The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-26
Russia Takes
vengeance on
Aged Woman
"Little Grandmother of the
Revolution" Condemned to
Solitary Confinement.

"p'N N"iSNI VI u
kovskaya. the Little Grandmother of
Russian Revolution" especially since
her visit to this country in 1906, were
shocked on reading in a recent issue
that this woman of II years, with cat
aracts on both eyes. had been sent to
remain In solitary confinement for the
rest of her life In Yakoutsk, where the
winters are nine months long and the
temperature often reaches 81 degrees
below zero.
This information was contained on
a postal card enclosed in a letter TO-
celved by Miss Alice Stone Blackwell.
4 bleak. snowy mountain pass in
northern Siberia was pictured and
through the pass a little band Of pris-
oners struggled along hcrded by Rus
sian troops. The pass is un the 1000
mile journey from 1rkutsk to Va
koutsk, where Nine. Breshkovskaya
has been sent. The letter was dated
at Irkutsk on June ~ and stated that
Nine. Breshkovskaya was scheduled
10 start for Yakoutsk in July. No
doubt she has reached her destination
by this time.
In the letter Nine. Breshkovskaya
declared that no change would frighten
~ AlEN was ~ ~ lidAN "
her both at kircnsk and Irkutsk.
Nine. Breshkovskaya has spent a
great many years in the Russian
prisons on account Of her revolutions
airy activities. The Little Grand
mother Of Russian Revolution was
born in luxury. the daughter Of a
Russian noble h was the possessor
of hundreds Of serfs employed upon
\ hig NuGf nStntn IInr gnflNs N,.Ttth NNla
spent amid the luxurious ~surround-
ings of her family manor. When only
a child she was the centre of Il little
court, copied in detail after that of
the Car. But the gay life Of the
court did not suffice. The active
minded child craved for something
else, something that would make other
people happy. Imbued with this ilea
she eluded her father, guests and the
servants and in the carly morning she
went To- the villages where she min
istered to the scrfs
When she reached the age of ~
years she imagined hat the sorfs had
gained all they cravcd for when they
were emancipated. But when the Gov
rnmen allotted to each head f a
family AN amount Of ground smaller
than that which he had held as "a
serf, and then imposed cXorhitant
taxes. she knew the serfs wnilId re-
volt at these conditions which thcv
were unable to meet. After sooln.
troops enter the villages ami commit
o~utrages Nine. Br~eShkoyskaya re-
allied that the scrfs were even worse
oY than they had been prior to their
emancipation.
Nine. BreshkovSkaya valian,ly en-
deavored To mitigate these conctlons
and made every effort to help her slf-
fering cluntrymen She soon became
convinced that III Government had no
intention II meeting the wants or m,
people. Failing To- gain the assiS.ance
of her father in her chosen work ,h,
left home to throw herself into Tho
W. rk. This was in 1870 and she %
drew to herself a large f1ll wing
In 1874 the power of the car was
eXcrtei against her and she was ar
rested in st. Petersburg and thrust
into prison. whore she remained two
years before being transported 70
Siberia. where she was put to work a..
hard labor in the mines with a bar
row. After a wear she was trans
ferrcd To a hamlet in the Arctic Circle.
where the inhabitants were all con-
viCts of a class inferior to political
exiles.
Nine. B~reshkovskaya and some Of
her friends decided Ia attempt an
escape, with America as the objective
point. As no railroad was accessible
the only road to liberty lay over the
Epphl Mountains. After a time tho
fng tives reached the Tairn fores,
where for a month they endured indo-
scribable priyations and SUFFERING. only
10 be finally recaptured and returned
Ia more cruel confinement. She finally
gained her liberty after sixteen years
in Siberian prisons.
Despite suffering and hartehips
Nine. B~rcshkoyskaya when she visited
New York in 1906 had "A sweet. simple
face. In reposc her face was calm.
meditative and sympathet c. her brow
broad and smooth and her hair a de-
nghtful combination of pure White and
let black. Her complexion remained
remarkably fresh and few lines could
be noticed.
1t is believed that the Russian Gov
eminent never forgavc Nine. Brcsh-
kovskaya for coming 10 this country
IN 1906 and collecting "A sum If $4,000
for the cause. When in March, 1910.
she was arrested in 81. petersburs and
charged with CT. minal activity in the