EVENING LEDOER-PHILADEL'PHIA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1017
Plclov lit 1
r?
II
umfcPim?-NT
(Copyright, 191T, rubllc Ltdzer Comranr. All rights reserved.)
J fjlC Danger Which Rasputin Personified in Rus
sian Society at Large Did Not Proceed From
His Own Personality, but From the Character
of the Men Who Surrounded Him and Who
HIade Him Their Tool in Their Attempt to
Force Russia Into the Arms of Germany
Lwoff characterized Rasputin as "this strange personality who had fceen taken under
the special protection of the administration, who was considered too sacred to be
subjected to the criticism of the press, and who had been put upon such a pedestal
ilnit tin rmn wna nllr.nn1 in ifiiinli m nvTii in nnnmnnh liim "
" v viiv it cio uiivtt vu w tvu.i v ! w.
The Associates of the "Prophet" )yere Working
to Fatten Their Own Purses, to Foment
Palace Intrigue, to Cripple the Activities of
the Duma and to Give the Impression That
All These Machinations, Destined to Hinder
the Army, Were Known to the Emperor and
the Empress
, CHAPTER VII (Continued)
TWO years later, in 1014, a few weeks bofore the breaking out
. of the present war, another deputy, this timo a clergyman, Father
J Filonenko, spoke about Rasputin in tho Duma, and did so in the
I following strong terms:'
"As a faithful and devoted son of our Holy Orthodox Church, I
consider it my painful duty to mention once more what has already
been discussed hero by so many orators better than myself, and
to recur to a subject which is at present talked of nt tho corner
t of every street, in every town and in every village, no mattef how
J distant and how far from any civilized center in our vast Empire,
i We find ourselves compelled to look upon this unexplainablo in
fluence of a common adventurer, belonging to tho worst typo of
those sectarians whom until now wo have known ly the namo of
Khlystys, and despised accordingly. -Wo nro obliged to reckon with
this influence of a man upon whom all the sane elements in our
society look with contempt."
Wherein the Menace of Rasputin Lay
On that same day another deputy belonging to the group of
Ultra-Conservatives, Prince Mansyreff, nlso spoko about Rasputin,
with perhaps even more energy than any ono had ever done before
in the, Duma. Said the Prince:
"The adventure of Illiodorc ended in ridicule, but we have
now in his place another adventurer, with the personality of
whom are connected the most nefarious and disgusting rumors,
the most unnatural and contemptible crimes. It is useless to
mention his name; every one knows who he is, and of whom I
am talking. He has been let loose on our society to acquire
some Influence over it by men even more shameless than he
is himself; one has used him to terrorize all those who hac
dired to express their opinions against the currents which pre
Tail at present in our administrative circles. This adventurer,
whenever he travejs and whenever he arrives in St. Petersburg, is
iict at the railway station by the highest dignitaries of the
church; before him pray, as they would do to God, unfortunate
hysterical ladies of the highest social circles. This individual,
who only seeks the satisfaction of the lowest instinct of a low
nature, has introduced himself into the very heart of our coun
, try and of, our society, and we find and feel everywhere his dis
gusting and filthy influence."
A few days after this memorable sitting of tho Duma the Gov
ernment issued instructions to the press never to mention Ras
putin's name or to speak of nny subject connected with him in the
newspapers. As soon as this became known the Octobrists put
down bn the order of he day in the. Duma an interpellation on tho
matter, and Mr. Goutschkoff in moving it exclaimed:
try UM',UMM IUKIM
The Kazan Cathedral, St. Petersburg, the church of the Romanoffs, to which Rasputin had
objections of mnny of the highest Church dignitaries.
asBmawsimmfimiiesxs
free access, despite the occasional
"Dark and dafigcrous days have arrived, and the conscience
of the Russian nation has been deeply moved by the events of the
last few months, and is protesting against the appearance amongst
us of symptoms proving that we are returning to the darkest periods
of the middle ages. It ha. cried out that things arc going wrong in
our State, and that danger threatens our most holy national ideals."
Princo Lwoflf seconded the motion, and asked the Government to
explain who was this "strange personality who had been taken under
the special protection of the administration, who was considered
as too sacred to be subjected to the criticism of the press, and who
had been put upon such n pedestal that no one was allowed to touch
or even to approach him."
