The Streets of Saint Petersburg - Workers District - Saturday January 8, 1905
Boris Markov loved living a double life. He loved the Tzar but he also loved the revolutionary circles. The conspiratorial nature of the underground appealed to him. Work at the Okhrana suited him perfectly. Supplying information that got Bolsheviks shipped off to Siberia or exiled from the country pleased him.
Recently however his attention had shifted to Father Gapon. The priest was treading on dangerous ground. Originally Father Gapon had worked with Zubotov and the police to steer people away from revolutionary activities. Now he seemed very much the revolutionary. Gapon had tasted power and he wanted more of it. Boris couldn’t blame him. He could only imagine what it must feel like to have thousands of people willing to follow your every command. But Gapon had backed himself into a corner. He needed to deliver results or he would lose the people. He had been completely unsuccessful in trying to mediate the dispute between the fired workers and the Putilov factory. He had gone rouge against the church and government. A day of reckoning was fast approaching.
Rather than relinquishing his power and admitting defeat Gapon had doubled down. He planned a march that could never be allowed and acted as if it was sanctioned by the Tzar himself. If either side wanted conflict there would be violence on the streets in the morning.
Markov stood about a block away from the Narva branch watching the workers flow in and out as he smoked a cigarette. His attention was drawn away from the building by the sound of footsteps approaching behind him. He listened carefully. As part of his double life he had spent hours listening to footsteps. His curiosity had made him wonder if he could identify a person just by the sound of their foot fall. He had been more successful with classes of people. The workers step was distinct to the management step. The military and police had a heavier step. The bureaucrats had their own distinct step.
Based on what he was hearing about 20 feet behind him was a police officer who was closing the distance fast. Markov turned with an air of indifference and saw he was right again. Tristan Andreev was fast approaching. Markov wondered if he was coming to speak to him.
It didn’t take him long to realize that Andreev was going to walk right past him. There was a purpose in his stride and Markov realized instinctively that Andreev was about to try something foolish. Markov had a split second to decide if he would intervene or allow Andreev to learn a hard lesson. This was not a location where he wanted to be seen conversing with a police officer.
He dropped his cigarette and as Andreev drew even with him said “Officer, you got a spare cigarette?”
Andreev heard the question but he was on his way to arrest Gapon and would not be distracted by some bum. He would walk by without any acknowledgment of the poor fellow looking for a handout. Or so he thought.
Markov took a quick glance in both directions to make sure no one was watching him and then reached out and grabbed Andreev by the shoulder. “Do you have a cigarette?”
Andreev was overcome by shock. Had this peasant really touched him? His hand went straight to his baton. Someone was about to lose his teeth. He looked at the man who was about to be in need of some dental work. Instantly his hand that had been reaching for his baton shifted to his cigarette case. He recognized Borris Markov instantly.
“It’s your lucky day. I have one left,” Andreev said as his lit one cigarette and handed the other remaining cigarette to Markov.
“Why are you here?” Markov asked silently.
“I am here to arrest Gapon.”
“Are you trying to start a riot?
“I am here to enforce the law.”
“There are 700 people in that building listening to Father Gapon right now. They won’t let you anywhere near him.”
“I have a warrant.”
“Do you think these people care about that?”
“It is not my job to care about how other people feel.”
“They are 700, you are one. It doesn’t matter what how you feel or what authority you have. They would kill you if you tried to arrest Gapon.”
“I will arrest Gapon tonight.”
“Then you must act when he is away from the crowd.”
“I will act when I see fit.”
“If you are unsuccessful meet with me at 2:00 AM near the river.”
“If you have something of value to share I will be there if for some reason I don’t arrest Gapon that is.”
Markov reached into his pocket and removed a public notice. “Why wasn’t this plastered all throughout the working quarters of the city? Many of these people think the march is sanctioned.”
Andreev took the sheet of paper and read:
“In connection with the cessation of work at numerous plants and factories in the capital, the city governor of St. Petersburg considers it his duty to warn that no gatherings or processions on the streets will be tolerated, and that the most resolute measures prescribed by law will be used to avert mass disorders.
Since the employment of armed troops may result in casualties, the workers and the public are hereby urged to abstain from taking part in any mass gatherings on the streets and thereby protect themselves from the consequences of the disorders”
Dismissively Andreev replied “no one should think the march is sanctioned. Now if you will excuse me I have a priest to arrest.”
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
Lessons From the Jackal will return next week. Based on the first five days are there any thoughts you want to share? Are there any changes you would like to see? What do you like most about the course? What do you like least? Any feedback would be great as a finalize the next lessons in the series.
Five days ago, we began with a simple question: How do you measure potential?
Over the course of this week, Sydney Carton has challenged us to reconsider what potential really means.
We met a man whose careless appearance concealed remarkable intelligence. We watched him make observations that others overlooked, only to receive little recognition for his contributions.
We discovered a man who recognized in Charles Darnay a reflection of what he might have become, yet seemed unwilling or unable to pursue that possibility.
We examined his relationship with Mr. Stryver and considered what it means to become a jackal: someone who possesses the ability to contribute to another person’s success while neglecting the pursuit of his own.
Finally, we learned that Carton’s habits began long before his professional career. Even as a schoolboy, he devoted his abilities to completing the work of others while neglecting his own.
Carton attributes some of his disappointments to bad luck. Perhaps circumstances have indeed worked ...
