The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-01
A NIHILIST ROMANCE.

Not worry long since brief para
graph in the Geneva papers mentioned,
in the guarded language which it is the
local usage to employ in such eases, the
tragical deaths of Russian revolution
list and his wife He had died of a
painful and lingering illness, through
which his wife had nursed him with
heroic devotion, and within an hour of
his death she was found lying by his
side, also dead, and both were covered
with the same winding-sheet Know
ing something of the WAYS of Russian
refugees, it struck me that this event
was the denouement of some terrible
story of real life. l made inquiries, and
q Russian gentleman who was in
timately acquainted with the unhappy
pair was good enough to communicate
to me the following narrative, which,
besides being in itself deeply interest
ing, throws vivid light on the causes
of Russian discomfort and the character
and methods of the enthusiasts who,
whatever we may think of the means
they occasionally employ, are men of
truly heroic mold. and never hesitate to
sacrifice all they hold dear for the ad-
vancement of the cause to which they
have devoted themselves. These men,
the soi-disant Nihilists, are known in
Western Europe chiefly as political
party of extraordinary energy and re-
source, engaged in a mortal struggle
with truculent deSpOtiSm. They are
men whose exploits from time to time
thrill the world with horror, and whose
courageous deaths eXtort even the adj
miration of theig foes. 1t is only on
rare occasions that the veil which
-shrouds the mystery of what may be
called their home lives (albeit few of
them have hOmes) is withdrawn; for
the NihiliSts say little of themselves,
and it is not in the nature of things that
the outer world should know what they
do not choose to reveal. One of these
occasions was the death of Andre Fran
jOli and his wife, and my informant pos
@seSSed full knowledge of the romantic
and touching story of their lives. This
gentleman, may add, has himself
played an important part in the Russian
revolutionary movement; nobody is
better acquainted than he with Under
ground Russia" and his name is not
unknown in England. give the story,
word for word, as he gave it to me:
Andre FranjoG, born in one of the
Black Sea provinces--despite his name,
of Russian parentS-waS one Of the old
est and most respected members of our
young revolutionary party. Although
at the time barely twenty-One years old,
he took part in the great propagandist
movement of 1929 which opened in
Russia the era of revolution. 1t was
atime of vague yet noble yearnings-of
a visionary socialiSm-of dreams of uni
verSal happiness to be obtained by the
sole force of teaching and example
Franioli accepted the new faith with all
the ardor of youth. A missionary by
vocation and conviction, impression
able and passionate, enthusiastic to ex-
ultation, he personifed that religious
idea which, despite their protested ma
terialism, is the leading motive of the
apostles of Russian revolution. His
faith in the redemption of the oppressed
and the future OF humanity seemed to
be inspired by revelation rather than
based on reason. His devotion had in
1t something verging on fanaticiSm; he
was more aScetic in his habits. more
needless of his own comfort, than a
monk of the middle ages.
Firmly believing in the regenerative
force of ideas, he attributed too much
Importance to the moral perfection of |
the individual and too little to the re-
form of institutions which, as political
science teaches, are the most powerful
factors in the moral regeneration of
mankind. While others discussed the
relative value of insurrectional attempts
and peaceful propaganda, Andre was !
preaching to his young disciples, in sea-
son and out of season, the necessity of
personal example and an austere mo-