Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

HALLUCINATIONS OF EANK.243

whether I am wrong in thinking that there are men who become dupes of the worship which the serf renders to the lord. Flattery has so much power over the human heart that, in the long run, the most elumsy of all flatterers, fear and interest, find a way of attaining their end: it is thus that many Russians suppose themselves to possess a different nature from the common orders.

A Russian, immensely rich, but who ought to have been enlightened as regards the miseries and infirmities of wealth and power—for the fortune of his family had been established for two generations—was travelling in Germany. He fell siek in a small town, and called in the first physician of the place: at first he submitted to every thing that was ordered ; but not finding himself at the end of a few days any better, he grew weary of obedience, rose up angrily, and throwing off the veil of civilisation in which he had deemed it advisable to muffle himself, he called the landlord, and, while rapidly marching up and down his chamber, thus addressed him : " I do not understand the manner in which I am treated: here I have been dosed for three days without being in the least benefited : what kind of a doctor have you sent me ? he cannot know who I can!"

As I have commenced my chapter with anecdotes, here is another, less piquant, but which will give an idea of the character and habits of the people in high life in Russia. It is only the fortunate who are liked here; and this exclusive preference sometimes produces very inconsistent scenes.

A young Frenchman had perfectly succeeded in gaining the good graces of a social circle met together M 2