I would not have quoted these speeches but for the fact that
they all bore on the same point, the one that I have tried to make
clear to the mind of my readers. This point is that the danger
which Rasputin undoubtedly personificdn Russian society nt large
did not proceed from his own personality, but frun the character
of the men who surrounded him, who had mndc out of him their
tool n"hd who were trying through him to rule Russia and to push
it into the arms of Germany. There is no doubt that Germany
had been carefully following all the phases of the drama which
culminated in the assassination of the "Prophet" and had been
helping by her subsidies the underhand and mysterious work of men
like Mr. Mnnusscvvitsch Muniuloff and his satellites, nnd like Mr.
Sturmer. Sturmer believed quite earnestly that he would secure
immortality for his name and for his work if he contrived to con
clude a pence which every one knew that Rus&iu required, but which
no ono except himself and the adventurers to whom he had owed
his elevation thought of making except in concert with Russia'3
allies, and only after Germany had been compelled to accept the
conditions of her adversaries.
The whole Rasputin nfTair was nothing but a German in
trigue which aimed at discrediting the d nasty and perhaps
even at overthrowing the sovertign from his throne.
Thanks to the infernal cunning of the people who weie its
leaders, the imperial circle and even some of the imperial family
were jeprcaented ns being entirely under the "Prophet's" influence.
And thanks to the solitary existence which tho Emperor and Em
press were leading, and to the small number of people who weie
allowed to see them, these rumors gained ground, for the simple
reason that there existed no one capable of contradicting them or
of pointing out their absurdity. Calumnies ns stupid as they were
iH 1
degrading to tho authors of them were set in circulation, and tJwifW3
rcvolutlonnrv movement which Hprmnnv tio.1 dan fnmrniilm. i i'fm'
....., .. ..... ..W...1......1I, &
stronger nnd stronger every day, until it reached tho lower clai
These classes by n kind of miracle were also kept very well in-''
formed ns to everything that was connected with Rasputin or with
tho subterranean work performed by his party, n work which
tended to only mako tho House of Romanoff unpopular, nnd to rep
resent it ns incnpablo of taking to heart the interest of tho country
over which it reigned. ( jv
' The Character of Rasputin's Associates
If we consider who were the people nt the side of the "ProphH
nnd who inspired all his actions as well as his utterances, we Ami
police agents, adventurers who had been sometimes In prison and
sometimes in exile; functionaries eager to obtain some fat sinecure
in which they might do nothing and earn a great deal; stock ex
change speculators of doubtful morality and still more doubtful
honesty; women of low character nnd army purveyors, mixed up wltk
nn innumerable number of spies. Most of these last were in the
German service and were working for all that they were worth ta
bring about some palace conspiracy or some popular movement
capable of removing from his throne a Tzar whose honesty and
straightforwardness of character precluded the possibility of Russia
betraying the trust which her Allies had put In her.
Yet this was precisely whut these people wanted, and what
they hnd made "up their mlnd3 to force through, thanks to tho In
dignation which the various stories which were being repeated every
day concerning Rasputin nnd tho favor which ho enjoyed was
arousing all over Russia. Tho Emperor, of course, knew nothing:
of all this; the Empress even less. There was no one to tell them
the truth, and they would have been more surprised than any ona
else had they suspected tho ocean of lies which had been told con
cerning themselves, und concerning the kindness with which they
had trented a man whom they considered as being half saint and
hnlf mnd, but of whom they had never thought in 'their wildest
dreams of making their chief advisor.
In this extraordinary history there is also another point which
must be noticed. When the first deceptions produced by the dis
nsteis of the beginning of the campaign had thrown public opinion
into a state of mind which was bordering well nigh upon despair,
nnd before it had hud time to recover from the shock of the fall of
Waisaw and the line of fortresses upon which they had relied to
protect the western frontier, people had beguh to seek for the causa
of the gieat disillusionment they had been called upon to experience
One hud very quickly discovered, partly through the revelations that
hud been made in the Duma, that the real reason for all the sad
things which had happened lay in the systematic plundering of the
public exchequer, that had been going on for such a long time ano
which even the experiences of the Japanese war hnd not cured. When
the fierce battle against Germany began in grim earnest tho first
thought of the Emperor had been to try to put an end to these depre
dations that had compromised the prestige and the good name of
Russia abroad as well as at horns. Great severity was shown to
the many adventurers who had enriched themselves at the expense of
the nation. When it had come to tho fabrication of the necessary
ammunition required by the army, then the help of Russia's Allies
England and France had been sought. Thanks to the efforts of
these two Powers, something like order was re-established in the
vast machine of the War Office.
The fabrication of shells of a size that could not fit any gun
was'stopped. The army at the front got clothes and food of
which it had been In want at the beginning of the campaign.
