Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-08-18
SKOBELEFF.

A Pen Picture OF the Russian General
Paris Correspondence London Pall-Mal Gazette.
1t is hard to realize that Gen. Skobe-
leffs's charmed life has ended in q no
tel. He was-a thing hitherto unknown
in Russia popular idol. The ideas
he formed of Slav emancipation did
not fit into the political conception of
Peter the Great and Catherine II. In
Russia he was a through Muscevite,
and could and did give strong reasons
for being SO. But he thought that all
the Slavs who did not innabit the Step
pes and fiat forests, and whose collect
i've life has not received the impress OF
Czarism, should not now be forced into
the mold. Their historical evolution
was different from that of the Musco-
vite Slavs. What Skobelef dreamed
of was a federation, informal, elastic,
and yet strong, resting upon brotherly
love and affinities of race. This was
counted heretical in the imperial pa
lace. While the Car, to prevent fatty
degeneration and to keep his mind
from being stultefed with terror, was
devoting himself to the trapeze aud
music, Skobeleff was becoming the
hope Of the Slav race. His reverence
for the imperial character was absolute.
Any penalty the Gar chose to inf1tct
on him he would have accepted with
out complaint; but he would not have
borne the oppression of Count Tolstoy.
In kicking against it he might have
reckoned on the sympathy of all Rus
STA.
As Gen. Skobelef is no more, and
has left no child behind him, l may
speak of the delicate position in which
he found himself at the court of his
new sovereign. He thought we'll of
the Car, or rather some of his moral
qualities, and when drawn into speak
ing of him and Analysing his character
said he was honest and we'll intentioned.
The General did his best not to think
about the intellect, or rather want Of
intellect, OF his sovereign. He strug-
gled hard to forget his ingrained Ger
manism, which did not come out when
he was young, but is asserting itself
now. Skobeleff was very transparent.
One could see the conflict in his mind
between fixed purpose to yenerate and
impression that did not stimulate the
organ of veneration. The occasion on
which he spoke to me most freely
about the Gar and Czarina was when
he was last here. Then he drifted into
talking about them in a curious way.
A confidential letter which he had writ
ten to me on divers subjects on which
| had desired information had not been
received. The General, when he next
saw me, after writing it, made illusions
which did not understand to its con-
tents. He then, perceiving there was
q naalentendtt, asked me if had had
the letter. When | told him that had
not he got excited, said that he was
watched by spies, and half the letters
he should himself have received mis-
carried. By whom, he wondered,
could the spies be engaged, since his
friends were in power in Russia, and
by what mechanism could they frus-
trate the postoffice hereS l asked him
whether he had himself posted or seen
posted the letter thai | should have
had. No; he gave it to the concierge
with strict instructions to take it the
district postoffice Immediately, and saw
the man leave the house with it. 1t
did not occur to him that lynx-eyed
individual had taken up a position in
the lodge. This man came out when
ever visitor asked for the General, to
scrutinize him. But by whom could he
be engaged, Skobeleff asked himself.
The Russian police, which was hell
ish institution, had branch in Paris.
However, as the Palavists were upper.
most at st. Petersburg, it was improb-
able that orders had been thence trans
mitted for the General to be logged
"Are you sure" | asked, "that your
allies are not afraid you may one day
become their enemy, and are acting
accordingly" Skobeleff thought over
the suggestion and discarded it. He
concluded that the letters were inter-
cepted by some agent of Bismarck,
whom he called "that scoundrel."
Bismarck has," he said, "been trying
through his creatures to poison the
Cars mind against me. He repre-
sents me as devoured by guilty and
reasonable ambition, and has aroused
a feeling against me. The Gar is an
excellent man, but dbruti with fear.
He has neither will nor judgment left
1T it were not for music he would have
been long ago terrorized into madness.
The Gar is good, charming creature,
but brought up ia small way, and
created on minute design"
Gen. Skobeleff was fond of Paris
and its small, light pleasures. He spoke
French admirably, liked French litera-
ture. French sensibility, and that open
ness of character which prevents French
liars being successful deceivers. In
outlandish places where he was quar-
tered he could not help, being no game
ster, saving money. He came when
he had leave of absence to Paris to
spend his earnings. He was here to
amuse himself when the Carlist war
broke out. Love of military adventure
impelled him to go to Spain. Under a
false name he joined the Carlists in
besieging town. Had it not been for
this escapade, he told me, Plevna might
moi have been taken. All the expert
ence he gained with Don Carlos was
utilized before the Turkish stronghold.
Gen. Skobeleff's temper was hasty, but
his disposition was of singular benign
ity. He was anything but impeccahle.
His faults were more than redeemed by
the immensely of his repentance. The
mea c,tlpa was acted upon with great
fervor. His best actions came from
heart impulses. The mind was capa-
cious, but had no influence on his con-
duct, unless in wa. Though not lux
urious, he was nice and delicate as
refined woman, and hated coarse linen
and material grossness. The tactile
sense of the long tapering fingers was
exquisitely fine. The tall figure had
so much little grace that one did not
observe its strength. In dressing Sko-
belief paid minute attention to his
toilet, but was for the rest of the day
thoughtless about his personal appear
ance. He had passionate fondness
for the boulevsrds. When a young
officer he was q hard drinkcr, but sud-
denly shook off the vice of bibulous in
temperance. His love for cold water
baths was excessive. and he was reck-
oned one of the best swimmers in the
Russian army.
The Star Reuters Strike Suag.
Chicago Tribune.