New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-05

| ander III and In the Preceding Period FROM the
| German a. n Won samson lmmelsterna Trans
| .aed By J. Morrison. with an INTRODUCTION by fe"A
Vokhovsky. svo. PIP. 3o6 Macmillan Co.
! As this IS not full translation Of the original
work but only collection OF sketches from H. IL Is
n fra gmentary study Q! the subject ana disappointing
OF that account. TIE editor In his hborlous sl'ehP'
70 exrain Ia his Introduction WHY complete uahs'a
ton ot the German authors work would De- o. nc
value TO English readers awkwardy creates preludice
uralnst ibl, book OF sketches He refers an00seucaN
| 10 the author ~ ar Ostsee Junker' who secs oh'y
4 tie brilliant side OF Roman Catholicism ana pa"Io
o! the type that would have nothing 10 say VI 'nc
whole world I. there we're no Germans on earth IA
or the Russians. "they are nothing else u'h horue
0. barbarians III for nothing but being crushed down
| hy ;le united forces o. civilized Europe II Europe
does no, wish 10 be Invaded by C0ssntks ana bnahcd
! by Nihllsm which. In tie authors mouth means '"'
| same a. iarbari.m' While the authors pony Vi
view tcrdcncc, and ways OF dealing WIN hs "''''"
dl,qualiiy him for "nlightenns the English pup'c On
| III, subject he Is pronounced io!erasIy SAFE ana
,,r ocrons when ne attempt, compilations from Rus
..ou sources The tone 81 THIS Introduction Is 30 ~
fenvciy patronIzing that the render finds himself
wondering why the "Ohscc Jun&er'o" BOOK La, D'eh
translated at ALL Ia mcaere sections ara "h"er
rigid surveillance
IN. literary performance however. Is much better
than this shrly pltCh.d overture leads one to expect
There l. great OF interesting Information u,
III volume which cannot be found elsewhere anu
willie II Is Incomplete and fraemenlary s""y OF
Russia 1t has genuine Informing quality. Inc chap
tiers present series o.! sketches ol NP'C"'
character in Russia The rclgnns Gar aud Empress
head the list; the chief figures OF the court anu
Council follow: Won Gicrs and the evil spirit oil The
present reign PObycdonOst,ev, are boldly sk"'ch'u
the history OF the famous Aksakor family ana OF
Katkov and other Silyopil pioneers Is rccited, III"
memoirs Of Koshcev. the Liberal agita'or are re-
pcatcd and a very striking study Is offered IN the
rarallcl between Kravcev,ky, the newspaper pro-
prlc,or who rich. ard Byensky. the FOUNDER
Of Russian Radicalism who lived and died I'm poverty
Inf became famous In connection With th"s"
biographical sketches there luminous chapters on
tn. secret police religions anatcism and crime inc
condition of Finland and other branches OF TIE sup
jcct Indeed not hesitate 10 say that clearer
and more Ineligible idea Of what IL going on III
Ru sla can b. obtained from these page than from
MANY other books OF larger scope and greater pre-
tensions.
What Russia Is like NAV b, inferred from a pain
fu recital given In the chapter on the msd0ing 81 t
clergy. Princess Anna Lyov occupying high soci:'i
tlon and having relatives respected Mt Court paid
visit 10 on. hcr uncleS In the province OF hhiaGa
Thence she went 10 wrllknown clolst'r to perform
her devoons and TO seek counsel respecting the found
ing OF IA hospital In IA district where she had spent
her life In works OF mercy The prior oil the cIoiS'ei
advised her 10 go 10 the nunnery OF lkhopoNS' "here
there was n holy we'll. The religious anaic afrl'rd
nj the well after nrduous journey. III Was sh''
rounded by pilgrims. who from time to time were
fordbly PUSHED into the water by troop ~ nuns
A. tho water very cold, she hcsatcd to approich
the well The nun. set upon her. upbraidcd her rs M
atheist and immersed her several times. until she wnN
sensco>s from conclusion OF the brain Inc nuns "'u
her arms together. locked her mp In room ana e''
her without food. warr attention for several days
Then they opened H." window and exhibited her 10
pilgrims Il, one who possessed 81 devil on' OF
N laF thfsr =
family, recognized her and Informed her brotherln-
law O, her condition. She wn- rescued and taken TO
Moscow. bu, died from her terrible exposure ana
,uGcrnss. All the legal proceedings Instituted by her
relatives verr without succcS,. Ihc rrmhhlN were
not punished. The violent dimensions at tn" holy
well were not su-p.ndcd The arbitrary power of Ia"
Mul.cr Of Public Worship prevented exposure. IN
vc.sniion reform. There Is no single act oil the
Holy synod which II Is permissible to condemn. II
matters not whether II concern, "A want"n outrage
upon religious zenl, the violent measures taken To
,,r ad the doctrines Of the Greek Church or the brutal
suppression Il hcrcc,. No darrs at the IlsA oi
bis lifc 10 oppo-c this arbitrary power.
Tho Gar Is described In these pages rs an amiab'
conscientious ana upright sovereign. who l. reluctant
,o see things rs they are His grandfather had tried
one system. and his father the opposite onr' an"
both lan,ci by the results. Tic ASSASSINATION
Of Alexander II occurred the day when lie had
resolved 10 summon "A NATIONAL assembly composed OF
repre- tntativcs Of the provincial ZcinstVo' LiD"fa
idea, lad failed the alternative was absoutism The
OBJ rctlon that systematic war upon U"iern Ideas
would Involve the disastrous results experienced under
Nchons was met by the most effective cry OF modern
tmes-ra onai IN; and that In Russia implied the |
elimination OF every element and influence Of West
crn Europe. AgtatcI by doubts, naturally uncer- |
tain and filed with the deepest dlStrIst Of himself
the son OF the reforming Car has been drawn along
tho path Of reaction which leads to AsIatIc barbarsm
The appearance OF the tall. stately. vigorous man
with the fine broad forehead bctOkcns Il mixture OF
strength aud weakness. dis ainfu pride and invinc'
He Slyness n mind constantly occupied with Itself. |
nsoc abc as prince. hc has arrived a. an absolute
ruler ~ q degree Of Isolation within the last few
year, which slrpa>ScS anything ever known IN Russia
III, character (, strongly portrayed In this volume. /
Indeed all the character sketches well done. nj
though the translator occasionally limp, In trans
fcrring tho long, labouous sentences OF the original
into English.