Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-23

H., car of Russia. one of the best
sovereigns who ever ruled over that
empire. Proof that he was a man of
advanced ideas is to be found in the
fact that be emancipated the serfs, or
slaves. Furthermore. he was about to
give his country a constitution. On &C
count of this intention it has been
claimed that he was assassinated at
the instigation of those nearest to him,
the bureaucrats, who were opposed to
reforms. But later developments have
disproved this. More than thirty years
have elapsed since his assassination,
and the preliminary methods adopted
to insure 1t have been brought out.
The circumstances attending the act
itself were apparent at the time.
On the day OF his assassination the
car was returning to his palace after
a visit. Four revolutionists were sta
toned along the route on which he
was driven. each with bomb in his
armpit. AS the emperor passed the
first man the latter threw his bomb.
Attendants and horses Of the imperial
carriage were killed, but Alexander
was unhurt. He stepped out Of the
carriage, and another bomb fell ut his
feet, SCATTERING his legs. He was driv-
en- to the palace in a sleigh and died on
the way.
There is a story underlying this as
sassination. Indeed. the world is but
great story book containing myriads of
stories. That leading up to Alexander
lis death has been told in various
forms. There is no need to distort the
main incidents. In the following YER
sion they are given as they were after
the tragedy developed by the police:
On the street called Malaja Sadov-
aga in st. Petersburg one morning a
shop that had been for some time va
cant was opened by a man whose sign
read peter Novgorod, Provision Deal
err" Other shopkeepers were inter
ested to know what plan the man
would adopt to deprive them Of their
trade, for 1t would appear that what
he gained they would lose. So they
watched to see what customers would
20 INTO his SuOp.
Though Novgorod soon sprang into a
fair business, his competitors found
that they lost nothing Of their own
Very few persons living in that 10
cality went into his store to trade
! Those who did go, or most Of them
were from other parts of the city.
Old Ivan Balichin. who kept butch
er shop opposite Novgorod's place
when not working at his own business
was usually interested In Novgorod's
| He noticed that the provision dealer
seemed to be selling a great many
| goods. but was seen to get them In only
small quantities. One day when Ba
| hchin was having q dull trade anC
could devote himself to his neighbors
that so many customers emerged from
| the shop opposite that it seemed tn,
whole stock must have been bought on
several times over Before closing tim,
Balichin crossed the street, ostensibl!
to chat with his Ghbor. but reall,
for the purpose oservation.
Good evening. -lend Novgorod," b,
said How have you found trade to
day."
Fair" replied the other You know
have but recently started"
Yes. know that, and l do no
understand how you have so quickl!
worked up so extensive a trade"
well" replied Novgorod. my trad,
comes largely from customers who hav'
dealt with me before Besides, II
order to do business l am giving lonl
credits. / don't know how | shall COM
out in the end. but hope for the best.
You will come out as any trades
man will come out who does bushes!
in that way. You will make a lot o.
bad debts. How often do you find l
necessary to replenish your stock?"
MY stock! Oh, I am supplied by ,
merchant who puts me to grea
deal Of trouble In that respect. Yol
see. having no partner. l have no on,
to do the buying, for buying and sell
ing are two different matters, SO &c
everything through one man. Bu
since he runs a shop himself he has NJ
time to attend to my affairs during
business hours. The consequence Il
that he sends me goods sometimes II
the early morning and sometimes a
night"
81 see." said Balichin. 81 noticed TO
day that you sold great deal anC
must have had a plentiful supply OF
hand"
That is because last night I wa
routed out OF bed at II O'Clock TO TAX,
in two carloads OF provisions"
At this juncture customer came Il
and. seeing Balichin talking with tn,
shopkeeper. offered to wait till he hat
been served. But Balichin said that b,
was only gossiping and teld the Gus
toner to go ahead with his purchases
The latter asked to see some butter
NovgOrod plunged a knife into a flrkil
and gave 1t to him to taste The mai
made q WY face.
els that the best butter you have?
he asked
"Yes. Don't you like ftp
Like it, 1t is nothing but oleomnr
garine from America. will 90 else
where for my butter-real butter, no
the imitation" And he left the shop
"If all your customers said Ball