The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-26

ILuSSldn court IS Just ilOW lllt .SO-SdlASu Holy Mitja." a creature brought to Peterhof by Grand Duke Peter Nicola only as long as he carries out the wishes De a superior being, who sings beau tifuly and is an adept in spiritism as well as in consuming immense quanti- ties of liquor.
 Nothing has been done by the Czar for many months without "Mtja' first being asked for advice, and at the cottage of Grand Duke Peter where CZar Nicholas goes every day in an automobile, he meets weird seances.
 The Dowager Empress has done every thing within her power to open the eyes of her son, but she has now given up all attempts and never goes to see him any more In the near future she will go to Denmark to remain there permanently. The relations between the Czar and Grand Duke Constantin, who also dis approves of the traits of the camarilla, are very strange, and attempts are be- ing made to have Czar Nicholas banish the Grand Duke from Russia Prime Minister Stoypin will remain in power terested In his plans, and donated 3O,o0O of the camarilla.
 Count Witte's star, which seemed to be rising some time ago. has again entirely disappeared, and both at Peterhof and Gatschlna he Is blamed for all the h. terior troubles of Russia.
 It now remains to be seen whether the efforts of the Kaiser have been crowned with success; if not. it Is by no means impossible for the Dowager Empress who hates to give up her power, will make an attempt to have her son. the Czar placed in a santarlum for some time
 A hygienic institute on the lines of the American Rockefeller institute has just been founded at Saarbrueeken at the ini- tiative of Prof. Robert Koch.
 The professor has had several audiences with the Kaiser, who became greatly in terested in his plans and donated 5000 marks out of his own pocket, while the state of Prussia promised an annual dona- tion of 22, 900 marks
 The new institute will take up the fight against consumption. and will endeavor to find a remedy against the dreaded dis ease. It will. furthermore, offer prizes to architects designing model tenements and will take up the question Of building ideal homes for the laboring class
 After having been prisoners of war for thirty years three Turks, named Tscholali Kussein, Mulla Mehmed and Jacob Ach- med, have again returned to their homes near Smyrna. In Asia Minor.
 The three men left their homes in 1877 as privates in the Turkish army, fighting the Russians, and were taken prisoners after the battle of Plevna. All of them being wounded. they were first sent to the military hospital at Rostow. From there they made an attempt to escape, only to be captured by the Russians For this attempt they were sentenced to five years in prison in the Siberian mnes but on the way they succeeded. with two more prisoners, in escaping, only to again fall into the hands Of the Russian au- thorites.
 For this second attempt they were sen fenced to twenty-five years hard labor on the island of Saghalin. For fifteen years they were forced to work in the imperial mines on that island, and were then set free hy an imperial ukase.
 Not having money enough to return to their homes. the three men settled in the suburban village of Kossunai, , among people living preferably in hol- low trees. and practically uncivlized. Among these people they spent eSsht years until one day Japanese soldiers entered the village. told of the Russo- Japanese war and took the three Turks to Japan. At Tokio they were received with open arms by the Japanese. and became very popular. They were all lowed to provide themselves with every thing they needed. and were even given money to return to their homes.
 The other day they returned to smyrna. only to find all their friends and relatives dead. and as they were unable to make living for th emselvcs. they were sent to the poor house.
 The story of their long Imprisonment reached the ears of the Sultan. who made a present of house and an am nuity of l2.000 piasters year to each. which will enable them to spend their remaining years at ease.
 Dispatches from St. Petersburg state that relations between Russian and Chi nese in the far east are becoming more and more strained. Russian merchants returning to Irkutsk relate that the Chinese authorities in Manchuria do everything to provoke the Russians and to favor the Japanese.
 It is also stated in reports from Ger man counsuls in Manchuria that Jap anese agitators, many of whom are for mer army officers, are training Chinese troops for the purpose of annoying = Russians and invading Russian terr tory. It is also said that the German government has received alarming news concerning the concentrating of Chi nese troops in Manchuria Many Ger man and Russian merchants in that country are trying to sell out their business In anticipate of a Russo Chinese clash, which they consider in- evitable.
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