New-York tribune., 1905-03-09
RUSSIAN NTHILISTS.
Nine. Breshko0Sky addresses
Friends of Russia
Nine.

II the audience which crowded Berkeley Hail.
No 2 West 44th-st yesterday, really expected that
Nine. Breshkovsky would tell them the story Of her
Twenty Years in Siberia" they were disappoint-
ed The famous Russian agitator and political exile
dld nothing Of the kind. With narrative of
passing human interest at her fingers end-a mar
rative uniquely dramatic; throbbing with pathos
and quite extraordinary in it's appeal TO the Ameri-
can heart-she yet chose TO confine herself to a
general statement concerning the extent of the po
Htical discomfort in Russia.
In particular she combated the notion that the
present dissatisfaction is confined 10 little group
q people malcontents and marplots. called nihil-
lists. Anyway she said. '-the name nihil-
doesn't mean anything-it is merely a nickname.
But all classes in Russia, the landed proprietors.
The merchants. the students and the working
classes-an want political liberty. The Russian
press likes 10 pretend that it is small clique that
is stirring up all this ruTnpus and the American
papers copy their notions out Of the Russian papers.
But really there are few in the millions Of Rus
SLAMS who are not dissatisfied
whoever is inspired by humanitarian principles.
and tries to disseminate knowledge or help the
peasantry is, ipso facto an enemy to the govern
nent IT Russia At seventeen I began to teach the
tenants my fathers estate The school was shut
down After my marriage got technical school
opened IN the district. That shut down. too.
So were he libraries I established. What could I
co u help my fellow Russians that the government
would approve of Nothing. There was no form
Of hepfulness left that could carry on openly so.
concluding that the claims of humanity
greater even than those of patriotism, I resolved
10 do what illegal Tor this they sent me TO
Siberia"
Although Nine Brtshkovsky belongs TO the organi-
cation arm Of which is credited with the
der Of Won Plehve and Grand Duke Sergius. she
Goes not look the least hit like the traditional fire
eater The friends of Russian freedom who at
tended the lecture Yesterday. saw before them one
who looked like a benevOlently disposed Breton
wit a
hind and brusaed straight off low, womanly
forehead. little girls round comb held it smooth
ly in place
gown Of some black stun enveoped her form
l. cut with loose fitting Jacket in lieu OF
& bodice-something like a dressing Jacket, with a
broad turned down collar, into the inside OF which
white tucker had been tackled When she smiled
not more than two or three times in the whole OF
tne lectUre-her face lit up with an expression as
tais who for twenty years on end went
hungry VINO divided her pitiful $l2 a month win
hundreds Of dollars her basket, sent her by her
brother and by friends, yet went hungry as
cog rather than waste II on her own comfort
.AlLne- 5TlSAkoVSky spoke with IeW gestures 4Iiu
absolutely attempt at dramatic effect. Once In
{ while she wiped her mouth with large pocket
Aa1lEefcNlel, but the devices or the orator were
as far from her the English language, which in
few broken English sentences at the beginning or
ner address she deplored, not being able TO COM
Mrs Isabel C. Barrows translated Nine. Brish-
koFskys lecture from the French into English at
The close. all and tWo-th1rds OF the
audience had gone. Miss Alice Stone Blackwell. Of
boston, told the. few who remained about some Of
Ane RrShkuVsky's experiences in Siberia, many
? Of which have been published in The Tribune.
ROBERT r. Ely presided. Among those present
sefe Mrs. - II. p. Belmont, Mrs. Leeds, Mrs. Jay,
sis s Sanford Bissel, Mrs Henry A Alexander and
! arthur Brisbane