Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-11
HAS FREEDOM OF PALACE
His Wishes Followed Even in State
Matters.
PRINCE oBELENsKI'S PENSION
Revelation of This Condition Of A.
fairs Published in the Ber-
liner Tageblatt.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.

Foreign Correspondence OF 1 nc STAR
BERLIN. September 80. 1909.
The Berliner ,rageblatt publishes a
signed article by M. Won Stahl describing
the remarkable influence which monk
named Theophile has gained over the
Emperor Of Russia. Theophile, by viz
tue of his power over the car. Is SAID
to have become the most. influential. man
in Russia in deciding the most important
affairs not only Of domestic but also for
eign politics, SO that his position at the
imperial court is a. matter of vital inter-
est to other countries
About six months ago the Grand Duke
Peter Nicholaovitch took the monk
Theophile to the summer residence
'Czarskoe Selo. and presented him to the
car. Almost from the outset the car
became a disciple of the astute and am
bilious monk Theophile first attracted
the sympathies of the car by instructing
him in various mystical matters in which
the Emperor Of All the Russias is keenly
interested.
At first Theophile only visited the inn
perial palace when specially summoned.
but soon he obtained the right OF access
to the imperial person at any time, q
privilege only possessed in Russia by
members Of the imperial family and cab
met ministers. After this privilege had
been conferred on him Theophile became
q frequent and subsequently daily WIS.,
1tor at the palace.
1t was not long before the cabinet min
listers noticed that Theophile had gained
an extraordinary ascendency over the
car. SO that in many cases imperial de-
crees were traced directly to his 1nfiu-
ence. One striking incident recently illus
trated the predominant position of the
monk at the imperial court.
The car had dismissed his old friend,
Prince Obelenski. from his post as chief
of the imperial cabinet. and the prince,
who Is entirely without private fortune.
was rendered, destitute by the sudden loss
Of his official salary. The Dowager En-
press of Russia interceded on Prince
Obelenskfs behalf, and begged her son
to grant his old friend a pension suffi-
cient to rescue him from absolute poverty.
but his majesty refused to grant his
mothers request.
Theophile Intercedes.
Subsequently Theophile interceded on
Prince Obelenski's behalf, whereupon the
car ordered that the princes salary of
$4,000 per annnm should be paid to him
for the rest Of his lifetime as a pension
Many other instances could be cited prov
ing the power of this monk of the .Ortho-
dox Greek Church over the absolute ruler
of Russia.
Having been presented to the car by
the Grand Duke Peter Nicholaovitch. the
monk Is devoted to the interests of this
grand duke. who Is one of the leaders Of
the reactionary party In Russia. so that
Theophile's influence is exerted on behalf
of the retrogressfve rOlfcy. The grand
duke. who Is thus increasing through the
monk his influence over the car, which
has always been extensive, Is regarded
by Russian reformers as one of the most
dangerous enemies of their cause. He Is
uniform which have been introduced In
the Russian army In recent years: much
to the disgust Of the Jealous officers re-
spopsibie for the efficiency of the cars
forces.
It now transpires that the Grand Duke
Peter Nicholavitch had an afd-de-camp
who was a clever draughtsman. and who
had prepared designs for the new uni
forms. This officers sketches looked ex-
tremely attractive on paper. and when
them before the car he was able without
much difiiculty to obtain his august rela-
tive's signature to them.
Had to Garry Them Out.
The sketches were then sent to the
minister of war in the form of i'm
perial DEGREES. and that functionary had
no choice but to carry them out. One
of the absurd innovations introduced in
this way by the Grand Duke Peters
influence was the instruction that gend-
armes should wear two swords-one on
the right side and one on the left
whereby their freedom of action was en-
tirely hampered
NJ Won Stahl concludes his revelations
by mentioning that the monk Theophile
was preceded in the cars favor by an
other monk named Militia, who for many
months was one of the most influential
personages at the Russian court. Militia.
however, unlike the present DrieStly ia
vorite, was a man of limited education
and low tastes. and he fell into complete
disfavor when the car. discovered that
he was addicted to drink. 1t iss under
stood in we'll informed Russian circles
that the monk Theophile will be shortly
appointed to an exalted position in the
immediate vicinity Of his monarch.