Ammunition was dispatched where it was required, and not in
the contrary direction as often had been the case before. The
Miles helped Russia U the best of their ability, and Russia,
at least the sane and honest part of Russian society, felt grateful
to them for their co-operation in the work of their common
defense against a foe which it had become necessary to defeat
so thoroughly that civ ilization could no longer be endangered by
its existence and activity.
(CONTINUED TOMOimOW)
RAINBOWS END
By REX BEACH
5 Author of "The Spoilers," "The 5
Barrier," "Heart of the Sunset"
A novel of love, hidden treasure and rebellion in beautiful, mys
terious Cuba during the exciting Jays of the revolt against Spain.
CopyrlM. 1917, Harper & Bros.
CHAPTER VIII (Continued)
pSTEBAN broke out excitedly, ho could
not discuss Pancho Cucto without los
Inc control of himself. "Would you permit
that traitor to fatten upon the profits of
our plantations? He thinks ho is safe;
he Is preparing for a rich crop at high
Prices, but he shall never reap a dollar
from Varona land as long as I live. I
hall ruin him, as he ruined us."
Rosa ihook her dark" head sadly. "And
we are Indeed ruined. Think of our beau-
tlful home; all our beautiful things, tool
: We used to consider ourselves poor, but
how little we knew of real poverty. There
, re to many things I want. Havo we
' nothing left?"
Prepared for the Worst
"I thought it best to buy those rifles,"
the brother murmured, dropping his eyes.
"II was one chance in a million."
"No doubt it was. It seems those Span
lraa will sell their souls."
"Exactly. Wo can dig food from the
earth and pluck it from tho trees, but
rood Mausera don't grow on every bush.
Betides, of what use would money bo to
u when we havo no place to spend it?"
Truer' After a moment Rosa mused
alow; "I wonder if fueto found tho
treasure? If only wo had that "
"He didn't find it," Esteban declared,
WiMvely. "I" he hesitated "I think I
luiow why ho didn't."
think I know where it is."
, 'tebanr' Hosa stared, round-eyed, at
hr brother.
"On. I mean it. I've been thinking o
ever since "
"Where is it?" breathlessly Inquired tho
tlrl
After a furtive look over his shoulder
ateban whispered, "In the well."
ou'ra Joking!"
"No' noj Think for yourself. It was
Wd8ebatian who dug that well ,-
"Tea."
"And ho alone shared father's conth
ne. That sunken garden was all Se
Uan' work; ho spent U his time
U1''e, although hs mu a hl ,lmni mnn
"J capable of any task. No ono elso
. aljowed to tend it. Whyl I'll tell
70U. They fnr.rl i ! ., ., .i.
fW the Water. Tmhtl iiMrxlitd tnr
'fn' If that treasure had been abovo
(W. her sham nose wbuld havo
it out and now Cuetn baa moved
ttt.-... f , . i
TIIE STORY THUS FAR
JOHNNIE O'REILLY, more commonly known as THE O'REILLY, has
fallen in love with ROSA VARONA, one of the orphans of DON
ESTEBAN VARONA, a wealthy slave owner and sugar planter of Cuba.
Don Esteban had hoarded a vast fortune in precious stones, old Spanish
coins and modern currency in a secret chamber nt the bottom of a well.
In building this well he was assisted by SEBASTIAN, a faithful slave, the
only other person to share the secret.
When Don Estcban's first wife died he became the target for many match
makers,' who knew vaguely of his hidden fortune. DONA ISABEL suc
ceeded in becoming the second wife and immediately set about intriguing
to learn of the fortune. Hoping to get information from Sebastian, she
succeeds in having his daughter EVANGELINA sold. The slave, infuriated,
murders his master and several others before he is shot. Thus in a few
minutes the only two persons who know the whereabouts of the fortune
arc killed.
Isabel tries vainly to get information from PANCHO CUETO, the
manager of the plantations. Instead, he threatens to claim the estate as
his because Don Esteban left no deeds to the property. That night Isabef
falls into the well and is drowned. She is rescued by ESTEBAN, Rosa's
brother and a spy for Colonel Lopez, the leader of the Cuban insurrec
tionists. Pancho CueUi finds a letter with information which Esteban had
dropped and turns it over to the authorities. Rosa and Esteban then escape
up the valley to the hut of Evangelina, their old nurse.
