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THE GREAT KÍRGHIS STEPPE
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the Tsar's uniform and makes a business of governing the other half. The nature of the relations between the latter half and the former may be inferred from the fact that an intelligent and reputable citizen of this chinóvnik-dominated city, who had been kind and useful to us, said to me, when he bade me good-by, "Mr. Kennan, if you find
POLICE STATION AND FIRE TOWER IN OMSK.
it necessary to speak of me by name in your book, please don't speak of me favorably."
"For Heaven's sake, why not?" I inquired.
"Because," he replied, "I don't think your book will be altogether pleasing to the Government; and if I am mentioned favorably in it, I shall be harried by the officials here more than I am now. My request may seem to you absurd, but it is the only favor I have to ask."[1]
- ↑ This was said to me upon our return from Eastern Siberia in the following winter, and was called out by an account which I had given to Mr. X of our experience and the results of our observations. I should
