The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-12-21
Woman'S Rule In Russia.

" III - iIoN Tie ieIllHS spirit Oh the
Cars government? / asked high
official. "A woman, as usual" he an
sWercd. Like other monarchical
countries. we have always had some
woman at the top or bottom of our
government
During the thousand and twenty
years Of Russia's existence there have
been eighty rulers, all told. of whom
only five We're women. But If we study
Russian history, We shall find that
nearly every Russian ruler has been
ruled by woman. Among Russian
sovereigns there are seven canonizcl as
Saint several are Great" one is
"Apostolical,' one .Monomachos,' one
"Longarmed,' one Blessed one
"Soothsayer," one Dark" one .'Impos-
tor" one Brave one Proud one
Terrible" one "Not-to-bc-forgotten,"
one "Moneysack," and one "Liberator;;"
but among the host Of crowned heads
that have ruled Russia for the past
thousand years there was apparently
but one Wise" head, and that o
woman's. The great Princess Olga, of
the tenth century, the first Christian
sovereign of Russia, is known in his
tory as The WISE
When the great Prince Vladimir, be-
ing yet pagan, consulted the represent
atiyes of his people as to what religion
should be adopted, they answered:
The Greek religion, for were it not
the best, your Grandmother Olga. the
wisest Of women, would not have
adopted it, and the worthy grandchild
followed the example Of his grand
mother. The philosophers of to-day,
however, would call her The Smart"
or THE Cunning"
After Olga for seven. centuries no
woman assembled the Russian throne.
In 1875, when Peter the Great died, his
charming and witty wife, THE Russian
Aspasia,' was proclaimed autocratrix
under the name of Catherine. In
course Of time there were three other
Expresses, Ann, the niece Of Peter the
Great and murderess of the boy Car,
Peter IL; Elizabeth, the daughter of
Peter the Great and murderess Of the
baby Car, Ivan VI: and Catherine H.,
the wife and murdcress of Car Peter
III. The poets sang Of Catherine II.
as THE Northern Semiramis,' and by
her great vices and brilliant deeds she
fully deserved that appellation. As for
Ann and Elizabeth, the classical name
of Messalina would be perfectly appli-
cable to both.
Nine. Pobedonostzeff, the leading
spirit OF the Russian government Of to-
day, is the wife of the Chief Procurenr
of the holy synod. and the most conf
dental counsellor Of the Car. She is
young, beautiful and ambitious. She
married Mr.. Pobedonostzeff but few
years ago. Her husband, very old
gentleman, is in love with her. It is
said OF him that the knightly motto,
God and NV Lady," he changed into
God and Ny Wife, and npholds it as
deyoutly as a knight of old He arises
early, prays to God, adores his wife,
and then goes to see the Car. or the
ministers, or the holy synod, and every
where he tries his best to carry out the
commands of his charming goddess.
Meanwhile she herself is not idle She
receives hosts of fair visitors of high
rank, who, while Offering their homage,
seize the chance of commencing their
husbands, brothers or cousins. Some
times this or that Minister of State
does himself the honor Of paving his
respects to her. Occasionally she Wis
its her majesty, the Czaritza, to cheer
her soul in her golden cage. And the
Car himself is there always at hand.
Thus it has come about that while the
Gar keeps away from the capital of
his empire, Nine. Pobedonostzeif has
somehow found herself to he the center
OF the Russian political world. Instead
Of the Cars policy Of the Chancellor's
or the Minister'S policy, we hear Of the
Madam's policy. With the modesty
Of an ascending star. she does not re-
veal her projects, but it is very doubt
full whether any liberal reforms will
ever find favor with her.-Letter from
81. Petersburg.