The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-22
The Preservation of a Relic.

Ihe Preservation OF a Kelic.
Emperor Nicholas Of Russia has Jus, CON-
pieted piece Of work which IS calculated
10 interest students Of history. Finding
that the wooden cottage. or hut. occupied
by Peter the Great while. under the name
OF Peter Mskailof. he labored as a common
shipwreck at Saardam. when IN danger OF
destruction through damp and neglect. he
has caused the entire structure TO be en-
veloped IN a sort OF outer shell Of granite
and red brick. while instead of resting as
heretofore on piles. the hut now rsposes on
floor or foundation OF concrete. There IS
cleverly devised heating apparatus 20
preserve the hut against damp. while a
mosaic floor outside the hut and a def,
tile floor inside enable visitors 10 walk
about the place withou, dong any harm or
injury 10 the interesting old ediice.
The hut is a regular labor,ng-man's dwell
ing. consisting OF two rooms. and Is con-
structed OF gray planks. while the roof IS
of red tile There are only two windows
10 the house. and. while .here IS no fu.ni-
ture. that used by Peter the Great hav-
Ing been taken 10 ST. Petersburg. there
are several tools and planks at which the
founder OF the Russian empire worked
The walls are adorned with paintings and
inscriptions. mostly placed there by former
emperors OF Russia.
The edifice stands on what Is practically
Russian soil. for in 1918 the then king OF
Holland presented the hut and the sur
rounding gardens 10 his Russian daughter
in-law. sister Of Emperor Nicholas l., and
she il turn bequeathed Il 10 her nephew
Car Alexander II. Until the beginning OF
the present reign il was shielded by sort
Of barn OF wood. which had been built over
il, but il was not until the present emperor
interested himself in the matter that the
proper steps were taken 10 preserve this
historical relic. II may be added that the
trees. the shrubs-nay. even the very soil
OF the large and PRETTY lad out garden
surrounding the imposing granite edfice-
have all been brought especially from Ras-
STA for the purpose.
Talking OF Russia. Il may be mentioned
that. although the grant OF constitution
is far OF as ever, there are very
great changes for the better that have
been introduced by the present emperor.
and. whereas. formerly the despotism OF
the crown was narrow and reactionary.
il is now progressive and enlightened. With
some exceptions there are the same laws.
but they are administered in an entirely
different fashion, and the whole govern
spirit 10 what was the case two or three
years ago. The officials have become.
thanks 20 the cars influence. quite human
in their dealings. They even condescend
to offer explanations when things go wrong
and they actually seem anxious 10 concil-
late public opinion.
All prosecutions OF Roman Catholics, and
of Lutherans. the faith in which
the zcarina was reared. have been stop
ped, and even the Jews. with a few nota-
BILE exceptions, have been allowed 10 so
their way In peace. Strikers no longer are
treated as mere revolutionists, but are ac-
corded by the government a hearing. while |
during the last year there actually had !
been cases where the local government !
ard police magistrates have declared the /
demands OF the strikers 20 be well founded. /
and have insisted on the employers yield /
rg.
Last. and by no means least. is the per-
mission accorded TO the zemstvos. or county /
and district councils, TO appeal directly 10 4
The car against veto or Interference On 4
the part of the provincial governor or coun- /
" deputy governor. Each zemstvo IS sup
posed to have full control Of the local az /
lairs of the district which il represents. |
Is members being elected by the tsx-pay-
us. But until a year ago every decis-
on Of the council, no matter whether II re-
ated to schools. the management OF the
hospitals, the relief OF the poor. or what
lot. was subject to the veto OF the COVER
lor of the province. This veto was used
n such arbitrary fashion that II practical
Y deprived the councils OF all power.
True. they possessed the right Of appeal
o the car, but according TO the rules and
egula tons devised by the beaureaucTats
nd o/icials, the appeal OF the council 10
he car against the veto OF the governor
ould only be transmitted 10 the throne
Trough the governor in question himself.
he result was that out OF 1.GDo appeals
rom zemstovs during the first two years
( the present reign not more than twenty
ctually reached the emperor.
Nicholas has now insisted that al be sent
0 him direct. without passing through
he hands OF the governor. and the conse-
uence has been that during The last few
lonths nearly every appeal that has reach
4 him from the council has been grant
4, while the governors and their deputies
re becoming very chary indeed about US
lg their right OF veto. In fact. for the
rst time since the organization Of the
emstvOs, nearly forty years ago. they are
eginning 10 enjoy the power. the pretoga-
YES and the usefulness which Il origi- !
ally was intended they should possess.