"‘a man i knew who had been to siberia and returned, told me that he himself had been a witness of how the very most hardened criminals remembered the old general, though, in point of fact, he could never, of course, have distributed more than a few pence to each member of a party. their recollection of him was not sentimental or particularly devoted. some wretch, for instance, who had been a murderer cutting the throat of a dozen fellow-creatures, for instance; or stabbing six little children for his own amusement (there have been such men!) would perhaps, without rhyme or reason, suddenly give a sigh and say, "i wonder whether that old general is alive still!" although perhaps he had not thought of mentioning him for a dozen years before! how can one say what seed of good may have been dropped into his soul, never to die?’