The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-17

upon to give up these people, and ahc turned
her mind toward religion. In this connection
gossip has had much TO say about monk called
Gregor Raspoutine. He was Il travelling monk,
preaching what he called the Kingdom OF
heaVen. He sprang into notice when he
started started campaign with another monk, named
i!liodore, who also called himself prophet
and who wanted to found n religion of his own.
lie was the abbot of a monastery at Saratoff,
where his bishop became one or his adherents.
AZ hrst RaSpoutine WAS follower of llliodore,
then they became enemies. and each de.
nounced the other Illiodore was soon un.
frocked after having spent some months as "a
prisoner III monastery far from Saratoff; but
Raspontne. In spite or his many vagaries
which far exceeded those of Illiodore escaped
prosecution owing. 1t is said. to influence In
higher quarters.
He was introduced to the Empress by tho
Grand Duchess Elizabeth her sister, who from
her convent In Moscow still exercised great
influence over the little Court of Tsarskoye
Selo. She suggested TO Alexandra Feodorovna
thc Czarna) to call to her the wandering
monk. who was considered by many people In
the light of q saint, and 10 ask him 10 pray for
her and for her Enthusiastically for tho
heir or the throne. who was the object Of her
particular anxiety.
Not long after he brought to the notice
OF the Empress. Raspoutinc Is credited with
having persuaded her that as long as he was
allowed TO remain she would be safe from any
Danger. and her children. too. would always
remain unframed. no matter what might occur
Raspoutine was sent away for some time.
lie left the capital for his native village In the
wilds of Siberia, and for a period nothing was
heard about him. Then last Autumn the heir
TO the throne fell i'll at Spala. and the Empress
VINO was quite frantic cried out aloud that
ms misfortune had happened because they had
sent Raspoutne into exile. The monk
called and he was more admitted into
me intimacy OF the Imperial family. He is al.
ways at Tsarskoye Seo, but his presence there
Is kept secret, that IL good many people are
not even aware that he has returned. But his
ihiinence remains the same. and it is main.
tanned that the Empress Is moro convinced
,han ever that it was his prayers that saved
her son during his last severe illness
LOT Of rubbish has been written about
the illness OF the Tsarevitch and the most
stupid tales have been circulated The reality
Is sad enough without exaggeration making it
worse The child who has been very delicate
since his birth, suffers from an organic dis
ease OF the arteries which are liable to rup
ture upon the slightest provocation and even
without cause. Already. three years ago. he
n ta TO undergo an operation. which was per-
formed by Professor Fedoroff, one of the doc
tors who treated him in the Autumn OF. 1912.
FROM morning to night the Tsarevitch Ia
.oia mat MS existence is SO precious to his
parents mat no caprice Of his is to be allowed
10 pass without being at once gratified. He ia
constantly impressed with his own Importance
ana ALREADY knows very we'll his rights, though
ne entirely ignores his duties. Arrogant by
nature, this arrogance is fostered instead OF
Delng corrected. Not is allowed to rebuke
MN nm, or even to contradict him. The Tsarevitch
oed's MS sisters, tyrannizes over his servants
anu whenever any one attempts to correct him
ne instantly threatens the unfortunate person
with all kinds OF punishments
lew years ago anecdote was crcn.
ated everywhere in st. Petersburg concerning
.he snall Tsarevitch. 1t seems that ono morn
he ministers were waiting to be received nv
ne emperor at the palace of Tsarskoye Selo
among them was NJ. Izvolsky at that time
lead or the Foreign Office. lie was taking
s Mi,h another person seated next to him and
ilu not notice the Tsarevitch who happened
% run through the room. The latter Instantly
vent up to NJ 1zvolsky and in an imperious
one toio MIN that when the heir to the throne
,rosses room, Ministers ought to get up.' NJ
H'oIsKy became so confused that he did NOT
mo" what to do or to say, and his confnsion
,ecame still worse when. a few moments lotor
ne emperor, at the end OF the audience which
re GRANTED TO him. asked him what misunder
LANDING he had had with the Tsarevitcb NJ
2voisky hardly found words to explain and
Sicho!as H. told him then, with evident nride
res. es' later on you will find it harder to deal
Win my son than with me-
AS have said already, the truth 10 cod
hough, because 1t is considered certain tbat
mere .n IS very little hope that the Tsarevi,cb
VII reach manhood and this KNOWLEDGE In,
els heartfelt sympathy toward his narent
'ho. AFTER having longed for SO many WARS
or the birth of this heir now have to resian
umbered." ~ LILO uaVs are