Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1879 — FEASTING ON HIS OWN FUN. [ARTICLE]

FEASTING ON HIS OWN FUN.

A Writer Compelled to literally “ Eat Bis Own Words.” A recent libel suit in Moscow, in which city the author of a quarto volume was subjected to a most ignominious punishment, very forcibly reminds one of the inestimable blessings enjoyed in a country in which the freedom of the press is a guaranteed and established right. The facts in the case referred to are as follows: In the above-named city a goodlysized book was published in vindication of the rights of the subject. The work contained stinging sarcasms aimed at the venality of the officials, with many satirical and humorous allusions to bribetaking and other iniquities. Even the Czar himself was handled without gloves, his acts were fearlessly denounced, and a powerful argument was adduced in behalf of the rights of his subjects. The mal administration of law was set forth in strong, plain language. The book attracted general notice; but this was bad for the author. He was arrested and thrown into prison. After a short and summary trial his production was pronounced a libel, and he condemned to “eat his own words” or suffer the punishment of knout. This terrible instrument of torture is in the shape of a long whip or scourge, and is composed of many tough thongs of thick, hard skin, plaited together and interwoven with strands of stout wire. The criminal is stripped, and is firmly bound to two stakes which are sufficiently wide apart to admit the free motion of the head. The blows are laid upon the bare back, every stroke cutting like a knife, and soon the victim of the scourge is a shapeless mass of blood and flesh. One hundred blows is equivalent to a death sentence. This was the alternative of the unhappy author. The day fixed for carrying the sentence of the court into execution arrived. A platform was erected on one of the public squares of the city. Bound hand and foot, the victim of despotic power was seated in the center of the platform. An immense concourse of people had gathered to witness the strange spectacle. The Imperial Provost, the magistrate, the physician and the surgeon of the Czar were in attendance. The obnoxious book had been separated from its bindings, and, as an act of grace, the margin had been cut off. The leaves were then rolled up, not unlike cigar-lighters. And there they were—a basketful. Now the meal began. Amid roars of laughter from the ignorant and degraded populace, the Provost served the author leaf by leaf with his own production, putting the rolls of paper one by one into his mouth. He slowly chewed and swallowed onethird of Lis- book, when the medical gontkurau cuucluaed no had received into his stomach as much of the innutritions material as was compatible with safety. He was then reconducted to his cell to digest his meal. The two following days the same scene was enacted, until every leaf was swallowed, and, as a matter of fact, he was compelled to literally eat his own words and feast on his own fun. No amount of oratory, either printed or spoken, can define so eloquently as the above incident the chief glory and crowning safety of a free press and a free Government.