Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06

emperor to him, yet this piece Of paper,
which showed I had been on my master 5
business. had preceded me.
Nfhiltsm. after all. In simply the mobiles
revenge. II Is retaliation for the freeing OF
the serfs. By the stroke of his pen the
emperor Alexander had freed 100000
serfs and impoverished thousands OF noble
families. The nature OF the nihilism con-
spiracy can only be understood after some
stuuy OF the conditions of Russian society
a. .nis END OF the century. Every Russian
yoa.n mas a career mapped out for him.
Let us say that the head OF a noble Russian
iamiiy mas four sons, whom he sends 10 The
University Education first OF All they
must nave. to MT them for any career. A,
the eioest. Is destined for government ser
vices: b.. the second, Is to be a doctor. q
the third, shall go into the army: d.. the
youngest, does not distinguish himself in
ms studies. and is the black sheep, as il
were, OF the family fold. When he does MOI
pass his examinations his parents are ill.,
eeEsed When his brethren have finished
tneir university courses and are launched
lEto HE. d. Is still hanging on drinking
ana dancing. disspating his opportunities
ana the liberal allowance his father yn.kcs
MIN. AZ last the father loses patience. ami
SWING MIN a round sum OF money. bids hin,
of Rnss,o An n. to Africa, anywhere out
"a nuSs,a where he has disgraced a prou,i
name But the youth has made friends an
.he university of other ne'er do weels Per-
LADS ne mas mistress. Assuredly he is
aireaoy familiar figure in the tractors or
tea cafes. They meet to bemoan his mis-
fortune. and presto. they form themselves
into nihilist circle.
Forming a NShtii.t Circle.
The circle thus formed. regular meet
ing place. private room, We will say. in
their favorite tractor is selected as The
rendezvous for conspiracy. as well as for
social enjoyment. There they sup and
drink and plot and dance. The very wait
ers who serve them are in the secret ser
vice of the car: Russian officer is the
cars wholly. He may not refuse the hum
blest mission. Any enterprise which tenas
TO confirm the safety please the humor
of his imperial master 1t is the officers
privilege and pleasure as well a his sworn
duty, to undertake.
Form more circles comes 1.-THE word
from the chief. the arch conspiraior of all
say Troubetskoy, in Geneva. and then form
a plot. So they help on the formation OF
other circles, and at last the plans for the
actual demonstration, the blow at the life
OF majesty itself. or some prominent gen.
eral or faithful officer in the cars service
are ready for final arrangement
Now, the secret police have long since
been aware of what is going on. and ar
ranging in their turn for their grand coup.
There are many ways by which the forma-
ton OF the new circle may have been
brought TO the knowledge Of the police.
The walters in the tractor. as mentioned
may be spies. who report regularly to the
authorities. Or one of the invited may
have lost his nerve, in spite of the fearful
oath he took on entrance, an oath recurring
MIN to die rather than to betray his COM
rades, binding him to inf1ict the most
frlghtful mutilations any other traitor
obllging him to commit suicide rather than
submit to arrest, and so endanger the
safety or his brother conspirators. lie NAV
nave told all to his mistress and invited
her into the circle. She. being devout. Ike
most RUSSIAN women, goes to confession
and confides to the priest that she has
JOlncG the circle, that she lives
who Is a member of it.
Capturing the Circle.
Never mind, my daughter says the
priest, don't let that trouble YOU I'll alb
solve you; and If you will send your friend
to me 1 Will absolve him also" Where
upon the priest straightway tells all to the
government. for he is himself part of the
governmental system, and when the lover
comes to confessional he is foolish
enough-he is not seen again at the circle.
tie disappears mysteriously. There are
mary mysterious Gisappearances in Rus
STA.
The fair penitent, her heart light from
absoluticn, goes gayly again to the trac
toif where the circle meets the police
spies have followed her. and il her lover
mas not taken her advice and gone to con-
tession the circle is gayer that evening"
imam ever. They drink tea and vodka AMI
sing nihilist songs. They are all arrested
.ogether IN their chosen meeting place and
taken swItiy and Silently away to prison
each wondering if any of the Others is a
traitor" "