Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-27
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camarilla formed itself around Raspu-
tin that clug TO him and used him for
its own purposes, and that went about
saying that he was the only man in the
whole of Russia capable of obtaining
what one wanted, provided it pleased
him to do so. One declared that he could
persuade the empress always trembling
for the health OF her only son, TO dis
cuss with her imperial spouse any sub
ject that he might suggest. In reality
no such thing ever took place. Alexan-
dra Feodorowna always kept Rasputin
at arms length. and for one thing had
for to much faith in his absolute disin-
terestedness even to imagine offering
him any reward or qualification. But =
is a fact that he was often called by
her to pray al the bedside of the little
boy, who represented the best hope Of
Russia This circumstance was clev-
erly exploited No one was ever pres
ent at his interviews with the Tar or
with the empress; it was therefore easy
for him to say what he liked about
them. certain that no one could ever con-
! tradict him. with the exception of the
| interested persons themselves. and these
could never get to hear or to learn any
thing about the wild tales which l.
pleased him, together with his friends,
to put into circulation regarding the po-
sition which he occupied at the court.
Thanks TO his persuasive powers and to
the undoubted magnetic force he was
possessed Of. he contrived to Undue
even earnest and serious people with
! the conviction that he was at times the
echo Of the voices of those placed far
above him, and that they had called
upon him to say to others what it en-
barra ssed them to mention themselves.
In Russia, as general rule, the people
IN, al aTinyyipo before tht-
car. whom they never dared TO contra
dict. There were at the time am writ
ing about some ministers who believed
or affected to believe. in all the eXtraor-
binary tales which il pleased Rasputin
to repeat, and who thought it useful
to follow the indications which IL pleased
him to give 70 them. He was only too
delighted to be considered the most pow
erful parsonage in the whole of the Rus
sian empire. He helped much as he
could to accredit all the legends going
about among the public in regard to his
own person, and he imagined that the
best way to add to his reputation as d
man who did not care for the opinions Of
the world was to treat this world with
disdain and with contempt, and to trans
form into his humble slaves ladies be-
longing to the highest social ranks, just
as he had transformed into his hand
maldenS the peasant girls VINO nad IaIIen
under his spell.
RASPUTIN INTRIGUES AGAINST HIS
ENEMIES.
That he magnetized most OF the peo-
pie with whom he prayed seems but
too true. Perhaps they did not notice
IT, and perhaps this was done with the
consent of those on whom he exercised
his hypnotic strength is difficult to
know exactly-but that his prayer meet
ings were the scene of spiritist and mag
netic experiences all who have ever
been present agree in saying. He made
no secret about the fact and openly &C
knowledged the Use which he made of
the state of trance in which he liked 20
throw his disciples, especially those be-
longing to the weaker seX. He practiced
to the full all the customs of the ''Khly
stys," be he added to them a cunning
such as is but rarely found in a human
being, and a rough knowledge of human
nature which gave him the facility to
exploit the passions of the many vile
people who thought that he was their