Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-26

tricts are eager for its injection. 1t can
be readily understood that all who
have witnessed a case Of cholera are
willing TO submit to temporary suffer
ing if by it they can secure immunity
from the terrible malady. But is it a
sue preventive? That is the question.
A SLATONIAN APOSTLE.
Tic Decline Of the Russian Nobility.
st. Petersburg Letter ia New York sun.
April 18th was the thousandth ami
versaTy Of the death Of ST. Methody,
one Of the two Slayonian apostles.
This religious Slayonian millcnnial wa,
very opportune. In view of the dan
geIous Anglo-i;u, iSH .o.l'"' wh
in The end might test the strength of
the great northern empire, the national
prayers to the Slayonlan apostles not
only have strcngthcd. butcycn sanctlllel
the patriotism Of Russians. over q thou
sand years ago, two Siay brothers,
missionaries from BY. intium, penelrltei
the dense pIimeyal forests, thinly in-
habitcd by the nomadic Pagan tribes,
and preached to them the gospel IN
their own tongue. Then the two mis-
SiOnarics went west, where they were
wanted by some Slayonian Kingdoms :
but they left behind them to the Pagan
tribes Of their own race a precious gift.
the Bible of SlayOnian characters.
Thus they are identified in the Russian
Imagination with the religious uD'ication
of the country, and through that with
general patriotism. Such brilliant re-
ligious professions and such crowded
public meetings a. on this occasion Of
the great Slayonian anniversary have
never before been witnessed here, and
the biographies Of st. Cyril and 81.
Methody have been scattered far and
wide throughout the country, like the
leaves Of the fall. Thus the military
ardor of the war party is. as it were,
sanctioned by national and even re-
ligious feelings. In his present excite
ment the Russian giant IS a dangerous
fellow to fight, dangerous even to John
Bull.
Another jubilee was the centennial
celebration OF the imperial charter by
which very important rights and priyi-
leges were granted to the Russian no.
bles, such as possession Of serfs and
civil and military administration. In
fact, since CathaTine II. until the abo-
lition of serfdom in 1861, the nobility
was exclusively ruling class in Rus
sia. The czar-liberator, however, had
taken away from the mobiles all their
special rights, so much so that
to-day the peasant boy has as
many chances Of making a good career
as has the heir of the most illus
trious princely family. 1t is a general
opinion Of the best observers here that
the Russian nobleman is fast degeno-
rating. He is bound to yield his place
to a new blood. Public schools, col
leges, and universities of to-day are pre-
pairing here new generation Of boys
who boldly push to the front, not the
least abashed that their families are not
inscribed in any "yelyet book" Nc
matter whether the homo noruS is the
son Of village priest or of a country
physician, or Of merchant, or of a
tradesman, or ola peasant, or Of gov
eminent clerk, he is bound to get hi,
due by virtue Of his education and per
sonal ability and energy. In his re
script, issued on the occasion of the
mobiles jubilee May 3rd), the Car has
virtually admitted that his titled elias,
of people is in a state of hopeless bank
ruptcy, and in order to save their land
from the hands Of the spectators, h,
has ordered the establishment Of spe
cial mobiles land bank. by means %
which the State will be the sole creditor
of the bankrupted mobiles. Recently
in a Moscow court there figured Ger
tain Prince Galitzin. He was tried anC
condemned for petty crime. Prince
Mestchersky, in his Citizen, on that oc
casion said:
remember very well when thi.
Prince Galitzin. a brilliant officer o
the Imperial Guard, by marriage came
into relation with such families a.
Count KushelOff's and Strogsnof' ;
And now the same prince is proved {
common swndler Is he an exception
to a general rule? Not at all. There
is a direct relation between the crimi
nal and his own titled class. Tht
high life of to-day is not what it useC
to be a quarter Of century ago
Formerly our mobiles valued most nobl,
principles. and now all PROSTATE them
selves before the golden calf. Honor
honesty, duty. everything is put on the
altar Of that deity. They do not minC
borrowing money under worthless
pledges. They are ready to dishOnoi
their family name every day provided
they will get by SO doing money foi
women, champagne, horses, and SINH
lar designations.
Such are the Russian mobiles Of to
day, according to the Citizen, and We
the Car urges them to see to it that thu
children Of the country at large b
brought up in the rules Of honor, hon
eSty, and faith.