had during the winter of 1866 something more than a hundred boarding pupils.  The gymnasium or school for boys was equally flourishing, and under the direct control of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for Eastern Siberia.  The branches of education comprise the ordinary studies of schools everywhere—­arithmetic, grammar, and geography, with reading and writing.  When these elementary studies are mastered the higher mathematics, languages, music, and painting follow.  In the primary course the prayers of the church and the manner of crossing one’s self are considered essential.

Most of those who can afford It employ private teachers for their children, and educate them at home.  The large schools in the towns are patronized by the upper and middle classes, and sometimes pupils come from long distances.  There are schools for the peasant children, but not sufficiently numerous to make education general.  It is a lamentable fact that the peasants as a class do not appreciate the importance of knowledge.  Hitherto all these peasant schools have been controlled by the church, the subordinate priests being appointed to their management.

Quite recently the Emperor has ordered a system of public instruction throughout the empire.  Schools are to be established, houses built, and teachers paid by the government.  Education is to be taken entirely from, the hands of the priests, and entrusted to the best qualified instructors without regard to race or religion.  The common school house in the land of the czars!  Universal education among the subjects of the Autocrat!  Well may the other monarchies of Europe fear the growing power and intelligence of Russia.  May God bless Alexander, and preserve him many years to the people whose prosperity he holds so dearly at heart.

[Illustration:  TAIL PIECE]

CHAPTER XLIII.

When we left Tomsk in the evening, the snow was falling rapidly, and threatened to obliterate the track along the frozen surface of the river.  There were no post horses at the station, and we were obliged to charter private teams at double the usual rates.  The governor warned us that we might have trouble in securing horses, and requested us to refer to him if the smotretal did not honor our pada ashnia.  We did not wish to trespass further on his kindness, and concluded to submit to the extortion and say nothing.  The station keeper owned the horses we hired, and we learned he was accustomed to declare his regular troikas “out” on all possible occasions.  Of course, a traveler anxious to proceed, would not hesitate long at paying two or three roubles extra.

We dashed over the rough ice of the Tom for a few versts and then found a road on solid earth.  We intended to visit Barnaool, and for this purpose left the great road at the third station, and turned southward.  The falling snow beat so rapidly into our sleigh that we closed the vehicle and ignored the outer world.  Mr. Naschinsky started with us from Tomsk, but after a few stations he left us and hurried away at courier speed toward Barnaool.  He proved an avant courier for us, and warned the station masters of our approach, so that we found horses ready.