Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-23

d. >. Edwards in Harper's for June.
Peter the Great is a many-sided figure, and
such huge one that to view him from all points
would involve the making Of a very considerable
circuit. 1t would be easy to show that he was
q coarse sensualist, and he had undoubtedly
many Of the tastes Of mere barbarian. He
drank to excess, and delighted In such practical
Jokes as serving up live rats and mice In q
pie-dish covered over with the usual paste.
When he was In England his fayorite exercise
consisted In charging with q wheelbarrow
trimly-cut quickest hedge, which had at one
time formed the Joy Of its garden-loving pro-
prietor. He not only sentenced to death. but
apparently himself killed the disahected SON
whom he had thrown into prison, and who per-
ished there.
you inquire in the museum of the Hermit
age at st. Petersburg who carved those wooden
figures, who turned those ivory ornaments. who
made that pair of boots, who built that boat, the
answer Is always, 'the Gar Peter" Inquire
further who reformed the old Slavonic alphabet
BY introducing into it the symbols Of sounds Pc
culiar to the Russian language; who altered the
constitution Of the Russian church so as tomake
the car Of Russia, in lieu Of the patriarch of
COnstantlnople, its head who established fac
tories in Russia; who forced the Russian nobles
willing or unwilling, to accept the duties of state
service. under pain Of losing their privileges;
who formed the Russian army; who created the
Russian navy; who built st. Petersburg-''the
window" as some one has said, ''from which
Russia looks out upon Europe" who first led
Russian ievies with success against trained Eu-
Topean troops; who among the cars was the
first to get himself formally recognized by Eu-
rope as emperor" who among the cars and
emperOrs commenced that unceasing war
against Turkey, which, beginning with a defeat.
capitulation, and the nearest approach to the
personal surrender OF the car, has at length
brought Russia up to and beyond the Balkans.
and placed her, but for the political attitude OF
other powers. and the strategical position of
Austria, within easy reach Of COnstantinople;
who. with Russian ships, first nayigated the
Caspian; who, with Russian troops, first made
war upon Persia; who sent out the first Russian
expedition against Khlva, with instructions to
It's chief to dispatch from Khiva military, naval
and commercial agents disguised as traders"
to India? In every case the Car Peter
Whether Peter was what is called good" need
scarcely be considered, and certainly cannot be
decided. EXhOrted on his death-bed TO repent
Of some very bad actions which he had undoubt-
eddy committed, he said that God would Judge
him not by isolated deeds, but by the general
tenor of his life. He was far more remarkable for
energy, In every possible direction, than for
piety or any sort Of moral quality He
did not, however, like killing the wrong
M, and when he was decaptating, with
his own hand, the rebellious strelitzes. or
''archers," who. detesting his Innovations from
the West, had, during his absence from Russia,
risen In instruction against him, he hesitated
to strike one bold young soldier, who advanced
gayly toward the block, exclaming: Make
room here" and kicking, on either side, the fallen
heads which stopped the way. 'Ths man win
be OF use to me-" thought Peter. He spoke a
few words to him, pardoned him. and gave him
commission in one Of the regiments that he
was forming. The forgiven one proved worthy
OF his pardon. His name was OrlofI. and his
descendants have often shown the same reck-
less daring which, as exhibited by the founder
OF the family made SO striking an impression on
the mind of Peter.