The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-10-26
A NIHILIST ROMANCE.


graph in the Geneva papers mentioned,
in the guarded language which it is the
local usage to employ in such cases, the
tragical deaths of Russian revolution
list and his wife. He had died of q
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. | made inquiries, and
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 adj
vancement of the cause to which thew
have devoted themselves. These men.
the soi-disant Nihilists, are known in
Western Europe chiefly as a political
party of extraordinary energy and re-
source, engaged in 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 their 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them have homes) is withdrawn; for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 Nihiiists say little Of themselves,
and 1t 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
loli 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 Franioli, 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 1928, which opened in
Russia the era Of revolution. 1t was
time Of vague yet noble yearnings-o
a visionary socialism-of dreams of uni
versal happiness to be obtained by the
sole force of teaching and example.
tranjoli 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 q
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-
rality as means of winning converts
to socialism. In this way he acquired
immense influence over the youth of st.
Petersburg, Kieff and Odessa, where
he labored necessarily.
When, as in Russia, q propaganda
has to be conducted secretly, and from
man to man, q capacity in the mission
airy for attracting personal sympathy is
OF supreme Importance. 1t would be
difficult to find anywhere man who
possessed this precious gift in the same
degree as Franjoli. The enthusiasm
which was the principal trait of his
character, together with a winning
manner and natural kindness of heart,
made all who knew him his devoted
friends; and he, on his part, loved his
comrades, his pupils and his fellow
workers with all the passion of Chris
tian zealot who sees in his converts
brethren in the Lord, children of his
Divine Master, and coheirs of Heay-
emily inheritance.
In 1874 Franioh, abandoning his life
in the towns, took place as 4 village
schoolmaster in the province Of
Tchernigov, in order to begin a social
propaganda among the peasants. After
few months activity in bis new sphere
of duty, ne was arrested under suspi-
cion of teaching revolutionary doctrines.
When he was led away by two gen.
darmes all the village, men and woniep,