GENERAL AVSCHAROF 61 



About this time, M. James Fillis left Ciniselli's circus, 

 where he was getting 180 guineas a month, if I remember 

 rightly, and went to the Imperial riding school, and after- 

 wards to the Cavalry Officers' Riding School, which is near 

 the Smolny Monastery at the end of Shpalerneya Street. 

 He is now fulfilling a three years' appointment as Ecuyer 

 en CheJ "at the Officers' School, where he is doing excellent 

 service in improving the Russian methods of military riding, 

 and in making the officers work, which is the one thing 

 above all others they dislike. The institution of serfdom 

 was no doubt a potent factor in the inculcation of the doctrine 

 that work is fit only for slaves. The climate of Russia and 

 the manner of living in that country are not conducive to 

 energy. Also, the course of instruction at the Officers' 

 School is carried on during winter, which is the gay season 

 in St. Petersburg. Russian officers are very fond of society, 

 and naturally resent being kept away from it by any excess 

 of military duty. Fillis tells me that before he went to the 

 school, none of the eight professors of riding who were there, 

 got on a horse during the whole of the winter ; their custom 

 being to order and expound, but not to illustrate. That was 

 all changed when Fillis arrived on the scene ; for he rightly 

 insisted that the teachers should be taught, and so they had 

 to spend a portion of what had been their spare time in 

 bumping round the school. The only one who escaped this 

 annoying innovation was General Avscharof, who is short, 

 stout, white haired and an Armenian. Although he is 

 supposed to be one of the greatest authorities on horseman- 

 ship in Russia, he doesn't ride ; because, so Fillis told me, 

 he gets giddy if he mounts a horse. How he obtained his 

 riding experience is a mystery I have been unable to solve. 



The Russian officers I met were very civil, and I dined 

 with General Toutilmine, who is the Grand Duke Nicholas' 

 chief assistant, and other officials. 



