New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-10
THE GEAR AND THE FAMINE.
MONEY FOR COURT GIVEN TO THE SUI
FERERS-COUNT TOLSTOIS CHARITY.

Imperial family have gone to Gatchina for the
winter The great City Palace is deserted and
dead Regret among the citizens ana ariSooeNey
of ST. Petersburg at the unexpected change III ~
Cars plans is unfeigned and general IL wa
known that court festivities were TO DC oscoh-
tinued this winter, owing to the sunerlnss OF tns
people in SO many provinces, and that His
Ma esty had contributed the money usually do
voted 10 public entertainments to the committees
annointed TO alleviate the condition of the poor.
But it was hoped that the Gar would remain In
st. Petersburg, as his presence will be necessary
ON many occasions. This hope has proved vain.
H. is feared. indeed, that His Majesty Is deter
mined to resume that exclusive life which ne he'd
in the years immediately following the ternoie
death OF his Imperial brother. For several rear
sons he had seemingly conquered his anupathy
70 St Petersburg and its people, ana persons
about the court were confident that in time the
feeling would be entirely overcome
Rut this wear even the celebration of Georges
Dav-the chief dav of the Russian year-was not
sufficient to draw him from his seclnslon at
CATCHING His absence caused much comment,
Is even in the distressing winters mat nave
passed Georges Day was always commemorate
with traditional pomp. Audiences are granted
only twice each week at Gatchlna, ana the
Ministers are Obliged often to postpone action on
be disturbed and has made his rules accordingly.
Two reasons are given for the ranlcal changes
in the Imperial plans and intentions, TWO rea'
SONS not remotely connected with the famine.
The death of Prince Obolenski-TrelinsId the
Court Marshal. a few weeks ago, has affected
His Majesty even more than it was expected.
r. caused him TO leave Livadia two weeks
sooner than he expected, and TO 90 directly
AZ Gatchina. The marshal was the one man In
whom the Gar had implicit trust Count "o-
ronzoh Daschkoff the COuft-Master, an old ia
vodte cannot ever fill the vacant place in the
Cars affections Like Herr Won Madai, pres
,dcnt Of the police of Berlin who was said to be
the only man who could make the Emperor
William smile in the latter days OF his lie,
Prince Oboenski alone could dispel the mel
ancholy spirits of the Gar. He bewalls DIS
death and his own deserted condition. The
seclusion at Gatchna is an expression Of mourning
for the lamentd Prince.
The health Of the Czarina is given as a SEQ
ond reason for the semi-retiremen: Of the court.
Ever since the accident at Borki the Czarlnas
nerves have been in an excited condition. She
has failed TO regain her old-ti spirits. Her
friends indeed fear that some day She may
become afflicted mentally her sister, the
Duchess OF Cumberland.
NJ Vladimir Michnevitch Russian journal
ist has recently returned TO the capital from
d trip to the fanine-stricken districts in South
western Russia In the Department of Darlkot.
Government of Rjasan, he met Count Leo Toll
soi who is actively engaged in alternating the
condition OF the poor. He is living, according
to VI. Michneyitch, on the estate OF his friend,
J. Rajewski, in the village Of Begltschewsko.
In the fifteen villages within a radius Of thirty
miles from his temporary home the Count has
established twenty-five public kitchens to feed
the poor. Naturally the people OF Russia have
confidence. IN Count 1oi,tOl, and in the course Of
d single month he las received more than 10000
roubles from various parts Of the land. He la,
been able, in consequence of this liberality, TO
feed thousands OF starving people who worship him
AZ "a father.
In lis charitable undertakings, writes NJ.
Michnevitch, he is untiring. lie is everywhere
In order to see that his directions riguty
carried out Clad in a rather old sem-fur coat
which he wears under the customary dark-gray
blouse. with a gray felt hat upon his head.
surmounted in turn by the 'bashiik'; gray felt
BOOTS like those worn by the peasants. upon his
feet and his hands covered with great gloves.
he wanders from town 10 town. He seldom
rides Al times he is accompanied by his
daughter the Countess Marie, who shows the
greatest inclination 10 follow the teachings Of
her father Such tramps in winter. often against
snow and wind, along unfrequented paths, are
not easy Ii has happened more than once
that the Count and his daughter have been sur
prised suddenly by snow storm lost their way,
and have been glad 70 accept shelter for the night
in some strange village.
AT times when the village he wishes to visit
is too distant 10 reach on foot he mounts a horse
he is good rider still. having been an srtil-
lcry officer in his younger days-and rides, despite
his siXty-three years, twenty or thirty miles. Ills
powers of endurance are indeed marvellous. Once,
after wandering about the entire day, he came
home in the evening, took his seat at his desk
and wrote until o'clock in the morning
article descriptive OF the distress in the district
of Daukon At O'Clock the same morning he
WAS up again. ready 10 make his daily joarney.
He is in excellent humOr ana is glad 10 rea;e
his experiences in the various villages
The Count is a popular figure in the district
of Danl<off. The peasants show him the greatest
respect His simplicity. his freedom from pride,
his readiness 10 converse, his sympathy his gift
of understanding the people, give him great
weight and influence, to the regret q many ad-
herents of the present opinions in high places
who fear that he may promul gate his subversive
IDEAS especially his contempt of the theories Of
FObcd0noszoh-amOng the people. But Count
Tolstu never thought less OF making propaganda
for his theories than AT the present time. lie
wishes only 10 hep the people and not To leave
them 10 some irresponsible Committee Certainly
hc il right
W. Michnevitch's praise of the work Of tho
great novelist has already borne fruit, The jour
nallst - known as an opponent of the COUNTS
theories, and his opinions therefore looked
upon rs impartial. IL Is a pity, indeed, for Rus
sin chat 1T does not possess more men Like Count