The morning call., 1895-02-12


L found 1t began: "Dear George Kennan-At
last am free" Felix had actually escaped,
and as he did not know another person in the
United States, he wanted to come to Washing
ton to me. was leeturing in Albany at the
time, but telegraphed to him to follow at once.
week later some one woke me early in the
morning by banging at my door in the hotel
corridor. jumped from my bed to see who it
was and Felix Volhkovsky seized me in his arms
and began to embrace and kiss me. / have
thought since that the people coming and go.
ing in the corridor must have found it strange
sight to behold man in big fur overcoat and
fur cap, hugging and kissing man in his
nightshirt.
1t seems that Felix had made up his mind to
escape because his wife and two of his chill
dren had died. The wife had committed sui
cide-her mind gave way under the strain of
trying to keep the family by teaching and taking
in sewing. When this happened Felix was
away at the mines in Eastern Siberia, on the
frontiers of Mongolia. He could not bear to
remain in the country after his loss, and suc-
ceeded in escaping and making his way down
the Amoor River, disguised as a retired officer.
At the port of vladivostok he tried to per-
suade the captain of British whaling-ship,
bound for Japan, to take him ON board without
passport. The man refused, and as last
resource Felix showed him some OF my letters
and confessed who he really was. The captain,
who knew me by name, promised to help him,
and before the ship was searched by the Gov
ernment officers he had the refugee hidden
away among the coal and kept him there till
they were out at sea.
When they reached Nagasaki, in Japan,
volhkovsky happened to stay at a hotel kept
by Russian, and became alarmed because
the japanese always give up the Russian
refugees if one of their compatriots informs
against them. He told his story to the
American Consul and asked for protection.
~ cannot do anything for you officially" said
the Consul, "but you can call yourself an
American"
allow can do that?" asked Felix. 81 speak
such broken English that every one would
know / was a foreigner as soon as I opened my
mouth" "That's nothing" said the Consul.
"We have any number of Americans in the
United States who cannot speak English at
ALL" So the Russian poet passed himself off
as an American and the Consul helped the
delusion by appearing with him in public as
often as possible.
After few weeks at Nagasaki, Volhkovsky
went to Yokohama and tried to ship to Van
couver. He had very little money and asked
thepurser for third-class passage. The man
stared at him in surprise: 'Do you know that
he said; "you are evidently a gentleman and
could not stand it."
81 have nearly come to the end of my money,
and cannot afford second-class fare" Volh-
koysky answered.
every well. Take third-class passage, and
we will see what we can do for you later on"
the purser answered.
When the ship was safe out of port the exile
told his real name and his story. 1t happened
that some of the passengers had been reading
what had written in the Century Magazine
about the poet of Tomsk and his sudden disap-
pearanee. There and then they raised a collec-
ton for him, even the cook and the cabin-boy
subscribed, as well as the rest, and during the
remainder of the voyage Volhkovsky travelled
in the cabin and was made hero of.
"And you are all alone in the,world?"
asked, when he had told me his story in AL
bany.
"Nol have one little daughter left who is
with good friends in Western Siberia" he an
swered "Unless l can get her do not care to
Live, for though am only 40 years old misery
and privation have made me wreck. She is
all that binds me to the world"
1t seemed an impossibility, however, that he
could ever see his little girl again, as no Rus
sian is allowed to leave the country without a
passport, and the child of an escaped convict
would never be granted one. More to please
Volhhovsky than with any hope that we should
succeed, sent $500 to man knew in st.
Petersburg, and told him to give 1t to lady
who would call with one of my visiting cards.
This was to escape arousing suspicion, and at
the same time prevent the money from being
confscated by the Government.
By the same mail l wrote to a revolutionary
lady friend OF mine in st. Petersburg, inclosinga
card, and asking her to call for the money. We
gave her some instructions about the child,
and within few months received letter
saying that everything had been done as we
had requested. The little girl in Siberia had
had her hair cut off, and, dressed in boys
clothes, had been smuggled through to st.
Petersburg, accompanied by an attendant.
That was as far as she could go, however. The
attendant could procure a passport abroad for
himself, but If he had asked for one for her,
she would have probably have been shut up in
some Government institution.
1t happened soon after that German family
went to st. Petersburg for visit. They had
passports for their three children, but one had
fallen sick before leaving home and remained
with the grandmother, so they had an extra
passport. Providentially these people met the
lady who had charge OF Volhkoysky's daughter,
and they succeeded in taking the child to Lon
don as their own.
The good news was cabled to Us in New York,
and Volhkevsky rushed off to England at once.
He has been there ever since, and his little girl
has grown into quite big girl now and speaks
English as easily as If she had been to the man.
ner born. The last time / was over there
scarcely knew my old friend, he had grown so
strong and healthy looking.
They say that Volhkovskyis is immensely pop
nlar In England. In fact had striking proof
OF 1t during one of my recent lectures there.