Siberian Cruelty.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4130, 27 September 1883, Page 4

Siberian Cruelty.

Tub entire absence of sympathy with ths sufferings of any animal, and especially of man, is imbibed into a child's first ideas; it is the effect of habit, and the coldness of heart fostered by habit. The father, as a rule, takes his young sons to help to breakin horses, and thus a boy learns early to witness most fearful tortures which the poor wild horses have to undergo in this truly barbarous custom. From the baby in armg to the old man no one understands the meaning of sympathy or pity, and should ever such an institution as a society for the protection of animals be started in Siberia, its members would soon be obliged to abandon their noble efforts from the sheer impossibility of carrying them out. Hera is an example :— One fine summer morning I slung my gun over my shoulder and went out for a walk. Beyond the Tillage I observed a light smoke rising from the bushes. Upon approaching the spot, a disgusting sight met my eye?. A boy of about twelve had hung » dog by the legs to a pole planted in the ground { underneath he had lighted a fire, and was slowly roasting the wretched creature to death. The unfortunate animal was writh-1 ing in torture and" howling piteously; a few other children were admiring the sight, and clapping their hands for joy. "Boy, what are you doing?" I cried,, indignantly. "I am torturing a dog,'' said the boy, calmly, at the same time heaping more fuel on the fire, as if he were giving the simplest piece of information. "And why?" I asked trembling witn rage. "Because I have nothing else to doj father is chopping wood, and mother a washing linen in the river, so, to while away the time, I am roasting this dog." " How dare you do so ?" " It is my dog ; I can do with him what I like—no one can prevent me." Seeing that I could not awaken any feeling in the child, and unable to bear sucha •ight, I took aim with my gun, and the victim of this innocent pastime hung dead over the rising flames. The child began to cry and scream. " He spoiled my fun, ho killed my do^. I will complain to father, and he will teaca you sense." At the sound of the child's shrieks, the father came out, hatchet in band, and ■witn | him a couple of elder boys. Having found out how the matter stood, he said to me, " This cannot be; you will not escape scotfree. I will Sion teach you what ft Wto meddle with other people's property.' _ My situation was becoming very critical. Luckily, just then tho village clerk passed by. and on hearing all about it, smoothed the peasant down by tho promise of a large sum from me. The village clerk is a great personage in these parts, so the peasant, after a tew preliminary grumblings, agreed to the pay ment. , . "Why have you done this?" said the clerk. "Without the slightest cause, yon * have got yourself into trouble and expense. Our peasants are vindictive, and do not u»a to be interfered with." "Without cause? Why that boy wa* torturing a poor dog." .. / "He had a perfect right to do so; it was his own dog. Why interrupt a child in nia play when he was doing no harm to you or any one elee 1" . ■, '■ Seeing that all discussion was useless,,l thanked my protector for his ready aid and turned homewards. I overheard him, however, saying to his w«e> " Curious ideas ! a perfect absence ot respect for another man's property. >vny not let a poor child have a little amusement with his own dog!"—" Siberian Pictures. By Ludwick Niemojowski. _