « K » Mm upon him also . ' <<« ° * ho > T >? ' naked tho Docurio , in bin usiml civlm voice . ( Vow Kvn ° r , ; 2 i " l , rol'li . •¦ ' » " 'WuHixchiiin i ' n « wo r « Hhod upon thorn , the young maennto 8 u 5 a . ' S eU ' dI ° ' anJ Bhot " K ' Uu' 01 ' B l 1 tho llcsld fl"t , « nJ lUmBoll nltor" Wei-oyou nil there ?' And more of ua boMidoa . '
vJ ! ' m ! T ^ "I 4 n § *^ f ! divide * fcund on them among the " res ? 5 ° 7 ° U t&mahl behiad ' Ms shA ™™ divided aSonf « ' c ^ u ^ allacnians hastened to seek their comrades with cries of joy . ( w { 1 s ? 11 ™ thea locked the door , and , throwing himself upon the ground beside the two heads , he kissed them an hundred times , and sobbed like a child . I warned you not to go towards Hungary ! ' he said , bitterly . « Why did you not hear me . unhappy children ? why did you not take my word ? ' and he wept over his enemies ' heads as it he had been their father . "He then rose , his eyes darting fire , and , shaking his terrible fist , he cried , in . a voice hoarse with rage , ' Czine mintye !' J ^ A few bours the Wallachians had assembled before the Decurio's house . They were ¦ a bouf-fefty or sixty , all wild , fearful-looking men . " Numa covered the two heads with a cloth , and laid them on the bed , after which he opened the door . ' " Lupuj entered lost , , JtWfJj £ t d 0 ° J ' - ' ^ . VjHwi ! when they were all in ; ' we must not = be interrupted ; and making them stand in a circle , he looked round at them all , one by one . "' Are you all he * e ?' he asked atlast . "' Ntjt one is absent' "
¦ | " Do-you-c 6 nMder : yotcrselves all equally deserving of sharing the bbafy / i , ixli Ox US * ;« ' * It was you , ' he continued , turning to lupuj , ' who struck down the old man ?' "' It Was . "' And you who pierced" the lilaghate with a spike ?' "' Ybaareright ,-leader . ' "' Ai ^ ybttreally ^ e ; d ailthe wonien-mihe . caBtte ?'; tnndartD . a - . thad . "'• With my own land . ' " ' And one and all of you can boast of having massacred , aiidiplunder-ed . and'set on fire ? ¦ ;" l Alll aUI'ihey criedj strildne their breastsl " 'Do not lie before Heaven . See ! your wives ^ are listening at thewindQW to wlrat you say , and will betray ypuif you do not speaktke-truth . ' " 'We ;; speak truth . ¦ ¦' !' , .. : . ' : , ¦ ¦/ . - )¦ -. IV- ¦¦"¦'¦ . . . ¦ ' , . : '¦ .. . - ¦ ; . ; [ ' v -: ¦ ' :-. .. ' ; . " ' It is'Well 1 ' said the leader , as he calmly approached the bed ; fend , Beating himself on it , uncovered the two heads and placed them on his kilees . 'Where did you put their bodies ? 'he asked . ¦ '
u 'We cut themin ^ pieces , 'and strewed therti on the Wgb . irdad . ' " There was a short silence . Ktuna's breatiing became more andaftWeoppressea ^; and his large chest heaved convulsively . ' Have you-prayed yet ? ' he asked , ia a ? a altered voice . '" Not yet , leader . - . What . should we pray for ? ' said : Lapuj . •; . . "• ¦ ' ¦ Fall down on your knees and jiray , for this is the ^ last irioj ^ ng * wfei 6 h % ill dawn on any of you again ; ' " ¦' ¦ " . - : - : '"¦ ¦ . . ¦ . " ¦ . ' - ; ¦ ¦ '¦ . ¦ .:. ' " : ' .. ' . ' \ . ' -. ¦ . ' . ¦ " ¦ ' '¦ ¦' ¦ ¦¦ "' Are you in yottrsenses , leader-1 [ Whatare you gohagtodo ?' " ' I ' . am-going ; to purge the Rouinin nation of a set of ruthless murderers and brigands ^ Miserable Wretches ! instead of glory , you have brought dishonour anddisgrace upon our arms wherever you . have appeared . While -the brave fought on the field of battlej you slauglitered their wives ana children ; while they risked their lives before the cannon's mouth , you attacked the houses of the sleepers , and robbed and masisacred the-helpless and the innocent . Fall down oh your knees and pray ' . for your souls , for the angel of death fitands over you , to blot out your memoiy from among the Roumin people !' " The last words were pronounced in a ifearral tone . ' Numa was no longer the cold , unmoved statuehe had hitherto appeared ;; he was like a fiery genius of wrath , 'whose very 5 reath was destruction .
