Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-18
PETER THE GREAT.
ke Man Who Shaped
Russia's Destinies.
ueH AND UNcoUTH MANNERS

- Portrait Of the Great Ruler
his Early Life-The Building
of Moscow.
& .Hrr. John L. Stoddard entertained and
r : degree instructed his usual great
1lrnos at the Academy of Music last
nine. taking as his topic the tempest.
- - career of the rare brute and energetic
,rhorian, Peter Romanoff, styled the
~. whose iron hands shaped Russia
M destiny among the nations. Mr..
nl1ard began his story 200 years ago
Moscow, the ancient capital of Rus
nnd the cradle of the Czars, finding
= lad Peter on the throne, with his
61hor John, under the regency of their
~ Sophia, and carried it through all
= otormy period of Russia's evolution
- semi -barbarism to something as
- akin to civilization as force was ca.
~ Of implanting in the Muscovite
4 4 ~ the twin Czars, John was an imbi-
la while Peter was an active, preco-
1os lad, who early gave signs of what
" would one day become. His early
rs vas one of peril and evil courses,
- Mis- sister viewed him as standing
E 61nne between herself and power, and
"a only sought to wreck his character
- throwing him into the vilest COM
Nv. but even on several occasions at
nfed his assassination. She was his
IN genius and her last endeavor TO rid
E dlunSlf Of Peter took the form of a MUIR
Eous uprising in which his friends
16fo olain, and he himself was saved
10y by his mother, Nathalie, who fled
III him to the shelter of convent,
1thin whose sacred door the supersti-
8 - assassins dare not enter. Her tri-
4 nh was not long, for at the age of
4 hteen Peter found himself upon the
ifone and avenged himself with rare
I 1clty upon his enemies. His sister
pkia was lodged in fortified convent,
s - Peter looked about him for the bet
Denent or his kingdom. About this
|ne he fell in with the
YOUNG SWISS, LAFoIx,
IEho was Secretary in a German EN-
10y. and who at once became his guide
q = the affairs of civilization and his gen.
1 &rEul adviser, continuing so until death
on1ed their friendship. His first task
- 70 impress upon Peter the need of
oroating an army to replace the wild
4 hoedes then at his command. The sol
1iory Of Russia at this stage consisted in
4 ~ main Of the Streltzi, an organized
0o1diery and an ancient institution of
- Czsrs, who did quite as they
I. D1eased, such was their power. AIMED
{ S01iana, they were selling themselves to
WAoever would buy; lawless beyond
Z Dnoooure, they formed an element too
4 snnRerous-t to be tolerated, and Peter set
oAoutt6 compass their destruction. He
( U61f into the army himself, throwing
uay Ill the privileges of rank, and, en-
reing - = drummer, made his way up
Unrd IL the usual course, first becoming
3 ongporal, then sergeant, lieutenant, cap
8 - and colonel. learning everything
= ~ oaoh position. Mr.. Stoddard showed
= portrait of Peter at this time. 1t was
lhat Il bold-faced young man with
nnasive features and piercing eyes and
Iou0 hair that fell in curls over exceed.
fn9iy broad shoulders. Here, too, the
& Iootprer told in full the story of Peters
&npoiuation for boats and boating. Pass
~ one day by the river he saw boat
Nth keel, and at once inquired its
purpose. He was told that it was built
- sail against the wind by the Dutch
Goepenter who had constructed it, and
would not rest until half dozen more
kad been built. and spent good share
! * his time sailing them. HIS dream of
IN outlet to the sea for Russia and for q
nsvy here began. He saw
HIS KINGDOM SHUT OUT
From the ocean on every hand. Swe.
While to the southwark the Turks held
The Black Sea coast, and even the
sammy shores of the Caspian were in
Persian hands. True, the icy waves of
H. Arctic Ocean washed the Siberian
shore Of his kip gdon, but it was cut off
ontirely from that civilization he most
3eoired to attain. ''It is not land
reed, cried Peter. ''but water" The
pictures changed from Russian scenes to
Holland, showing first the little hut
n which the monarch lodged, exchang-
ing his scepter for an axe, and working
Nth the carpenters in the shipyard.
He would be called nothing but Master
Eoter. 'sYour Majesty" or even"Her ;"
xoused him to wrath. He would kindle
4 Ii own fire and cook his simple meal,
but be soon found that time could be
better spent, and changed his habits of
1fvirg and went 10 England, studying
utiII the ships. He was an untamed
eoxsge ct the best. His manners were
fntolerable aud bis habits dissipated 10
He extreme. Once in the city Of Am.
neerdam he called to lady, "stop!"
The woman halted affrighted and Peter
Hrasped her watch chain, the curious
workmanship of which had caught his
eye, pulled out the watch, and after
examination returned it, with never q
VOID to say. Another time he pulled
of q mans wig, looked it over and threw
it on the ground with an expression OF
large dissatisfaction. In England the
GoverDment assigned him a country
seat by the Thames, where he lived a
double life of studying and rioting. His
favorite amusement was to drink brandy
until drunk with plenty of boon COM
panions in tavern near at hand. His
hcase was surrounded with magnifi-
cent hedge, which he ruined by running
q Wheelbarrow. When at last
THIS ROYAL sAvAG
Went bis way the British government
paid fl. 800 for necessary repairs to the
residence. Peters returl to Russia was
hurried by revolt of the Streltzi
brought about by the mobiles, the priests
,.d fha sisfer " Tho thnuQh In cnufina.