Evening journal., 1888-07-26
RUSSIAN DEsPoTTsM.
A Story Laid in wilma. Once the Capital
of Litliuania.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
WILMA, Russia, June %. wilma, once the
capital city OF Ldthuania, nestles cozily in a
valley surrounded by high mountains
Its situation IS remarkably picturesque.
and its history, perhaps, the saddcst Of any
city in this part Of Che world. wilma was
founded in 1922 and enjoyed uninterrupted
prosperity until captured oy the Russians in
1874. This marked the commencement Of
her downfall, and from population of 10O.-
600 souls in the Sixteenth century she is now
reduced to less that 10000 Previous to tho
revolution Of 1881 tho city possessed a very
beautiful botanical garden and one of tho
finest universities in Europe. The former.
stripped Of all its glory, lies mass Of ruins.
while the latter, despoilad Of its books and
instruments, has ceased to exist. History
has thrown an enchanting halo about wilma.
ana There are many places in the city which
are held sacred in the memory Of every
true and loyal Lithuanian The river wilma.
which winds it way through the northern
part Of the city. has been immortalized bv
poets and historians. Then there are the
ruins Of the castle Of Prince Gedmin. still
standing as a monument of former glory.
The Catholic cathedral, built in 1887. has re-
posing within its walls the flower of the
Lithuanian nobility of the long ago. There
Is also very fine castle in a perfect state of
preservation, which is occupied by the gov
ernor general, whose jurisdiction extends
over the provinces Of Wilma, Kovno and Grod-
nor. The view from the surrounding noun
talns Is very fine, but one meets with a ter
Yible shock on entering the city, for the eye
everywhere rests on a scene of misery
1t was in 1861 that Poles and Lithuanians
joined forces for another desperate struggle
to free themselves from the yoke Of the Rus
sian despot and establish government Of
their own, similar in form to that in exist
ence previous to their subjugation by Rus
sia- The delusive promises Of Napoleon III
served to feed the flame already kindled, and
to the promise Of his support may be attrib-
uted the revolution Of the ever memorable
year 1861, when the most horrible brutalities
the human mind can conceive were practiced
on innocent men and women. During the
preparations for the uprising the ladies Of
the best families willingly gave their SER
vices IN the collecting of contributions in
churches and elsewhere. This work pursued.
presumably for sweet charity's sake, was in
reality to obtain funds to aid the revolution
lists in carrying out their schemes. The hand
soonest ladies in the cities We're chosen for
this work, and nobly did they perform their
part In Wilma were massed 5000 soldiers
awaiting orders for distribution throughout
Lithuania- In Wilma, right under the very
eyes OF the soldiers the Nihilists held their
meetings secretly and organized their forces
for a struggle which they felt ssure would
lead to victory. The hot headed students. as
usual, were unable to restrain themselves. and
it was not long before the insurgents were
openly. singing s'God save Polandn in the
streets and even in the churches. Ostra
Drama, picture of the Virgin Mary, PLAYED
an important part in the rebellion of vi. This
picture, set in frame which glistens with
all kinds of precious stones, has a remarkable
history; over this picture is thrown an arch
and all persons passing under it must do so
with head uncovered. People from the sur
rounding cities and villages gather here to
pray, and many place money in the Virgins
keeping to have masses said for the repose Of
the souls of friends. The priesthood of tho
Greek church lately published statement to
the effect that this picture was Of Russian
origin, and did not therefore rightly belong
to the Polish people, and that it was their in
tention to take it to Russia This drew forth
a strong protest from the Poles, for this
picture not only represented the central
figure Of their church, but was Of immense
value historically; many curious legends are
handed down commemorative Of the SUPER
natural power it possessed 1t is said that
during war with Sweden one Of the enc
my's soldiers, forcing his way into the city.
attempted to rob the sacred emblem of the
jewels and precious stones which encircled it.
but before he could complete his act Of van
dalism he was violently hurled against the
opposite wall and killed. 1t was at this hal
lowed shrine that the people of Poland
gathered to pour forth their sorrows and
plead for deliverance from the iron
yoke Of the Russian despot. 1t was the
rendezvous Of the young students, members
Of the old nobility of the land, who suffered
arrest while praying for their country's re-
lease; even ladies of the best families were so
carried away by their enthusiasm that they
joined the rebellious faction, and with their
fathers, brothers and lovers shared the hor-
rors of prison life. The gloomy citadel was
at this period filled to overlooking with hap
less prisoners; but they suffered fearlessly,
believing it for their country's good.
The nobility during the earlier part Of the
struggle made great mistake in seeking to
enlist the sympathy of the peasant element
in the fight for freedom. The peasant-un-
accustomed for generations to the slightest
consideration from their lordly masters-re-
sented the sudden affection Of the nobility.
fearing some act of treachery was medi-
tated. Thus those who would have been the
ablest allies of the cause were turned into the
bitterest enemies.
About this time the Count n. was gradu-
ated from the gymnasium here, and became
a student Of the faculty of Jurisprudence.
During his residence in the city he was the
guest Of the Princess W., an old and highly
esteemed friend Of the family. He had
known her from his earliest childhood, and
justly estimated her high and noble char
acter. She was immensely rich, and dis
tributed to the poor and deserving with a
lavish hand; her sympathy was entirely with
the revolutionary movement, but this she did
not openly express, being a personal friend
Of the car and a great favorite at court.
The count had not taken part in any Of the
revolutionary demonstrations, feeling that
the movement was premature ard would end
disastrously for the country and all con
cerned; but the simple fact Of his lately be-
ing a student at the university was a suffi-
Gent excuse for placing him under police
surveillance OF this OF course he was not
aware, and went about as usual in his light
hearted, happy frame Of mind. 1t was in the
early spring and the movement was progress