The Sun

Laconic Correspondence
The recent troubles between the students of
the University of Moscow and the officers of the
Russian Government, gave rise to this Laconic
but pointed correspondence, transmitted by
telegraph:-
GENERAL IGNATIEFF TO THE EMPEROR.
"Great disturbances at the University. The
students will listen to no one: neither to the
rector, nor to the curator, nor even to me.
What is to be done?"
THE EMPEROR TO IGNATIEFF
"Make every effort to calm the students.
Treat them like a father."
IGNATIEFF'S REPLY.
"I have obeyed your Majesty's command.
The students are in the fortress."
THE EMPEROR'S REMONDER.
"What do you mean? You have committed
some dreadful blunder."
It's clear that Ignatieff's notion of "fatherly
treatment" was not in accordance with the Em-
peror's ideas, but the unlucky General subse-
quently made an explanation, seeking to jus-
tify it after this fashion:
"I endeavored, Sire, to execute your orders.
I arrested two hundred and eighty-three stu-
dents last Thursday, and many of them are bad-
ly wounded. Your lamented father could scarce-
ly have done more."
The italicised words are certainly to the point.
We are indebted to the London Times for a
commentary, which may throw some light
upon the question at issue:
The explanation of poor General Ignatieff's
sad mistake is to be found in the fact that
there are no articles in the Russian language,
and in such phrases as 'like my father,' or
'as his father' (would have done) the possessive
is usually omitted—P.S.