"Your late father was equally strong." "Yes, he even went out bear hunting alone," replied Sobakevitch.
"I should think that you too could worst a bear if you were to try a tussle with him," rejoined the President.
"Oh no," said Sobakevitch.

"My father was a stronger man than I am." Then with a sigh the speaker added: "But nowadays there are no such men as he.

What is even a life like mine worth ?" "Then you do not have a comfortable time of it ?" exclaimed the President.
"No; far from it," rejoined Sobakevitch, shaking his head.

"Judge for yourself, Ivan Grigorievitch.

I am fifty years old, yet never in my life had been ill, except for an occasional carbuncle or boil.