The Tombstone Epitaph

Skobeleff and His Tutor.

Skobeleff has always with him his old French tutor, M. Giraud, whom he addresses with affectionate humility. The dominie is a little, elderly man, respectable, brown wigged, smiling, formalistic, and professorial in his most familiar conversation. His illustrious pupil has unbounded confidence in his wisdom. There is a little of Miss Betsy Trotwood and Mr. Dick in their conferences. Skobeleff in his youth and later may have done things behind his mentor's back which were better to have left undone. But when the hour of repentance came, as it was sure to do, he made his confession to his old preceptor, and said his mea culpa. The two have been inseparable for thirty-four years. One is profoundly grateful to the other for having released him in his childhood from the pedagogue German tyranny which in the reign of Nicholas broke the heart and soul of Russian youth. It was then the fashion to thrash boys of good family like incorrigible serfs if they failed to give satisfaction in the school room. M. Giraud was for turning the generous instincts of his pupil into an educational lever, by making him feel that if he did not do well the tutor who wanted to use him kindly, would fall into discredit. A turbulent spirit was in this way brought into perfect discipline.