Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-02
A NInILIsT ROMANCE.

A NIllILIST ROMANCE.
Not very long since brief para
graph in the Geneva papers mentioned.
In the guarded language which IL is the
local usage To employ in such cases. the
trngical deaths OF n Russian revolution
ist and his wife. lie had died of n
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-shcet. Know
ing something Of the ways of Russian
refugees, Il struck me that this event
was the denOuement Of some terrible
story of real life. | made inquiries, and
n Russian gentleman who was in
timatcly 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
vanccment OF the cause To which they
have devoted themselves. These men.
the soi-disant Nihilists, are known in
Western Europe chiefly as n political
party OF extraordinary energy and re-
source, engaged in = mortal STRUGGLE
with n truculent despotism. They are
men whose exploits from time To time
thrill the world with horror. and whose
courageous deaths cxtort even the adj
miration Of their foes. IL is only ON
rare occasions that the veil which
shrouds the mystery OF what NAV be
called their home lives (albeit few of
them have hOmes) Is withdrawn; for
the Nihilists say little of themselves.
and II 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 aud bis wife. and my informant pos
sesscd full knowledge Of the romantic
AMI 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, rs he gave IL 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 Evolutionary party. Although
NJ the time barely twenty-one years old.
he took part in the great propaganda
movement OF 1928. which opened in
Russia the era Of revolution. IL was
atime OF vague yet noble yearnings-of
visionary socialism-Of dreams Of uni
Ncrsal happiness 90 be obtained by the
sole force of teaching and EXAMPLE
franiOH accepted the new faith with Ali
the ardor Of youth. A missionary bv
vocation and conviction, impression
able and passionate, enthusiastic TO ex-
ultation, he porsOnified that religious
idea which, despite their profcssed 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 In
be inspired by revelation rather than
based on reason. His devotion had In
II something vcrging on fanaticism; he
was more ascctic In his habits. morr
needless Of his own comfort, than n
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, arc the most powerful
factors In the moral regeneration OF
mankind. While others discussed the
relative value of insurrectional attempt:
and peaceful propaganda. Andre wa,
preaching TO his young disciples, in sea
son and out of season, the necessity o.
personal example aud an austere mo.
rality as n means OF winning convert,
to socialism. In this way he acquired
immense influence over the youth of St
Petersburg. Kieff and Odessa, wher,
he labored necessarily.
When. as In Russia. a propaganda
has 10 be conducted secretly, and from
man to man. a capacity In the mission
airy for attracting personal SYMPATHY /.
Of supreme importance. IL wouId b
difficult to find anywhere a man who
possessed this precious gift in the same
degree as Franjoli. The enthusiasm
wN" was tue pTlnclpal Trait OF Ms
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 q Chris
nan zcalot who sees In his convert,
grethren IN the Lord. children of hi,
Olylne Master. and coheirs Of . Heav.
enly inheritance.
In 1874 branioli. abandoning his liz.
In the towns, took a place a. a villao,
senoolmaster In tho province 81
Iehornigov. in order 10 begin = sociaj
propaganda among the peasants. ATE
lew months activity In his new spher,
., onsy. ne was arrested under suspi.
S Sl1n on soaSning revolutionary doctrines
When he wa led away 6v two zen.
aarnes All the village. men ana women