" . The" Wallachians fellupon theirknees in silent awe , while the "women , who had beea standing outside , mshed shrieking down , the rocks . " The Decurip drow a pistol from his breast , and approiiclied the ' eask- ^ f gvinpowder . " . With a fearful howl they rushed upon > him—the shriek of despair was heard for an instant , then a terrible explosion , which caused the rocks to tremble , while the flame rose with a momentary flash amidst tne clouds of smoke and dust , scaring the beasts of the foresfc and scattering stones arid beams , and hundreds of dismembered limbs , far through the valley and over the houses of the terrified inhabitants . " When the smoke had dissipated , a heap of ruins stood in the place of Nanm ' s dwelling " The sun arose and smiled upon the earth , which was strewed with the last leaves o £ autumn , but where were those who had assembled at the spring time of the year ? " The evening breeze whispered mournfully through the ruined walls , and strewed the faded leave ' s upon oleven grassy mounds ! ¦ " The pen trembles in my hand—my heart sickens at tho recital of such misery . " Would that I coujd believe it an imagination- —the ghastly horror of a fevered brain ! " Would that I could bid my gentle readers check tho falling tears , or tell them 'Start not with horror , it is but romance—the creation of somo fearful dream—let us awake , and sec it no more ! ' "
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3 MEMOIRES D'UN SEIGNEUR RUSSE . M 4 moires d ' un Seigneur JRusse . Hachetto and Co ,, Paris « Sojie little time since , in noticing a translated specimen , of Russian fiction , wo gave an unfavourable report of tho stories comprised in the publication then under review , bocavisc they appeared to us to have no genuine nationality of character to recommend them to the attention of the English reader . On this occasion we have a pleasantev duty to perform , and a different verdict to record . Tho book which wo now introduce to the notice of our readers has tho first great merit—whatever may bo its faults in other respects —rof being characteristically national , and of presenting to us some very remarkable pictures of Russian life . " \ Vo arc informed by tho French translator CM . Ernest Charricro ) that tho work to which wo allude is the produce tion of M . Ivan Tourghonief , and that the greater part of it originally
appeared in the pages of a Russian periodical . The plan of the book is not much bettor indicated by its original title—A Sportsman * Journals than by the title unwisely substituted by tho translator , which stands at tho head ol this article . The " Sportsman" is presented in the character of a Kussian nobleman , who undertakes various expeditions in tho interior of llussia in pursuit of game— 'encounters in the course of his "wanderings somo of the aristocrats of the land—sees how their various dependents are treated—ie familiarised with the condition of the serfs , or peasant population—and writes down the result oi ' his observations in a scries of chapters , whicli treat , not of sporting matters , but exclusively of tho relations at present subsisting between tho governing and tho governed classes of tho Russian population . _ A
very remarkable fact which must always bo remembered in connexion wm * . this book is , that its publication was permitted by tho Imperial censorship-Whatever defects may attach to it as u picture of social hlh in tho intonor of Russia , may , therdbro , fairly bo presumed to bo defects ol' suppression ^ and not of exaggeration . Whon we discover that the shocking narrative ot cruelty and corruption among tho hig her classes , and oi" ignorance , misery , and degradation among tho lower , which , in various forms , is prcaenteU throughout the pages Sow open before us , has boon actually permitted to get into print by the despotic Russian government , w « need require no further proof of tho almost incredible insolubility ol that government to tho sufferings of those who livo-or , to sj . enk iiiorocorroc ly , who languish and die—under it . Here is a record of noaml crimes which 1 ms appeared , to have nothing criminating in it to tho Russian authorities-noting which c < m en-
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wiU the 701 September 9 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 855
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 9, 1854, page 855, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2055/page/15/
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