Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-15

h\ olution Alexander kerensky
~ was scarcely known outside
q < of the immediate circles of
the labor party in Petrograd: when 1
arrived in Petrograd. hot on the heels
of the historic happenings that over
threw the car, his name was on every
tongue and, before a month had passed,
he was part of Russia's prayers. Here
was a poor and practically obscure
young mamie was barely thirty-fv
when he came into his great promi-
nenee-who in single week assumed
the role of nation savior and made
himself the Lloyd George of his coun-
try.
History records no rise so swift or so
sensational. The mans achievement
makes him the one distinct and out
standing personality of that whole
crowded epoch that changed the face
of Russia.
met Kereusky under circumstances
that rad th"y been staged for the
caSiou. could rot more tittingly inter-
pref the character of the man and the
Immense part he was playing in the
drama Of Russian liberation. He had
hardly aCcliwHted himself to the min
isterial atmosphere when called upon
him at his office in the ministry of
Justice The appointment was for 10
o'clock in the morning. and ] arrived
there \ few minutes before that time.
The crowd in the anterconn Indicated
TINT 7 was at Il tribune of the people.
because the throug that filled nearly
all the available space represented the
democracy of the hour Generals en-
hlazcned with orders rubbed shoulders
with unwashctl nrivatcs, You saw mer-
chant and washerwornan. priest and
atheist. rplifter and radical. all part
OF the procession that had come to the
ca inet ne father confesSor
Sharply at 10 O'Clock the door opened:
n pale face reered out. bowed, smiled
ard then withdrew. Kerensky was siz-
appeared and escorted ten private SOL
dieTs into the inner chamber After
an interval Of ten minutes they emerged
and went their way. My time had ar
rived. because an ofiicer-oEe of twd
were in constant attendance upon the
minister. for he is the only member of
the government who had armed guard
appeared and asked me to step inside
followed him and found myself in
small, bare room There was not a
picture on the walls. But the moment
I entered I felt that the place was
vibrant with a definite presence That
presence was fncarnated in the spare
almost ascetfc figure of man who sat
at a plain fiat-topped desk. lingering,
some rapers. II was kerensky AS
appeared he rose. came forward with
his hand outstretched, saying:
y am very sorry to have kept YOU
waiting, but had to see delegation
of soldiers from the front They came
to me straight from the trenches. ard
they wanted to tell me their troubles
Immediately. ] hope you didn't mind
It was done with genuine charm and
with usefulness that was very cap
tiEa-iag. l saw at once how and why
kerensly had succeeded with his fell
low-rHeD. He vas very human He
sat down and talked in a steady stream
for ar hour. Only Roosevelt surpasses
him in ceaseiess flow of speech. He
sionately. completely. Russian is the
only language he knows He plays
on it as upon an Instrument and it is
trerulors with emotion. Every effort
he makes is sap at his vitality He
fairly drains the wellspriugs of his
life.
But more impressive than his speech
is the appearance of the man His
face is white. almost TO ghastliness;
his cheeks are gaunt. his eyes are deep.
black, lustrous: he looks like one who
has suffered and struggled and borne
the great burdens. He incarnates the
stuff of which martyrs are made.
We talked of many things that April