“On what text did the Catholic pastor preach last Sunday?” asked the governor. “With the permission of your honor, his sermon was on redemption through Jesus Christ.” “Did he make no mention of the emperor?” “No, your honor.” “Did he say nothing about the obedience due the emperor?” “No, your honor.” “Go at once, and bring the priest before me!” “I beg pardon, your honor, but he has gone to visit a sick person at some distance.” “Then send him to me in the city. To-morrow, at nine in the morning, he must appear before me, and bring his sermon with him!” The mayor made an humble obeisance. “Did the priest presume to say anything about the Pope?” “No, your honor; since the Roman Catholic priests who preached about the Pope were sent to Siberia, nothing is said about him.” “With regard to other matters, how are things progressing in the village?” “Admirably, your honor! After the twenty Catholic families were sent to Siberia, all the inhabitants are willing to die in obedience to our good emperor. The people are all satisfied; no one wishes to go into exile.” “In how many villages of Germany,” said the governor to his guests, “can you find the people so contented and ready to give their lives in obedience to our good emperor? The form of government in the holy Russian Empire works miracles. Now, gentlemen, follow me to the schoolhouse, so that you may see how Russia educates her subjects.” They left the mayor’s residence, and crossed the street to the schoolhouse. “I must tell you in advance,” observed Rasumowski, “that in Russia we do not cultivate a fancy for popular education. Our peasants are only entitled to be taught three things: to obey, to work, and to pay taxes. In this consists their knowledge; it is the axis around which revolves our national education.” He opened the school door. About one hundred children, dirty and poorly clad, sat upon the benches. The schoolmaster, who had already espied the arrival of the governor, bowed in fear and trembling. “How is it with the children of the emperor, teacher? Do you fulfil your duty in obedience to my orders?” “I endeavor to do so, your honor.” “I shall convince myself, and ask some questions from the catechism of our state religion,” said the governor. He called up several children, and began to question them, which questions were as remarkable and as interesting to the professor as were the answers. “Who is your sovereign lord?” “The good emperor of holy Russia.” “What do you owe to the emperor?” “Unconditional obedience, love, and payment of taxes.” “In what does the happiness of a Russian consist?” “In being a brave soldier of the good emperor.” “Where does the soul of man go after death?” “To heaven or to hell.” “What soul goes to heaven?” “That soul which always obeys the good emperor and owes no taxes.” “What soul goes to hell?” “That soul which was disobedient to the emperor.” The governor turned towards his guests.