The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-12-30
THE MOTHER OLA
THOUSAND ExILES
Splendid HGrOiSm Of Woman
BaniShGd TO Siberia.
HAPPY IN HER GOOD DEEDS.

mates In Russian Penal Settlement
Aids Mime. Catherine BreshkovsIaya
to Bear Her Cross-Aged Martyrs
Recent Letters to Friends In America.
The recent attempted escape of Nine.
Catherine Breshkovskaya, the mother
of the Russian revolution" as she is
called, from exile in dreaded Siberia,
has again attracted world wide atten.
ton to this brave woman, now near
ing her SEVENTEEN year, who is un-
dergoing her second or perpetual"
term. She was sentenced to exile in
March, 1910, after a trial, whose pro-
ceedings were followed with intense
interest. The charge against her
was conspiracy in conjunction with
Nicolas Tchaikovsky, the father Of
the revolution" who had been active
for reform since 1870. The man was
acquitted on evidence brought from
the United States.
Because she would not plead for the
Russian emperor's clemency Nine
Breshkovskaya has been incarcerat-
ed at Kirensk, penal settlement 400
miles northeast of Irkutsk.
At the time of her recent attempt
to gain her freedom she went to din
ner under police escort at the lodging
of fellow exile, Vladimiroff, and re-
mained there till evening. Then a
companion, Andreeff, dressed in Nine.
Breshkovskaya's clothing, emerged
from the house supported by Xladimi-
rolf, and pretending to be a sick wo-
man. Accompanied by the police es-
cort the accomplice hobbled to the
lodging Of Nine. Breshkovskaya and
crawled into her bed, where he re-
mained.
Constabulary intercepted a convey
ance speeding on the way to Yakutsk.
on the river Lena, and, recognized
among its occupants Nine Breshkov-
skaya, dressed as man. She had in
her possession a counterfeit passport
and a sum of money,
Lectured In United States.
1t was in 1888 that Nine Breshkov-
skaya was first sent to Siberia Re-
leased after twenty-one years, she
came to America and formed many
close friendships with other leading
workers in the fight against the car
She toured the principal cities, lectur,
Ing on the cause of freedom in her ma
tive land, She picked up something of
the English language, but it was not
1r1tt hnr pntRH 30 kINnA H.
tered its intricacies sufficiently to use
it in correspondence.
Her friends in this country have re-
ceived many letters from her. Through
them shone the old time spirit of fight
and fortitude which twenty-one years
in exile had not dimmed when she
came to this country In 1904.
In one of these letters she tells of
changed conditions in the opening of
the eXile's mail since the days of her
first Punishment, but adds that the
habit Of persecution and espionage is
so old that the guards are never tired
of indulging in it,
During the festivities of Christmas"
she continues, ''when here many young
persons disguise themselves and go
through the town with their masks.
my keepers are afraid l will escape In
that manner, and they run about like
mad men, searching and looking after
every one, intruding themselves into
every house suspected to be the place
of my visit.
Every path l make is surveyed by
a gloomy figure shrouded in black furs
from head to foot and standing i'm
movable near the house I visit
'"Without permission l cannot place
my foot on the frozen river, for it
would be regarded as an attempt to
escape All the night they are look
ing into the windows of my cabin"
Mothers a Thousand ExiIes.
In another letter to a friend in this
country she says; 81 did not receive
or hear of the money you sent me
Often my heart overhows with sorrow,
for there is much need of help here,
where many boys have their feet fro
zen for want of suitable booting.
feel l am responsible, for l consider
the young people as my own children.
my grandsOns."
Another of the exiles in Siberia
writes, "She cares for and mothers a
thousand exiles, giving them heart and
courage"