O'Reilly, back in New York at the office of the firm which he repre
sented, in Cuba, anxiously awaits information from his sweetheart. His
many letters do not bring a reply until months later, when Rosa tells
him of the' misfortunes that have befallen since he left Cuba. O'Reilly
determines to rescue his beloved, and for that purpose calls upon Mr.
Enriquez, head of the Cuban junta in New York, who helps him to return
to the tropic island. There O'Reilly, in common with other Americans, is
suspected, and he attempts to fool his hotclkeeper by stating that he came
to Cuba for his rheumatism. After conferring with a Dr. Alvarado, O'Reilly,
moves on to Puerto Principe, nearer the scene of action, where he meets
Leslie Branch, an American consumptive, trying to get cured or killed.
In the meantime, Esteban has been harassing Pancho Cucto by burning
his sugar fields. The latter goes to Colonel Cobo, in charge of the Spanish
troops, with the proposition that in return for exterminating Esteban and
his guerillas the colonel can have Rosa. Rosa and her brother are guessing
nt the possibility of O'Reilly having received her letter.
Itosa sat back, disappointed. "So that's
your theory?"
"Itls more than a theory." the boy in
sisted. "Look at this!" From the pocket
of his cotton trousers he- produced an
odd-looking coin, which he placed in
Rosa's hand.
"Why, It's gold! It's a Spanish dou
bloon," she said. "It's the first one I ever
saw. Where did you find it?"
Spanish Money
"You'll think I'm crazy when I tell you
sometimes I think so myself. I found
it in Isabel's hand when I took her from
the, well!"
Rosa was stricken speechless.
"She clutched it tightly," Esteban hur
ried on, "but as I made the rope fast her
hand relaxod and I saw it in the lantern
light "It was as if well, as if she gave it
to me. I was too' badly frightened to
think much about it, as you may imagine.
It was a horrible place, all slime arid
foul water; the rocks were slippery. But
that coin was in her fingers." (
Jlosa managed to say: "Impossible!
Then she must havo had it when she
fell."
"No, nol I saw her hands upstretched,
her fingers open. Jn tho moonlight,"
"Yes. Perhaps some unseen liand led
her to tho place so that we should at
least como Into our own. Who knows?
I didn't bother my head abput tho mat
ter at first, what with our flight and
all, but now I reason that there must
be other coins where this one came from,
There's no doubt that father hid his
money. He turned his slaves into gold,
he bought Jewels, precious metal, any
thing he could hide. Well, perhaps thero
were old colps In the lot. The water In
the well Is shallow; Isabel mujt have
groped this piece from the bottom. Some
day I shall explore the hole and wo
shall see."
Rosa flung her arms rapturously about
her brother's neck and kissed him.
"Wouldn't it be glorious?" She cried.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful, to be rich, and
to want for nothing; to have fine clothes
and good things to eat once more? Good
things to cat!" Her Up quivered. "Oh
I'm so hungry."
"Poor little girl!"
"Walt until O'Reilly hears about this."
Rosa was all excitement once more.
"He'll bo glad he came and got me, if
he does come."
Esteban caressed her. "Hell come,
never fear. You remember he warned mo
M b eartfttt?, WU I I bteIB WJU
for bringing jou to tills. Tor mys-clf,
of course, I don't mind, but for ou this
life must be tenible. I know It, Eveiy
timo I leavn you my heart Is In my throit
foV fear of what may happen in my ab
fcence and jet I can't alwuys bo at joui
side "
"There! You ncknowlcdgo that 1
handicap jou. Except foi mo jou would
be making' n glorious namo for yourself."
"Nothing of the sort. More probably
I'd be getting mi,clf killed. No! It's
hotter this way. We must be brave and
patient and think of what is waiting
for us at tho bottom of thut well "
Guerrilla Warfare
It was Indeed a great piece of luck
which had enabled Esteban Vaiona to
buy n half-dozen Mausers fi om u Spanish
holillcr. Through Aseaaio's acquaintance
ho had profited by the dishonesty of an
enemy, and, ulthough It had taken nil
his money to effect the purchusc, Esteban
considered tho sacrifice well woith while.
Tho lire of patriotism burned fiercely In
him, ns did his hatred of Pancho Cueto,
and tho four trusty young negroes tu
whom ho had given rifles made, with
Asonslo and himself, an aimed party
largo enough to, bo reckoned with. These
blacks were excitable fellows, and
wretched marksmen, but, on the other
hand, each and every ono had been raised
with u machete at his hip and knew how
to uso It. After a few preliminary forays
under Esteban's leadership they had ab
sorbed a bit of dlsclpllno and were be
ginning to feel a military ardor.
