The apex of my civic pride and personal contentment was reached on the bright September morning when I entered the public school.
As we moved along in a little procession, I was delighted with the illumination of the streets. So many lamps, and they burned until morning, my father said, and so people did not need to carry lanterns.
One positive command he gave us: You shall love and honor your emperor. In every congregation a prayer must be said for the czar's health, or the chief of police would close the synagogue.
On a royal birthday every house must fly a flag, or the owner would be dragged to a police station and be fined twenty-five rubles.