At a photographic establishment I purchased several views of the city and surrounding region.

I sought a watch dealer in the hope of replacing my broken time piece, but was unsuccessful.

I finally succeeded in purchasing a cheap watch of so curious workmanship that it ran itself out and utterly stopped within a week.
One evening in the public garden a military band furnished creditable music, and I was told that it was formed by selecting men from the ranks, most of whom had never played a single note on any instrument.
Writers on Russia twenty years ago said that men were frequently assigned to work they had never seen performed.

If men were wanted for any government service a draft was made, just as for filling the army, and when the recruits arrived they were distributed.

One was detailed for a blacksmith, and straightway went to his anvil and began.