The Press., 1917-12-20

f1onists, and some are loyal to the czar. This is the case in my regiment, and believe it is true of the others unless it may be some of the more aristO- cratic commanders, where the officers all support the bureaucracy. Success or failure depends upon whether the people or the bureaucracy can win over the troops to their side"
 The next morning there was feel ing in Petrograd that momentouS events were to be enacted. For long while speculators had tied up food or the railroads had been overburdened transporting munitions of war, or the bureaucracy, which must receive its sop from the sale of everything the people needed, had been working its game. At any rate, while Russia was surfeiting in provisions there was 8 dearth of eatables in Petrograd. Crowds began to collect in the streets, and such places as were intended for the sale of food were surrounded. It seemed that every one living in the capital was interested in what was going on. Then regiments of soldiers were marched through the thorough fares to positions to which they had been assigned. As they passed the crowds they were cheered, and they answered the salutes good naturedly. But their commanders remained rigid
 The troops of the -th regiment, of which Sergius Iyanovitch was a cap tain, were ordered to attack a number of laborers who had revolted. Their colonel, having drawn them up in line, gave the order to aim and was about to follow 1t with the word "Fire!' when Captain Ivanovitch stepped out before the soldiers and said:
 Soldiers, if you fire on these men, who are simply demanding bread that is denied them by the bureaucracy, you shall first kill me" .....
 There were sounds of the dropping of the butts of rifles along the line, first a few, then an increase, followed by hundreds together. Then the work men advanced and shook hands with the soldiers, and the crisis had passed.
 The events of that memorable day followed in rapid succession, and the next day it was announced that the long line of Russian rulers, including so many despotS-1van the Terrible, Catherine, whose immoral character had so stained the imperial ermine- had for the first time been broken if not ended.
 Stephan Mikhailof, who went to sleep at his home the night before the revolution, did not awaken till the next afternoon. He was aroused by shouts and cheers without. Going to win dow, he saw a large cOncourse of peo- pie standing in the street looking up at his house Raising the sash, he bent forward and, looking down, saw that the center of the crowds attraction was an officer in uniform standing on the landing of the steps leading up to the front door, While the crowd waved hats and handkerchiefs the officer was lowing his acknowledgements.
 Mikhailof, having been clothed, was sufficiently presentable to go down. stairs to learn what all this meant. He was met by his daughter.
 ''Who is the officer without?" he asked.
 ''Sergius Ivanovitch.''
 And why Is the crowd cheering him?
 Because, papa, while you have been asleep there has been a revolution. The turning point came when Sergius' regiment was ordered to fire on some workmen. It was at an aim, ready to mow down the rebels, when Sergius stood between the regiment and the workmen and told the soldiers that if they fired on men who were simply de- manding bread denied them by the bu- Peaucracy they must first kill him. That turned the scale. The wOrkmen and the soldiers fraternized, and from that moment regiment after regiment took the part of the people"
 Marya's last words were drowned by prolonged cheer without. Captain IvanOvitch turned and entered the house. The crowd dispersed.
 Ivanovitch, seeing AIikhailOf, paused.
 "He came to see me, papa" said Marya, "and the crowd followed him here"
 It appears, Saiu m1knalloI IO tue captain, that while have been sleep ing the revolution has taken place and you have performed no small part o' It."
 He stepped in at the crisis" said Marya, "and brought the soldiers to espouse the cause of the people"
 You mean I turned my regiment to the cause of the people" said Serglus modestly.
 AIikhailof advanced to Ivanovitch and, putting both: arms about him, kissed him, according to the Russian custom, first on one cheek, then on the other.