The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-10
HAS MORE INFLUENCE THAN ALL
 DUKES.
specimens of His Own Work In Inhu- encing the Powerful Ruler of Russia-story of the Woman
 Spy of Russia.
BY BERNARD FISCHER


 Berlin Dispatch--The Berliner Tage- blatt" publishes signed article by M won Stahl. describing the remarkable influence which a monk named Theo- phiie has gained over the Emperor of Russia.
 Theopile. by virtue of his power over the Czar. is said to have become the most influential man in Russia In de- ciding the most important affairs not only In domestic but also foreign poll itics, so that his position at the Inn perial Court is a matter or vital inter est to other countries.
 About six months ago. tho Grand Duke Peter Nieholaovitcn took the monk. Theophiie. to the summer resi- dence. czarskoe selo. and presented him to the Czar Almost from the out set the Czar became disciple of the astute and ambitious monk. Theophile first attracted the sympathies Of the Czar by instructing him in various mystical matters in which the Emperor of All the Russias is-keeniy interested.
 At first Theophile only visited the Imperial Palace, when specially sum. moned. but soon he obtained the right of access to the imperial person at any ttfne privilege only possessed in Rus sia by members of the imperial family and cabinet ministers. After this priv ilege had been conferred on him, Theo- A quently daily visitor at the palace.
 1t was not long before the cabinet ministers noticed that Theophile had gained an extraordinary ascendancy over the Czar .so that In many cases imperial decrees were traced directly to his influence. One striking incident recently illustrated the predominant position of the monk at the imperial court.
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 The Czar had dismissed his old friend Prince Oboronski. 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 Empress or Russia in- terceded on Prince oboienskfs behalf. and begged her son to grant his old friend q pension sufiic.ent to rescue him from absolute poverty. but His Majesty refused to grant his mothers request.
 subsequently, Theophile interceded on Prince Obolenski's behalf. where upon the Czar ordered that the Princes salary of. $25.000 per annurn should be paid to him for the rest of his life lime as pension. Many other in- power of this monk of the Orthodox Greek Church. over the absolute ruler of Russia.
 Having been presented to the csar by the Grand Duke Peter Nichalao- witch, the monk is devoted to the inter ests 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 retrogressive policy The Grand Duke, who is thus increasing through the monk his in- duence over the Czar .wnich has al- ways. been extensive. is regarded by Russian reformers as one of the most dangerous enemies of their cause. He s responsible for the ridiculous changes of uniform which have been introduced in the Russian army in re- cent years. much to the disgust of the jealous officers responsible for the ef- hciency. of the Czar's forces.
 It now transpireH that the Grand Duke Peter Nicholaovitch had an aide de-camp who was a clever draughts- man, and who had prepared designs for the new uniforms. This oficer's sketcheaiooked extremely attractive on paper and when the Grand Duke Peter Nichalaovitch laid them before the Czar he was able. without much diffieulty, to obtain his august relatives sigma ture to them. ua 4SI
 The sketches were then sent to the Minister of War, In the form of impe- rial decrees. and that functionary had no choice but to carry them out. One of the absurd innovations introduceds in this way by the Grand Duke Peters Influence was the instruction that gen iarmes should wear two swords--one 3n the right side and one of the left whereby their freedom of action was sntirely hampered.
 M. von Stahl concludes his revela- tions by mentioning that the monk Theophile was preceded in the Czar's favor by another monk hamed Mltja. who for many months was one of the most influential personages at the Rus- sian Court. Mitia. however. unlike the present .prestly favorite. was man of limited education and low tastes. and he fell Into complete disfavor when the Czar discovered that he was ad- dicted to drink. It is understood. in we'll informed Russian circles. that the monk Theophile will be shortly ap- pointed to an exalted position in the immediate vicinity of his monarch