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been a dyer by trade, and as a young man was working
in St. Petersburg, when he became seriously concerned
about the salvation of his soul. About this time he came
in contact with some Skoptsi, who persuaded him to
self-mutilation and the acceptance of their creed. He then
resolved to go through “the baptism of fire” in order to
become fit for the kingdom of heaven. The ceremony,
which cost him three weeks of serious illness, resulted shortly
afterwards in exile to Siberia for life. But he was
happy to suffer all “for the sake of truth and the kingdom
of heaven.”
Mr. Lindström was a genuine type of an old quiet pietist.
He spoke with the greatest affection and reverence of his
old Swedish bible, which he read every day, and which
gave him consolation in his trials. A big tear glistened in
his eye when I spoke to him about “the land of the
thousand lakes” (Finland), which he never more should see.
“But,” said he, “I shall soon go to a better land, where
all trials and sorrows shall have an end.”
After luncheon we were shown the barns, store-houses,
threshing-machines, mills etc., built by these strange people.
We visited a number of homes in the village, and found
everywhere the most scrupulous cleanliness and good
order. In one izba, to my great surprise, I came upon a
large collection of books, containing, besides poetical works
by Puschkin, Lermontoff, Niekrassoff and others, some rare
volumes, and also various Russian translations of the works
of Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer, and other English writers.
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