New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-10
A NIHILIST WIFE.
THE DEVOTION OF PRINCESS KRAPoTKNE.

which throw light upon the case of each, thinks
it only equitable to set them at liberty. He and NJ
Allan large. both Deputies of Paris, have been also
told that neither will have a chance of being re-
elected next September if justice is not done to tho
three convicts NJ. Andrieuxs police revelations
prove beyond doubt that they fell into trap
most artfuly laid for them by the Duclerc and the
Ferry Cabinets. Bogus cases were trumpet up
against them. For why7 In order that when the
forward colonial policy in Tonquin and Madagascar
was being pursued, an alliance might DO forineu
between France and Russia against England VINO
was suspected of putting spokes in the French
wheels in the great African islani and Cochih
China. The first steps in this direction " ere taken
by the Project of Police in promoting an lnterna
tional Congress in London. which the learned and
simple Krapotkine and Louise Michel attended. and
in which part wastaken by Gauter, the Editor OF la
RcUOlatioR SOcide, journal started and supported
unknown to him, by secret service funds. The next
steps were the attempts to destroy with dynamite
the statue of NJ. Theirs at St. Germans, the cross
roads Calvary at Monceau les Mines in the colllery
district Of Burgundy and the deserted gendarmerie
barrack near Lyons.
The London Congress was got mp for tho purpose
Of bringing Kraputkine within the provisions OF
law against tho Internationale voted by the Yer
saes AS emily in 1871. during the period OF acute
reaction which followed the subugation OF the
Commune. The explosions destined to alarm
the bourrcoiSie of Lyons. from whom the Jury
W hich tried Krapotkine and Gautier was selected
II was all very clevcrly combined and rascaly IN
the extreme The persons who laid the trap fouled
the nobcst Of ali social and political principles
namely. those which are expressed in the word
Republic They also were drawn into the path Of
rascaldom by the calculation that tho moro con-
fused public affairs became in France the greater
would lie their ability to set mp disguised
despotsm which would place the whole army. navy
civil service and wealth Of the country in the hands
of a syndicate rallying round a political boss
Gambetta. when KraDokine was tried. was study
ing with lgnatiof how TO bring France and Russia
into a close military alliance. Ferry. being made
the boss OF tho Opportunst syndicae. went further
in the same direction lie had remarkable talent
for intrigue, and patient and quiet in pursuing
his ends. All Clemcnceau's efforts to procure the
release OF Prince Krapotline and Louise Michel fell
through.
The victims of Duclerc's aud Ferrys political
craft to be- released on Sunday or Monday.
They are not pardoned, but amuestied a sponge is
therefore passed over the judicial record of their
alleged fclonies. II only pardoned they would have
been liable to police surveillance for a long term Of
years In way, NJ Briss1n's hand has been
for that poor. generous crank Louise Michel. and
for Emile Gauter, SO that he yielded TO pressure
with good grace. Prince Krapotkne's captivity
was IN way softcned, and yet its pains intensified,
BY the devotion Of his heroic little WIFE, / never
heroism in lovablo a form as in the Princes
Krapotkine. | don't know what her age Is. But she
might he n girl in her teens, or e-and-twenty.
She has the rosebud freshness OF youth. the bright,
soft eyes Of an Affect onato and high-hred dog, with
splendid CLEANS of human intellect and soul The
upper part of her face is broad and the under
narrow and refined, although her month when she
laughs - wide BIT she has dazzling SIT of teeth
to show, and her lips when IN repose beautifully
modelled aud fresh as nowly-blown roses. Her
forehead also. by its BREADTH height and Wilderness
brghtcns up her face. She seems To have the sim
piicty of little child. Nobody TO look at the
pretty face as mantlng bushes suluse il would
think that sho escapes form the rksome weight Of
loneliness 10y plunging into the study OF chemistry.
electricity. botany and other sciences.
She has resided in poor lodging at Clarvaux in
its only hotel since her husband was incarceratcd
IN the prison there. Her voice is very sweet and
her accent slightly lanGnd. SLe never seems eX-
cited even when her heart is Drumming over with
grief 1t has been her happy privilege within the
last year To pay a daily visit in the parlor Of the
Jail TO Prince Krapotkine.
One DAY ne came there with not tooth in the
front Of his mouth. They had fallen out His gums
were 80 scorbutic from damp. want of air and
exercise that they fell ont he eating piece
of bread He writes scientific articles for Nature
and other journals. and she has been allowed
to take them out Of prison after the Governor
real them. His heart being affected and blood
decomposed, he is dropscal. The whole world
knows the history Of his cat that was brought into
his cell as a kitten and being placed before
looking glass was astonished 10 in it her own
image and proceeded TO ascertain that 1t was not
"A real prototype Clairyaux was erst Bencdctne
monastery. IL is ia narrow valley and raw
climate SAINT Bernard exhOrted ms disciples 10
live in wales so that they would be often induced w
the narowneSs OF the horizon TO look up to Heaven.
The situation is prison in Itself.
/ believe tho marriage of Prince and Princess
Krapotkine is a Nihist one. She has always been
rather his disciple than his wife. Her tender adj
miration for him and devotion to him arc boundless.
Clairvaux is a days journey from Paris, and she
has no society there | asked her one evening
whether her solitude weighed upon her. "No |
study so hard that do not feel the time passing.
The Princes moral elevation is 80 great that can
hardly pity him, although l see him falling TO
pieces What weighs on me is the idra that,
relatively 20 hundreds who are suffering for the
cause of humanity we are in great comfort and not
shut out from human sympathy"
The Princess Krapotkine is descended from the
mother Of that Princess Troubetskoy who volun-
teered to spend the greater past OF "a long married
life in exile in Siberia with her husband. As
Czarism is now pretty much what 1t WAS in the
time of Nicholas, her story will be read with inter
est. The Princess Trouhetskoy in question also
ancestress of the late Princess OrlOh Her
husband percevng aud dlsliking the stern temper
aud uurelenting will Of Nicholas, joined in the
Strclizes' revolt. the object OF which was to break
a family agreement in virtue of which Constantine
the Second brother of Alexander |. and rightful
heir, was set aside. This revolt was put down
ruthlessly. TrOubetskOy was condemned TO four
teen years IN the mines and To pass the rest of his
life in Siberia. His wife determined To 20 with HIM.
IL Mna her duty and size Womb hn hammer IN