The Desolation of Roslavl
89
at such and such a station. That's so many versts away.
This is a priest from the province of Holm, and he is explaining to his flock.
Many of the priests of Holm province accompany their refugees.
And the help which they give is colossal.
They get some sort of understanding of the situation for themselves and explain everything to their people.
It is asked:
—Where are the numberless local officials, the people looking after the village in time of peace, where are they now in the time of terror and calamity, where have they betaken themselves—where, saving themselves, do they receive their former official salary?
How have they abandoned this illiterate people who do not even understand the Russian language well, in such a moment.