In the Cuban field foiccs there wcro
many negroes, and many of their fel
low patriots fought better, or enduied the
hardships of guerrilla warfare more cheer
fully, than they. General Antonio Maceo
was of mixed blood, and yet his leader
ship was characterized not only by rare
Judgment und ability, but also by an
exalted abandon of personal bravery. His
several brothers rendered Cuba services
scarcely less distinguished, nnd they were
but of a few of many dark skinned heroes.
This struggle for Independence was no
patrician's war; the best stock 'of tho
Island fought sldo by side with field hands.
A't dawn of tho morning following his
talk with Rosa, when the members of his
command assembled, Esteban was up and
ready. He had made his preparations to
destroy Pancho Cueto'a fields, and since
tho road over tho hills to La Joya was
long he had summoned them early.
"Bo careful!" Rosa Implored him. "I
shall die of suspense." I
Tlie Modest Home
"It is for jou to be careful,' he laughed.
"Keep a good watch, and conceal your
self at the first alarm. However, I think
we have taught these bandits a lesson,
As for Cucto, he would run to the Jungle
If h saw us. Ho has the heart of a
"It's more than a theory," Esteban insisted. "Loo at this, Rosa!" and heproduced an odd-looking coin.
mouse." He" kissed his sister affection
ately and then rode off at the head of
his tattered band.
Rosa waved him a last farewell as he
disappeared Into the woods, then, to oc
cupy herself, she helped, Evangelina with
what little housework there was to do,
later going with her to the garden patch
where tho vlandas grew.
Evangellna's early devotion to her mis
tress had not diminished with time; If
anything, it had" deepened. When eman
cipation came she would havo returned
to tho service of her belovc3 twins had
it not been tor Dona Isabel's refusal
to accept her. As it was, she and Asen
Bio had married, and by means of Rosa's
surreptitious help they had managed to
buy this little p'lece of land. Rosa had
practiced self-denlal-to make tho purchase
possible, and her self sacrifice had borne
fruit; that act of childish beneficence had
created a rcfugo for Esteban and liei
self and had ripened the negro woman's
affection Into idolatry,
Evangellna's Joy at having the girl to
herself, where she could dally see her.
v touch her, serve her, was tempered only
by the knowledge of Rosa's unhappln.es.
Sho scolded and tyrannized, she motheicd
and adored tho gh 1 to her heai t's content;
she watched over her like a hawk, she
deemed no labor In her set vice too ex
acting. It would have gono 111 with any
one who offered iiarm to Rosa, for Evan
gelina was strong and capable, she had
the arms and the hands of a man, and
sho possessod the smoldering black tem
per of Sebastian, her father
Even In peaceful times few people came
to this clearing in the woods, far from
the main-traveled roads of the Yumurl,
and the day, as usual, passed unevent
fully. Evangelina worked, with one eye
upon her Rosa, the other Wj&jchfully alert
for danger. When eventrane she pre
pared'thelr scanty meaflBndlnB' Rosa,
meanwhile, for her attempts to assist her.
Then they sat for an hour or two on
the bench outsldo tho dMt talking about
Juan O'Rall-j'o and thciflmibable hour of
his coming
Tlie Night Watch
There were no candles in Asennlo's
house now, and had there been, neither
woman would have dared light one. To
hunted creatures darkness Is a, friend;
danger Jjtalko under tho sun.
V (
When Rosa fritted about her. brother,
thenegress reassured her. "Don't b
frlehtened. little dove; he has th makings
of a greatsoldler. It's a good thing for,
the Spaniards that he isn't general Cub
would be free In no time" "T
"He's so reckless."
"Oh, he knows what he's dolnj Besides,
Asenslo wouldn't let him bo hurt, t toofe.
pains to tell him that if ever he permit
ted Esteban to suffer so much as a
scratch I would disembowel him with hl
own machete. He knows me Now, then,
it is growing cool and the night air car
rles fevers. Creep into your bed ami
dream about that handsome lovei ot
yoursi"
"No. 1JI keep watch with you."
Evangelina was Indlytiant "Go!" h
stormed, What will Jipppen'to those tmt
cheeks ti you don't a.'e? Do you thiak
the American will want to marry an W9
woman with wrinkles He may bo hr
tomorrow yes, I have certain fl!ii4
about It,"
Rosa, obeyed, JtUtioWlb rJwetaliUfcfc,
"I'll sleep for a whllV ho eotrni4
"then I'll conw ptkjuA take ray tarsr
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