Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-17
GIVES REASON.
Count Cassini Explains Why Russia
Didn't Exhibit.

OlCH GXH1OIIs
New York, March 16.-"An Evening
in Russia" was the title of an enter
tainment declared to be non-political
liz significance and including a pro-
gramme of Russian music and ad-
dresses by prominent Russians and
Americans. given last night at the
Waldorf Astoria under the auspices of
the Co Cooperative Entertainment Club
of which Mrs. Roosevelt D. Hitchcock
is president.
Among those present were the Mar
quis De INSTRUMENTATION Count
and Countess Lobel, Russian Consul
General Lodygenski, Secretary of the
Russian Embassy A. BObroff, repre-
senting Count Cassini, the Russian
Ambassador; Commander BoutakOff, of
the Imperial Russian Navy. naval at
tache at the Russian embassy in
Washington: Prince Henri Decroy,
Marquis DeHermosa, of Belgium; Rev.
Elias ZOtikoff.
The evening began by the singing
of the Russian and American national
hymns, followed by Russian songs by
twenty male and female voices under
the leadership of Alexander Trofimo-
witch Of the choir Of the Russian Or
thCdoX church of the Holy Ghost of
Bridgeport, Conn.
The following letter from Count Cas-
SIM was read:
Russian Embassy. 1900 Rhode Is
land Avenue. March IA, 1904.-My
Dear Mrs. Hitchcock: l wish I could
make you know how keenly disap-
Ir,f hot DxEa ;,I I,,t;
and my physician have conspired to
prevent my accepting your very tempt
ing invitation for tomorrow evening
l should thoroughly enjoy a journey in
thought to my home country run be-
yond sympathetic ard skillful guidance.
Moreover. I should like to show by
my presence at your gathering how
deeply I am interested in this effort of
your club to bring more of your coun-
trymen and women to Il fuller knowl-
edge and to that keener appreciation
which knowledge gives of Russia and
the Russian people and of the senti-
ments of friendship which ever existed
between the two people. Accept my
warmest thanks for the cordial invita-
ton and for the welcome which real
iZe awaits me.
I'm your efforts to bring closer to-
gether your people and mine in that
broad sympathy Of thought and action
which is the strongest bond two nations
can have. you and your associates are
performing the highest and nOblesi
mission entrusted to n diplomat-th:
maintenance and cultivation of friend
illness between his own and the coun-
try to which he is accredited.
Il am glad you have asked me the
reason for my government decision not
to exhibit ut the st. Louis exposition.
because it gives me the opportunity
nave desired to contradict as empha-
tically as l can the false report that
it was because of resentment against
the United States. My country is now
at war and the defense of the flag is
the foremost thought i'm the minds of
all my people. 1t was found that il
would be impossible to send to st
Louis at this time an exhibit which
would adequately represent the re-
sources and industries of the Russian
Empire. and for this reason alone /;
was thought best to abandon the elab-
crate governmental exhibit that had
been planned. Wishing you and your
splendid work and thanking you for
your words c. friendliness and cor
diality.
Relieve me to be my dear Mrs.
Hitchcock.
Faithfully and sincerity yours.
''(Slgned), Cassini.'
Oliver G.. Schad. Phi. D., president of
the Peoples College of Philadelphia,
who has just returned from st. Peter
burg, where he represented this coun-
try at the pedagogics and scientific ex-
position in the old palace on the Neva,
made an address in the course Of which
he said:
Il am immensely pleased to tell of
the ardent friendship of Russia for the |
United States. l had the honor of |
raising the American flag over the |
building at the beginning Of the expo |
sition and rs did SO the Russian COM
mander general of the exposition re-
marked fervently Cod bless Ameri- |
ca
l remember that as the Czarina |
walked up the aisle at the exposition |
she saluted the American flag. A bou-
quet was handed her tied with an
American flag and she carried that |
one with the flag all the time
Addresses followed by secretary Bob
rolf. Nicholas Lodygenski. Russian
consul general. Baron Ernest Schilling.
the Russian first consul, and Comman-
der Boutakof. all of whom referred
with feeling to the long friendship he
tween America and Russia and ex-
pressed the earnest hope that it
would suffer no interruption.