The sun., 1912-07-14

a male heir would be born to him. and
that the brighter part Of his reign
would soon commence. But the proph-
ecy Of Seraphim had not yet been en-
tirely fulfilled. and the Japanese war
and the revolution were still to come.
All those who could not be present
In Sarov when the Car was there,
hastcned to so there and report to the
higher authorities in the hope that the
Cznr would hear OF H. The monastery
Of Sarov became a real Lourdes for the
Russian officials. There they prayed
for Offices, for advancement. for decora-
tions-all on account Of the Cars faith
In the wondrous power of the new
saint, Seraphim.
The monks did their utmost to enrich
themselves. The images Of Seraph.m
were sold by thousands; the story of
his life had the widest circulation in the
provincial towns. The name OF the
newly discovered Sarov saint became a
household word. Images. towers. cathe-
drals and charitable institutions were
erected in his honor.
But the expected miracle did not
come. The male heir to the Russian
throne did not appear. and the war and
the revolution were approaching. Little
by little the distinguished pilgrims
ceased journeyins to sarov. Finally the
religious revival was forgotten in the
palace until . new reaction set In.
throwing the Car once moro into the
embrace Of the fortune tellers and char
latanS.
This need for emotions Of q mystic
character was not the result Of idle
ness and emptiness OF court life. The
Car was apparently interested in qucs-
tons which he was unable to solve and
n the saints and the priests could not
explain and solve these problems he
thought that there might be other peo-
pie In the Russian land who would per-
haps be able to help him solve these
problems. The court camarilla resolved
TO assist him in finding such people.
In the district Of Kozelsk. govern
mcnt OF Kalusa, Is the picturesque
Optina desert. The monastery In that
desert was famed because Of Amvrosia,
the hermit. who knew how to counsel
those In grief. who knew how TO speak
to peasant women as we'll as to Grand
Dukes. After his death the affairs of
the monastery suffered considerably. 1t
was necessary to find another saint.
Soon . half witted peasant named
Mitka was found in the same district.
MitkA waS unable to speak distinctly.
Elpidifor. another peasant. was found.
| He declared that he could understand
the meaning Of M!tka's bowling. The
two peasants were removed to the mon
astery. and the pilgrims commenced to
! spread the fame Of the new saint. whose
meaningless words. unintelligently In
; terpreted by the other peasant. could be
twisted according to the pleasure Of the
monks.
Tho Gar would never have known
Of Mitka II his aide de camp. Nicholas
Obolensky had not been an estate
! tho Grand Duke Constantin had not
lived for several summers near the
Optina desert. A brother OF Obolensky.
who for some unknown reason was re-
garded - q friend Of the Russian
philosopher. Vladimir Solovyov. inter-
ested himself in religious problems and
was for a short time the head Of the
synod. These gentlemen arranged n
meeting between the half witted Mitka
and tho Car. Mitka was brought to
the palace. together with his inter-
prefer.
Both were washed and dressed and in
troduced to Nicholas II. As soon as
Mitka noticed the Car he started to
howl. The Interpreter was asked what
he meant by his bowling. The inter-
prefer replied:
"He wishes to sec the children"
The Car was greatly pleased and the
children were brought in. Then Mitka
howled still more. The Interpreter de-
clared that Mitka was overjoyed and
that he asked for tea with preserves.
This remark seemed strange even to
the Emperor. Mitka was kept in the
palace little longer; he drank tea with
preserves. ana then ne was sent back to
his native town. But what Is still
stranger. Mitka was invited again to the
palace after some time had elapsed
But after the second visit Mitka's fame
al saint waned rapidly.
A now saint became tho favorits o
the Gar. He was a peasant from the
government OF Kazan. Endowed with
all the qualifications OF a skilful charla
made q little fortune for himself ane
managed to secure profitable positions
Tor others who applied to him. At on
timo most OF the important appointments
came through this Kazan peasant. Thi
may sound incredible. but 1t is fac
known to all who arc in any way familia
with tho Russian court.
Only those who knew how to brcal
through the rows OF the court camarlll
lived In clover In this atmosphere. Sucl
men as Witte and Plehvs walked there
arm In arm with tho descendants Of In
Ruriks and the lovers OF Catherine II
"le,or advonturers worked together Will