Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-31
AMIADLE BARBARIANS.
Told About Tolstoi and Nell
kOff.
. Child, in Harper's Magazine.

Theodore Child in Harpers Magazine
From the czar down to the humblest muiik
the Russians are more or less barbarians from
the point Of view Of the refined west, but GER
tainly most amiable barbarians so far as for
eigners are concerned. Their hospitality knows
no limits; no trouble is too great when it is q
question of obliging a foreign visitor; but,
charming as they are, you are constantly being
reminded Of the wildness of their real UNDER
lying nature by the strange contrasts of deli
cacy and brutality, Of civilization and bar
barism, which their daily life offers. To hear
the Russians talk about the unwritten contem-
porary history Of their social and natio nal life
is like listening to the stories of the arabian
Nights" The true narrative of Skobeloff's
career and death, and the true narrative Of
the circumstances of the assassination of the
late car, are for more thrilling and extr aordi-
nary than print has ever told.
AS an example Of the strange contrasts Of
real Russia we will cite two anecdotes that were
related to US by distinguished official, whose
intention was certainly not to throw dust in our
eyes, or even to astonish us beyond measure.
The conversation happened to turn upon Gen.
Loris Melikoff, the famous chief of the dreaded
''third section" The emperor, we were told
by our informant had given Loris Melikoff I'M
bounded power to act against the nihilists and
had virtually created him vice emperor. as
Melikof himself used to say. Now, Melikoff
had discovered that one of the leading nihilist
chiefs was in the habit Of frequently visiting
went out to Tolstoi's country house. Before
the visitor had announced himself Tolstoi rec
ognized him and said:
''You are Loris Melikoff, chief of the third
section. Do you come to see me officially or as
O private man? II you come officially here are
m " Eav h. avarvthinO Won
free"
81 come not officially" replied Melikoff.
"Very good" answered Tolstoi; and calling
two mujiks, he said to them, Throw this man
out of the houser'
The mujiks obeyed Tolstoi to the letter, and
Lorls Melikoff had to accept his treatment, for
in this way Tolstoi is q mightier man even than
''our father the car" In the eyes of the Rus
sian people he Is an exceptional being, being
more than Q saint, and almost savior.
The mention of Loris Melikoff brought up
another anecdote. Some twelve years ago the
emperor sent for Melikof and announced to
him that the plague was raging in two villages
Of the empire, and ordered him to do whatever
was needful with view TO stopping its ravages,
at the same time giving him unlimited powers.
Thereupon Loris Melikoff went first Of all to
the minister of finance informed him that he
should perhaps require great deal Of money
in order to carry out the emperor's commands
and demanded credit of 60, 0OO, 900 rubles.
was unable to refuse. Loris Melikoff then
posted 70 the village in question, and having
observed the situation, autographed for twenty
fire engines to be sent from the neighborin9
towns, had the pumps charged with petroleum
and ordered the bremen to approach the
villages by night, inundate the cottages with
petroleum, set them on fire and save nobody,
The order was executed; the cottages and their
few hundred inhabitants-men, women, chill
dren and cattle-were burned to ashes, and
these two villages disappeared from the map
Of Russia and from the registers Of the empire.
The measure was radical, but il stamped out
the plague efectually. Loris Mslikof there
upon reported 10 the emperor that his com-
mands had been executed aud then called on
the minister Of finance TO tell him that ont Of
the credit of x, 000. 600 rubles granted to him
he had spent only 200 rubles to buy petroleum,
and that consequently his excellency the
minister could dispose Of the balance.
In both Of these stories, which We have
reason to believe to be literally exact, We ind
that curious mixture Of the grandiose, Of
ostentation and Of barbara rscklossneas which
are characteristics Of the Russian temperament