The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-11

He Is a Russian Count and is
Hard Up
REV. JOHN 4. BRIGHT KNOWS HIN

Ana Advised HIN TO Come to Topeka
ne Has Been Farming IN vVsstern
Kansas
There is a real live member OF the
Russian nobility living in Topeka as a
private citizen and his name is Count
Maurice Stazenski, although his neigh
bors know him o. plain Dir. NJ Stazenski
Of 72S Brigham avenue.
Count srazenski has been a resident Of
Kansas for ten years and during that
time has until a few weeks ago, lived on
"a farm near Clayton, Norton county, on
the line of the Rock Island railroad
Count Stazenski il no longer enjoying
the perquisires aud luxurieH Of a noble
house, but is com PEELED in his extremity
% advertise himself as a teacher Of the
French and German languages in order
70 provide the necessities of life for his
family which consists Of his wife and one
son.
la telling his story to a STATE JOUR
NAL reporter Count Stazenski said:
MY father was Count Victor Sazenski
and during the life time of the grand
father Of the present Gar he was among
the leading Russian mobiles at court and
was the emperor'a most trusted advisor.
When the Polish trouble came the Polish
rebellion as it is called, during the time
or the civil war in this country my
aaLuEk look EAC 5lQ6 0A Tue AOACH
and on account Of his part In
the rebellion was sentenced to death.
a few weeks before the time for the SEN
tence 70 be carried out, through the in
huence Of his friends, his sentence was
commuted, and Instead Of being executed
he and his family were ordered into exile
in Siberia
@l was at that time about years old
ana soon after we returned from Siberia
my father died. On account OF his active
part ia The Polish troubles most Of my
fathers property was confscated by the
throne and when he died; as ia customary
in that country what property was left
went to bis oldest son. my brother.
~ did not agree with this brother,
politically or relIgiOusiy, and there was
nothing for me - do, but to become an
exile aud I came to America twelve
81 could not then speak one word of
the English language. After staying
two wears in New York city 1 deter
mined to push out west and invest what
little money / had ia farm and make a
living for myself by engaging in agri-
the nobility in View York reduced in cir
cumstances and working for their living
but / had not seen any Of them working
with their hands. / made up my mind
that I would begin at the bottom and
work myself up
I'D came to Kansas and bought a farm
TIA Norton county near the Decatur cOun-
ty line aud have with NV own hands
been blowing and doing the ordinary
work on 4 western farm. While I have
been living in a sod house made with my
own hands I have prided myself on nv
ability 70 push my way in a foreign land.
-Ihe long drouta has compelled me to
leave my farm. as 1 did not raise enough
this last summer to keep my family, al
though ! did raise sufficient TO winter
!.
have a man at work putting In a small
system Of irrigation of NV own contriv-
ing. which I think will enable me to
raise good crop next year. The Rock
Island road runs through my farm, along
a small creek and i am having a series
OF dams built, by which I expect to raise
the water from the creek a few inches
higher than the level and then distribute
it over the farm.
"a few months ago Rev. John A
Bright, with whom ] became acquainted
on one Of his lectu-ing tours, advised me
10 come to Topeka a. he thought could
surely get employment here by which I
could make living. but I have found 1t
impossible to get anything 20 do and for
that reason / inserted that advertisement
fra the STATE JOURNAL Offering to teach
the language
~It IS possible that a reconciliation
will soon Pc effected between myself and
the other members of our family and liz
that Is done I viii return to Russia.
-Ihe present Car Nicholas iii is a
i0vial good fellow. and will institute
many reforms for the good Of his peo-
pie"
ln appearance Count Stazenski ia tall,
broad shouldered. aud would be hand
some, were il NOT that the marks which
many Siberian eziles wire, spoil the
beauty Of his face.
AS an aid TO superior cookery, DR..
Prices Baking Powder, besides its great
purity, is 81 higher leavenino power than
any other