Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-14
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looked like that But seen in the light
of our incredulouS Twentieth Century.
she appeared worthy subject for Char
cot, or some such eminent nervous doc
tor and her place ought to have been
the hospital of La Salpetriere'' rather
than the den of the modern Cagliostro,
who was making ducks and brakes out
of the mighty Russian empire.
AS 1 was going down the stairs met
an old man slowly climbing them, with
little girl whom he was half carrying,
half dragging along with him. He stop
ped me with the question:
do you happen to know whether the
blessed Gregory receives visitors?'
I replied that the prophet" was at
home, but I could not say whether he
would receive any one or not.
1T is for this innocent 1 want to see
him." moaned the man. "She is so ill
and no doctor can cure her. If only the
blessed gregory would pray over her,
know that she would be we'll at once.
Do you think that he will do so, Bar
inia?" the man added anxioUsly.
'T am sure he will" l replied, more
because / did not know what to say
rather than from the conviction that
Rasputin would receive this new visitor.
1 saw the old creature continue his as
cent UP the staircase, and the whole
You shall get we'll, quite we'll, Mania;
the Blessed One shall make you quite
well"
VISITORS FOR THE BLESSED
GREGORY"
On the last steps before the stairs
ended on the landing two men were busy
talking. They were both typical Israel
ties, with hooked nose and crooked fling
ers. They were discussing most ener-
getically some subject which evidently
was absorbing their attention to an un-
common degree and discussing it in
German, too.
you are quite sure that we car offer
him 20 per cent?" one was saying.
quite sure, the concession is worth
n million; the whole thing is to obtain
it before the others come on the scene
"Who are the others?" asked the first
of the two men.
THE Russo-Asiatic Bank" replied the
second. you see the whole matter lies
in the rapidity with which the thing
is made. The only one who can per
suade the minister to sign the paper Is
the old man upstairs" and he pointeh
toward Rasputins apartment. Thereup-
on the TWO in their turn started to
mount the steps.
NV first interview with Rasputin. all
the details of which l wrote down IN
nv diary when l got home, gave me
some inkling as to the dl11ereht IN
trigues which were going on around
this remarkable parsonage. 1t falled'
however, to make me understand Dy
what means he had managed TO acquire,
if he really acquired, fact OF when L
still doubted. the strong influence which
he liked to give the impression he exer-
cised. 1t was quite possible that he had
contrived through the magnetic gifts
with which he was endowed TO suodue
10 his will the hysterical women. whose
bigotry and mystical tendencies he had
exalted to the highest pitch possible
But how could he, n common peasant
without any educat ton, knowledge OF the
world or of mankind. have imbued MIN
listers and statesmen with such a dread
that they found themselves ready TO do
ANYTHING at his bidding and to dispense
favors. graces and lucrative appoint
ments to the people whom he called to
their attention. There was evidently
something absolutely abnormal In the
whole thing, and it was the reason for
this abnormality that began TO seek
This search did not prove easy at first,
but in time. by talking with persons who
saw a lot of Rasputin and of the motiy
crew which surrounded him, I contrived
TO form some opinion as to the cause OF
his success. 1t seemed to me that he,
was the tool of strong though small
party or group of men. DESTROYS of US
ing him as a means to attain their own
ends. There is nothing easier in the
world than to make or to mar reputa-
ton, and it is sufficient to say every
where that a person is able to do this
or that thing. to instill into the mind of
the public at large the conviction that
such is the case. This was precisely
CONTINUED in Next Issue.)