New-York tribune., 1904-08-08

IBERIA which Is ruled f-on the city Of Irkutsk, ant
whose numerous interviews with the Gar this
week led 70 the report ,hat he 10 be rae sue
tesSor Of the i'll la,eG n Plehve Minister OF the
interior, is descended IN direct line from rhe
barber ana va4et ~ the crazy Emperor Paul. Tho
barber N question shTcwd and clever man.
who was won't 10 entertain his Imperial master to
such an extent with the gossip Of St Petersburg
WHi-e occupied in shaving him that Paul became
convinced that the man was far better htted ID net
rs one of his advisers and conddaHts than any OF
the statesmen IN his service Accordingly he pro
NOTED him from ono dignity To- another until the
former barber became q count o. the empire. Il Min
is'er Of state. general in the army and possessed
OF vast estates.
After the assassination of Paul by the Counts Or
lon with the consent and cogrzance Of at least two
OF that 1norarch's sors all those who had been de
voted 10 am We're sent into exile and Count EUta-
sor. Ike others, was forced to turn his steps in
the direction Of Siberia. Emperor Alexander l. in
spite Of the role which he played IN connection with
his fathers death, was the whole a humane
man. and finding that the count had done nothing
very wrong, and that his chief offence in the eyes
~ the court and Of the arstocrac consisted in his
amazing elevation from menaI place TO the high
est rank, not only permitted him to return to Rus
sia. but even restored him the major portion
OF the estates which had been confscatad at the
time Of his exile
General Count KutasoT who. before going out to
Irkutsk, represented the present Czar as sponsor
az the christening OF the Bulgarian Prince Boris
latter the conversion of that younsster from the
Roman Catholic TO the Orthodox faith, is but one
OF large number OF mobiles of the present day
who owe the origin Of their greatness to a meniaI
source The founder Of the formerly royal and to
this day princely house Of AIurat, and of the
French ducal family of Monteteuo was stable
boy.
No Russian Statesman has taken the trouble TO
make himself so intimately acquainted with public
men abroad Count Witte. who has just been
spending three weeks at Norderney. a quiet Ger
man seaside resort situated on island in the
North Sea. It IS in no sense OF tho word fash
ioAabie and his choosing this watering place
OF all others undoubtedly due 10 the
fact that Count Bdlow. the Chancellor Of the Ger
Empire. happened be spending his holiday
there during the absence Of the Kaiser on the coast
Of Norway.
The TWO statesmen not merely passed all their
time in annthers company on dry land. but
even bathed in the together the German Chan
cellor ir "a bathing suit OF blue while Count Witte
affected a hideoUs costume Of red with yellow
stripes Naturally. they were an object Of much
interest TO the other visitors At Norderney. espe
cIally when in the water and many glasses were
directed toward them as they swan and frolicked
about in the waves. Witte tall, lean and muscular
which served 10 emphasize the heshiness OF Count
Bulow. Both % them smoked brierwood pipes
when sitting or walking together. and while 1t is
obvious that their entire talk was not confined to
matters OF state yet il is understood that the fruits
OF their intimate association during three weeks
at NorderHey are TO be found in the successful
issue Of the negotiation Of the new treaty Of COM
merce between Germany ard Russia.
De W!t,e is equally well acquainted with the
leading statesmen in France. IN Austria, in italy
and In England Indeed. NJ spent several weeks
ia London after being relieved OF the office OF Min
lister OF Finance last year. whereas Count Lams-
dorn the present Minister Of Foreign Affairs at
ST. Petersburg l~ho. by-tEc-bye. Is his intimate
friend and great admirerl knows few II any OF the
principal public men aJroad, and certainly has
never enjoyed thu opportunities az getting into such
close touch with them de Witts It IS on this
account more than any other that his restoration
10 power would prove 70 the advantage of Russia.
For not Only Is he known. liked and trusted abroad
but foreign statesmen are aware that he possesses
knowledge of fore gn conditions that . uRrlyaled
MARQUIsE DE FONTENOY.