New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-16
AN INTIMATE OF THE CAR
INFLUENCE or A VILLAGE PRIEST OF
POLAND WITH ALEXANDER III.

Vienna. November IS
Alexander III has reputation throughout the
world for extreme intolerance, and even bigotry,
on the subject OF the Orthodox faith aud is gen.
orally credited with regarding the members OF all
other Christian creeds rs heretcs OF the most
damnable kind, and deserving the worst forms
OF persecution II viii, therefore, be matter OF
extreme surprise TO those who have derived tho
above impression concerning the Car from the
anti-RusSian newspapers in Germany and Austria
TO learn for the first time that the most intimate,
beloved and trusted friend of the Muscovite Auto
crat is a Roman Catholic eccesiaStic-not prelate
or other high dignitary of the church, but mere
village priest the rector Of the little hamlet of
Podborz situated within few hours Of the west
ern frontier II was solely for the purpose of
passng couple Of weeks in the company OF the
good Able that the Gar paid sudden visit to
Southern Poland toward the end of last September.
The unexpected presence Of the Emperor on the
AuStro-German frontier caused a great scare at
Berlin and Vienna at the time II was reported
that the object Of his trip 10 inspect personally
the army corps, which. it was alleged had been
masscd in the western provinces preparatory TO
being hurled against the Triple Alliance and there
was heavy fall Of Government securities on all
the bourscS OF Europe in consequence. AS matter
Of fact it may be stated that the Car did not re-
view a solitary regiment or visit single camp
during his fortnight's stay in the district His
whole time was spent shooting over his estate al
Spala in company of his old friend, the Able
II would be prepostcrous TO pretend to give any
account of the subjects discussed by this strangely
assorted pair during their long walks and hunting
exhibitions But judging by the results, poltcs
were not altogether eschewed For 1t is 10 the
sole influence of this humble village priest that
must be attributed the revival of the hitherto un-
successful efforts of the ST. Petersburg Foreign
Office 10 establish modus vivendi between the
Russian Government and the Vatican.
To the worthy Able is also due the extraordinary
good will and marked favor displayed by the Gar
70 the Polish peasantry As q striking instance
thereof may be cited the Peasants Land Bank
which he caused to be established in Poland short
time after his accession TO the throne and for the
further extension Of which an Imperial ukase was
signed only two weeks ago The bank is organ
lied on the Socialist lines described by Eugene
Sue in " Les Mysteres dc Paris" Endowed with
n capital Of several millions Of roubes out OF the
Public Utility Fund, il issues loans TO the peas
antrv on the security of the land up TO 81 per
cent of the valuation of the latter. The peasant
il is true has to obtain certificate from the local
committee for tenants affairs, stating that he Is
in need Of the loan, but on the Other hand, the
money is granted TO him without payment OF any
the loan is made can be obtained by the borrower
on the payment Of a merely nominal fine, and on
the presentation of a certificate from the local
tenants committee recommending that the re-
paymcnt be postponed II is hardly necessary to
add that until the debt is liquidated the land can
neither be sold nor seized except with the consent
of the bank The scheme has worked wonderfully
well and has done more than anything else to
nut stop TO the wholesale absorption
of the land by the Jewish usurers
70 whose rapacitv and eXtOrticn so much oil the
distress in Russia is due 1t was for the
sake Of preventing these money lenders from TAX
in, i,nproner advantage Of any temporary diff
Guilty of the peasant that the Car recently issued
an edict decreeing that no Jew resident IN the
Polish provinces should be allowed TO possess
more than fifteen acres Of land the quantity ID
fact strictly necessary for his subsistence II is
further ordained that they must cultivate TINS
land themselves, and they prohibited under
main of confscaton and expulsion from the country
from hiring Christian laborers to do their work.
new CORPS Of officials has been created ID Poland
for the special purpose of maintaining stringent
surveillance on the Jews, and rewards are prom
ised by the Government for all information con-
eerning the infraction of any Of the above men
toned DEGREES.
This exceptional favor on the part of the Gar
10 the Polish peasantry, which IS lar from
heinc extended TO his Russion-born subjects, is n
matter OF much comment at st. Petersburg ana
Moscow. and is universally attributed TO the In
auence Of the Polish priest of Podborz Father
Zudmowsd-for that is the name OF TINS re-
carlable Abbe-is about sXty-fve years old, and
his intimacy with the Emperor dates back TO the
Gear 1872. when he became acquainted with
Alexander III on the occasion Of the latters Vlslt
n Field Marshal Prince Banatinslli, at Sinerme-
WITT In presenting the priest to his Imperial guest
the old Prince laid special stress on his wonderful
crudition and breadth Of mind and also on MS
great reputation in the district as a hrstciasS
sportsman The Czarewitch, for at that time the
late Emperor was still alive, soon became eA-
ceedinglv fond Of the Able and finding IL III
possible to induce the latter TO accept prelermehI
or 10 persuade him 10 leave his NIUE village
church al Podborz for ST. Petersburg, he actually
went so far to purchase the estate OF opala'
about three miles distant from his friends parish,
and to construct a kind of shooting lodge there.
Since then Alexander has made a point OF spending
q few weeks every autumn at Spala, and while
there the Able and himself are simply INSOFAR
able.
Zudmowsld is Pole by birth. When about
twenty years old he started forth on his travels
through Europe and finding himself at Posth at the
time OF the Hungarian revolt against Austria
he enrolled himself under the orders OF kossuth
IN the insurrectionary Magyar army. Making
his way subsequently to France and Belgium ne
devoted himself TO the study of theology ana
was finally ordained priest at Rome. After sew
eral wears more o. travel and research Of all KINDS,
Zudmowsd at length returned TO his native
land poor in purse. but ricn in every SOFT OF
learning and science, and succeeded in obtaining
the appointment Of parish priest OF the little
village of Podborz.
The hand of the worthy Able is also apparent
In the revival of the negotiations between the
Russian Government and the Vatican, and in the
readiness expressed by the former to make i'm
portant concessions to the Holy Seat The Cars