The Topeka state journal., 1905-10-15

OUGHT to like Russia better than
do. if only for the sake of the
many good friends / am proud 70
possess amongst the Russians. A
large square photograph 1 keep
always on my mantelplece. IL
helps me to maintain my head at tIlat
degree of distention necessary Tor the
performance of all literary work. II
presents in the center neatly written
address lin excellent English that i
frankly confess am never tired OF
reading. around which are ranged
some hundreds of names / am quite
unable to read: but which, in spite OF
their strange lettering / know to be
the names of good Russian men and
women, to whom, a year or two ago.
the kindly idea occurred to send me q
Christmas card, this message OF en-
enlargement. The 1ndlvidual RUSSIAN
is one Of the most charming creatures
living. If he like you he does not
hesitate to let you know II; not OniS
by every kindly action possible, but
by what perhaps is just as uSeLul III
this gray old world, oy klnoly speech
We Anglo-SaXons are apt to pride our
selves upon being undemonstraulVe.
Max Adler tells a tale of boy who
was sent out by his father to Ietch IN
some wood. The boy took the oppor-
tunity of disappearing and did not
show his face again beneath the pa
ternal roof for over twenty years
Then one evening, a smiling, we'll
dressed stranger entered to the OLD
couple, and announced himself as their
long lost child Wei, you haven't
hurried yourself grumbled the old
man, "and blarm me, if now you
haven't forgotten the wood was
lunching with an Englishman IN
London restaurant one day A man
entered and took his seat at table
nearby. and glancing round. and meet
ing my friends eyes, smiled and
nodded Excuse me minute, said
my friend, II must just speak to my
brOther-havent seen him for over
five years" He finished his soup and
leisurely wiped his moustache before
strOlling across and shaking hands.
They talked for a while, then my
friend returned to me. Never
thought to see him again." observed
my friend. "he was one of the gar
risOn at that place in Africa-what's
the name of it? that the
Mahdi attacked. Only three of them
escaped. Always was a lucky beggar,
Jim!' But wouldn't you like to talk
to him some ?" suggested. Il can
see you any time about this little busi-
ness OF ours" "Oh, that's all right
he answered, 1--WE have just fixed it up
shall be dining with him tomorrow"
/ thought of this scene one evening
while dining with some Russian friends
in q St. Petersburg hotel. One of the
party had not seen his second cousin,
"a mining engineer, for nearly18 months.
They sat opposite TO one another, and
a dozen times at least during the course
OF the dinner one of them would jump
mp from his chair and run round TO
embrace the other. They would throw
their arms about one another. kissing
one another on both cheeks; and then
sit down again with moist eyes Their
behaviour among their fellow country
men excited no astonishment whatever.
The Russians anger is just as quick
and vehement as his love. I was sup
ping one evening with friends in one OF
the chief restaurants on the Nevsky.
Two gentlemen at an adjoining table,
who up till the previous moment had
been engaged in amicab bic conversation.
suddenly sprang TO their feet and
event for" one another One man Sc
cured the water bottle which he
promptly broke over the others head.
His opponent chose for his weapon a
heavy mahogany chair, and leaping
back for the purpose Of securing a
good swing. lurched against my hostess
DE please be careful" said the lady
A thousand Dardons, madame" re
turned the stranger, from whom blood
and water We're streaming in equal