New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-09
BISHOP NICHOLAS'S VIEWS.
A RUSSIAN WOMAN WHO THINKS HIS MIS-
UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICANS
PERFECTLY NATURAL.
PERFECTLY n.

the great injustice you do to the Russian Bishop
Nicholas in your leader Of yesterday when you
accuse him OF blind and unwarranted prejudice
against this Protestant country and It's excellent
schools AS a Russian born. who has lived for
wellnigh eighteen years in this country, amid a
great number Of friends and relations OF good old
American stock. Of most diverse social standing.
deem myself rather competent judge. and must
say that the Americans really have no right to
complain OF being misunderstood by Europeans so
long the really enlightened. decent and there
fore reserved people Of this country steadily keep
themselves IN the background. mlnding solely their
own business while busybodies. bgots and ignorant
though ambitious nobodies push themselves for
ward on every occasion. and sadly misrepresent
this country and its people in the eyes Of all out
side observers.
You denounce the Russian Bishops prejudice
against unsectarian schools. and you profess 70 be
shocked at his opinion that the lack OF religious
training in early youth is apt be followed In
later life by lax views CT morality. Yet right here
have 10 call your attention 10 the fact that all
ethical teachings apart, the schools OF this coun-
try often fail TO give their pupils information that
is indispensable any civilized being. at the same
time making them boastf9l OF a supposed learning
which they have not got and make bold TO cite
here the following example in support OF what I
advance:
Right here in New-York City. happened to
know a business man. In the prime OF life. OF good
arhOuRh somewhat lOud aCuEtSS, Win a tdS1r anu
care in dress that stamped him thoroughly ac-
climated Yorker. Now. upon one occasion
when NJ a social gathering. this man was boast
ing rather louder than usual Of the completeness
OF American free-school education and the great
ness OF the American people in general. he hap
pened in the presence Of myself and some better
informed Americans TO remark that the whole
civilized world Is Indebted 10 Americans for In
venting and setting up a republican form OF gov
ernment" and then fatty refused 10 believe me
when I ventured 10 observe that republics existed
In the Old World many centuries before America
was even discovered Yet that mans business was
stated as publisher" in the city directory; he
came from good Anglo Saxon stock. was ndis-
putably smart" and what you call well In
formed" and must say much above the average
in general intelligence as well as In his 'dashng
good looks Does this sample Of citizen reflect
much glory the schools OF this country that you
consider outrageously misjudged?
THE GREEK FAITH IN ALASKA.
However. let US admit for arguments sake that
the Russian Bishop. whom you decry 80 severely
for standing in defence OF his Alaskan flock. has
really a mistaken conception Of American schools
nd ethics and IS moved by prejudice against rep
resentatives OF evangelical sects who turn poll
ticans and serving Mammon. apply their efforts
at the same time the task Of dislodging the or
thodox Greek faith from Alaska and the Aleutian
Islands
The natural inference would be that the whole
~ the United States is wholly Christianized. so
that well-neaning. self-denying evangelists have
nothing better do now than 10 apply their
efforts 10 the wrenching Of Alaska out OF the
hands Of the orthodox clergy. so obnoxious to men
Of the stamp Of the missonary-poltician OF
Alaska.
Yet according TO the most correct statistics, just
published by The Independent" we are told that
in this prosperous. go-ahead country there are but
2774523 professed religious believers Jews In
missionaries turn their zeal toward their twenty
two-odd million countrymen who 90 not profess Dress
any religion whatever. instead OF trying 10 undo
the work Of other Christians in Alaska among
Indians and half-breeds? 49, -....-. -,
culated mslead foreigners especially eccissl as
tics to the ethical and educauonai standat rus
frequent newspaper accounts that tell the readers
how such and such a clergyman had married peo-
ME in balloon or at a show at a country fair, or
else in a shop window before street crowd. so
as to draw customers to the said trade emPor 1.
only after few hours Acquaintance, suddenly De-
think themselves TO get married ana nov they
never fan in their hurried search for a clergyman
TO tie the knot even in the small hours OF me
gelcai clergyman ready TO leave his bed al night
at the Kidding Of total strangers, come DOWN nj, 10
the paror and for money consideration hastily
marry the couple who unwilling TO restrain
their ardor even until daylight. aithough mere Is
no prevent their being united IN mar Tag
M any given time-cergymen who frequently even
consent 10 waken up and bring down tneir peter
E nsf 50 as 10 serve d. "''"''' q" SUI
foreign ecclesiastic Is apt 10 read nova
DAYS about meetings Of indignation held by Amer
lean matrons If order 70 protest against me seat.
ing Of Rolygam ms. hi hGoe1 p 10 IN remember read
ing but few weeks since about successful social
New.Jersey. attended by other American. matrons.
and held on the occasion OF the wedding OF a
occasioa the wedding was attended by i've former
husbands OF the bride who were all nuch awe
nresant. on their CT devant spouse and their en-
terprising successor in her graces and in marital
bliss
PUZZLES FOR THE BISHOP.
Now do tell US candidly. not such little in
consistencies Of American life. as we all know
,b.-n little 100 intricate for the understanding
y, anv foreign ecclesiastic. and. moreover a monk
OF the ascetic orthodox Greek Church as Is Bishop
Nicholas But you will perhaps observe that even
thaD 10 make sweeping deductions on the strength
Of what he sees In the free press OF this enhgh'-
eheo' ,S,s Would say that unfortunately for self
respecting Americans the Russian Bishop zoe. does
he4rsay what is going on beyond Alaska; OK
whose condition Of NE he has me mos, enhaustse
lie and manners was afforded him hight here In
Network. for instance and that not longer P ago
Sans Of New-York were attending TO the reception
Of Grand-duke Cyril OF Russia g iinr. 8. the Rus
and SYRIAN clergy mere e sandans bsse In
second-ave.. awaiting cruehx and censor In nano
the arrival of the Grand-duke.hrst cousin OF ne
over"-n bursts a richly attired. elderly American
9,oran closely following the Just-arrived Russian
Ambassador and his secretaries and amid me
Enters upon a loud. shrill monologue addressed 10
Count Cassini and his followers, until Bsnop
Sicnoas had TO interfere and rebuke this repre-
sentative OF American womanhooc" % by stern
ssilence s'il plait' ,. A..
AZ n turned out. this enterprising society laoy
rad awaited the Ambassador at the foot OF me
stairs OF the rectory and. on the strength OF a
casual Introduction them at some social gat ner-
ing IN washington. followed the diplomats ln,oo
the chapel-wth the sad results for hersei staten
above. 49,, 81, =, ..1,,. oo.,r a, This
he most civilized part Of the country Wnat u hot
nc si,mably the experience OF Russian Bishop In
distant Alaska. rvted by professional poli,ician
urhose worst deed< are now sought 70 De expitineo
Nv pra,seworthys religious seai"f Who cap ron.
~, Sundsr such e.rcumstaacsA at the mtStAkeo