192 PETERSBURG IN WINTER 



kicked in the temple, and became unconscious. Three other 

 men were knocked down and kicked. 



" Other evidence was given showing that Meymott Street 

 and the neighbouring thoroughfares are very dangerous. 

 Mr. Paul Taylor agreed with one witness, who expressed 

 the opinion that more police are needed, and he asked the 

 inspector on duty at the court to inform the authorities of 

 the need for more police. 'This neighbourhood,' said Mr. 

 Paul Taylor, ' is the scene of gross ruffianism. Gangs of 

 roughs knock respectable persons down, and kick them merely 

 for amusement.' The prisoner was remanded." 



Meymott Street, Blackfriars Road, is simply a snakeless 

 Garden of Eden compared to many of the silver rings on 

 some of our racecourses. 



English people have I think an exaggerated idea of the 

 zealousness of Russian detectives. In all my wanderings 

 through Muscovy, I never bothered them, and they never 

 troubled me. The story is told of a new English arrival who 

 happening to meet in one of the streets of St. Petersburg 

 a fellow-countryman and old resident, poured out a tale of 

 woe about the infamous way in which his footsteps were 

 doomed by Russian detectives. " Look at that man on the 



OO J 



other side of the road," he continued. " He's a detective. He 

 has been following me for the last half-hour. I am going 

 straight back to my hotel, and shall not quit it until I get 

 my passport ; and then I shall go by the first train to 

 London." "Nonsense," replied the other. " I'll go over to 

 the fellow and ask him what he wants," and he accordingly 

 did so. The mysterious stranger on being interrogated, 

 explained that taking compassion on the melancholy-looking 

 Englishman, he wished to introduce him for the moderate 

 honorarium of five roubles, to a very handsome young lady, 

 who would be certain to fall in love with him at first sight. 

 The policeman in the Frontispiece of this book, kindly 



