New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-28
THE SOCIETY OF THE MUTILATED.
me MYSTERIES OF RUSSIAN FANATICIsM-Ex
TRAoRDNARY REVELATIONS.

IRAORDlNAR1 RENELA1lONS'
From The Pail Nall GaI,tte.l
Not long ago there Came a story from Russia,
through the medium Of the German newspapers to the
effect that q new and mysterious sect had suddenly
sprung into life there. and that its treasury filed with
many millions Of rouhes. had accidentally been discov
cred by police at Marshansk The story is true In part
for the authorities have really made raid upon the
scop o. that town, have seized their common fund.- and
imprisoned several OF their leading members But
the sect is not new one aud the value Of the conhscated
treasure absurdly exaggerated What
IS most interesting in the matter 10 that the prisoners VIII
be tired IN open court and that they will be defended by
hardest the most eloquent and the most Outspoken
member Of the Moscow bar the young Prince 0orGosoh
When he speaks In important case the court Is always
througed; when the scopsi are being tried 1t Will DO
So much nonsense las been talked and written about
these scOpsi that IL may DO well II attempt To give
idea Of who they really are ana what they iook IKE
begin with their appearance so strange is II and 80
Characteristic that one who has once made acquant
down TO the Exchange at ST. Petersburg, Moscow.
Odessa fact in whatever Russian town you IKE TO
choose Look carefully upon the merchants who eongre
eate there and YOU cannot fan to be struck by the
strange expression in the faces OF many OF thel IL Is
the mind Of the visitor who for the first time
equally indehu2ble sensation OF dlseoIOrt auu uSnke'
Take as examples those weHdressed, evidently wellI0-
do men Of business in many respects models OF quiet
commonplace citizens. Al little distance ther faces
seem almost youthful; draw niue nearer ana you per
ceye that neither young Old they are equally want
ing In the freshness Of early lie ana the dguiiIy
though in some cases thin .whisker or
beard seems TO be struggling for existence anu
they are either hollow baggy and they have KIND OF
creased and rumpled look Tie mouth is usually weak
bat what most striking & Eye 4 !fe sxn sne s sI
would make a cannibal shudder Sometimes tOnceh OF
color seems 10 be lingering there but u looks more e
sudused. In extreme cases the face IS that OF den
hipuall but the eyes When you first meet ths cold,
lskure IL gard OF such being this you feel very
Uncomfortable indeed and think Of vampires Below tue
eve tie skin Is and dark The eye itself IS CLASSY,
srArLe From It's corners thousands Of nne wrinkles
arc often wandering away over the iase wea Is
= tbat II seems as il kind Of cobweb were cling
Ing IT, But these Of course, as We have already SAID
Nanv scopets looks comparatively speaking. brisk
snd human, though he Is always recogmLaDle az hIs
sight and always has share OF the worn and nag
card aspect which in some members OF the community
deepeps into utter ghastiness And 1t is only ioI ht
Scents wear so repulsve look To the chance observer
a. ray not seem more than uneanny but Ior one whS
" = their pald cheeks and their sunken eyes have
h meaning just as what would 0t9er%ise seem 81
kt hat is the signature ~ confession exIoftea pJ
III cuit to enter into details about the scotps with
cOntaJots 10 medical journals. We will therefore con-
Aac Ives 10 gereralites good deal OF ntorina-
on Russia, and to that may refer the curious reader
the book being generally accessible But Tor the oenens
OF any who wishes 20 enter deeply ueo the matter
We may mention very singular work, and one when 70
Little known In which contained OF Information
Russian Dissent collection, in six volumes, OF
documents relating to the RaskOnks or schismatcs OF
kns-a They were originally collected ana privately
NJ t ~ order Of the Russian government but tEeB
Yc INTENDED for publication. Some copies, how
eve Into hands for which they were not originally
qset and after n time the work was reprinted. IN
Lora, and published by Mr.. Trnbner 1t may
Do a. eel 10 observe that although the book has
tongue. To the general reader, therefore, II must
remain sealed book 80 far aa Its printed mater
concerned But II Is accompanied by al album OF pho-
togTaphs, which also published separately, ana
WEIGH every understand Most OF these photo
graphs taken from drawings made for the purpose OF
Illustrating the volume devoted 70 the Scops and one
two kindred sects. OF the rest Is a photograph OF
lets cOl0red embemRtica pictures representing
parity heart others portraits OF the
founder tho sect and Of the Emperor Peter Ill., who,
according 70 their account still lives and Is their chief
being, indeed Christ hmsef and the last is q strange
mystical picture ST. led the Modification OF the Plesh
msn dressed IN lolg ignic il hanging on cross,
pe.ced to the heart ny the WOrld tho SIDE and
by the Flesh" on the cthcr-the mounted spe ar.
Ian. the other archer on foot On the right hand
y9wns hell on ihe left nc nd the devil stirring his Area
~ Above, Christ holds out crown the Of the
x stand two archangels. These enblenac pictures
IRE curiOus but still more strange the five
Iese ions ot tho secret rites performed by these ia
a natics
The Art OF these pictures Is too horrible for description
REPRESENTING II does the ceremony Of Imitation tut
ths Society OF the Mntlated. In the last novice
vino being received at formal sitting VI us members
The Others the wild dances Of the sect techB
ealy called RadyeniyG (Rddyenie properly means zeal
The tauacs have met by night IN secret apartment
Against s wooden walls hang their sacred pictures Dt
Tote which bura lamps candles By the feeble light
which the scene IL family toined We see the Initiates