The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-08-09

~ AZ This power or Iasclnd'-
ing is regarded as great asset Dy
the cars government: the heads OF
the state play it as trump cara.
Russian women are sent as spies the
world over. to learn secrets OF state
from men whose heads they turn.
These beautiful secret service EN-
ployes receive large salaries in addi-
ton to generous gifts for special work.
The Russian government has employ
ed women spies for well nigh nun
dred years; it is even said that as
long ago as the time Of Ivan the Ter
rible Processes We're sent to distant
lands to learn the true sentiment Of
foreign courts toward him
Members OF the present feminine
secret service corps are found IN
every civilized country in the world.
The Russian is a natural linguist and
learns to speak ttuently al! languages.
In every instance these spies are
women OF fine judgment OF cool, cal
culatlng minds. although apparently
they are only gentle, negative crea-
lures Of boundless charm and Helpless
ness Their insidous temperaments
are brought to bear upon diplomats,
statesmen and officials of many lands,
and despite the fact that Russia 8
methods are we'll known. it usually
happens that the victim suspects moth
ing until he finds he has been be-
trayed
Naturally the lives OF these women
are filled with adventure. Many or
them have had very narrow escapes.
but they are fearless and daring. They
are prepared to play any part-.o
wear mems clothes, to dress IT. rags
or satin. to 60 into all sorts OF queer
ana dangerous quarters. to take long.
hazardous journeys
One Of the most famous OF these
women is Nine Seski Hunegan. who
has been in the service of the Russian
government many years. Upon the
death OF her husband, who was an off,
Ger in the Russian army, she was
left In very straitened circumstances.
Her case was brought to the atten-
ton of the government, and as her
loyalty and strong, steadfast charac-
ter were well known. the officials de-
ternined to make use of her as a
spy She gladly took advantage Of
the opportunity and departed at once
for Paris to commence her work.
Thence she was sent to the Riviera,
and later, about eight years ago. to
America She lived in Washington
two years and was a friend Of the
Countess Cassini. Soon afterward she
toured the world, travelling as an
American. In Japan she was received
as such, and thus was able to send
valuable Information to her govern
ment. She is now living in London
under an assumed name and passes
as an American.
Baroness MakOwa, although Of no
BILE birth. has lived for years as q
dancing girl on the Russian border
Her mission Is to watch Turks. Greeks
and Bulgarian, and her simple, light
hearted manner averts all suspicion
She has won the heart of many for
eigA officer. She is an accomplished
dancer Prince George Of Greece was
greatly attracted to her. much to
the chagrin of Princess George-and
he never suspected that she was a no.
blewoman, and q spy at that.
Probably one Of the most fascinat.
ing women ever sent forth by the Rus
sian government upon secret missions
is zenaida Petrovitch. She would
have made an admirable character
study for Turgenin.
She was born In little town about
20 miles from Moscow. Her father
was a scholarly, poetic school teach
err who loved to dream among his
books. He married the daughter OF a
country nobleman. young woman Of
great beauty. who later deserted him
and their infant daughter In favor of
Q grand duke
The dreamy. poetic father brought
up his little girl quietly. But she had
inherited her hayward mothers beau
ty. as well as her nature. She never
learned to understand her father. At
the age of seventeen. when she could
endure her tame, uneventful life no
longer, she ran away to find her moth
err She found instead handsome Of
ficer who married her and took her to
St Petersburg to live
There she met grand dukes. and,
Ike her mother. she also deserted her
ss5and for one Of them. With him