Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-04
RASPUTIN
Devil or Saint?
By the Princess Radziwill
Copyright. 1917, Public Ledger Company.
AnRights Reserved
Continued from Last Issus.)
CHAPTER III.


gence. had objected TO the Importance
which certain social circles in St Pc
tersburg had tried to give 10 the sooth-
Sayer. At first he had regarded the
whole matter as kind of Wild craze
which was bound TO subside in time as
other crates OF the same sort had dwin-
dlec into insignificance IN the past.
Later on. however. some reports that
had reached him concerning the persons
who freouented Rssputin had given him
reason to think that there might be
something more than stupid enthusiasm
IN the various tales which had come to
his ears in regard 10 the Prophet OF
Pokrowskoie. He. therefore, expressed
form a personal judgment on the man.
and a meeting was arranged IN due
course at the house Of one OF the ladies
who patronized Rasputin. 1t is related
that after he had cast his eyes upon
him Mr.. Stolypine, when asked 10 give
his opinion on the personality Of the
individual about whom he had heard
so many conflicting reports. had simp-
~ replied:
10 send him to light stoves; he is fit for
nothing else"
STCLTPINE OPPOSED To RASPUTIN.
The words were repeated and circulate
ed freely in St Petersburg; they reach
ed Rasputin. and enraged him the more.
because. shortly afterwards. IL was Mr.
Stolypine who had insisted on his being
expelled from the capital. and who for
two whole years had refused to allow him
n enter. IL again. When. therefore. in
the early autumn OF 1912 the prophet"
at last was allowed 10 return TO St
Petersburg. il was with the feelings
of the deepest enmity against the min
lister who had exiled him. He had
the satisfaction OF finding that during
his enforced absence the popularity Of
Mr.. Stolypine had decreased. and that a
considerable number were openly talking
about overthrowing him. Rasputin very
soon discovered the use which could be
made Of this state of things. which sur
passed by far any hopes he might have
nursed Of being able to be revenged
upon the president Of the cabinet for the
injury which he imagined that the latter
had done him He proceeded in all his
sermons TO compare him with the anti
christ. and TO say that Russia would
never be quiet so long as he remained
one Of its rulers.
The police agent, whose name 1 have
already mentioned. Mr.. Manassewitsch
Maniuloff. who always had his eye on
Rssputin and who had fastened to call
upon him as soon as he had seen him
return to the capital. was not slow to
notice the now outspoken animosity Of
the latter I'm regard to the prime min
lister. who was offensive to him as well
as to the whole secret police. The Sc
cret police. finding that II could no
longer do what II pleased and that IL
life Of the peaceful Russian citizens. or
else be called TO account by Mr.. Stoly-
pine. who ever since his appointment
had been working against the occult
powers Of the "Okhrana." ha6 but one
idea. and this was to get rid by fair
means or by foul Of a master determined
TO control the police. II is known in
Russia that Mr.. Stolypine's assassi-
nation was the work Of the secret police
itself. who had found the murderer in
the person OF one OF it's own agents, 10
whom II had furnished even the revolver
with which TO kill the unfortunate Stoly-
pine But few people dared relate all
that they suspected In regard to his helm
Gus crime. and fewer still were aware
OF all its details. and of the manner
in which II had been planned.
The truth OF the story IS that Hi. Man
iuloff secretly took TO Rasputin's house
two or three police agents. to whom the
latter said that God himself had re-
be saved from the perils of revolution
until the removal of Mr.. Stolypine. He
even blessed the officers. together with
q pistol with which he presented them.
II turned out afterwards that this pis-
tol was the very weapon that the Jew
Bagroff fired at the prime minister in
the theater Of Kieff during the gala per-
Torrance given there in honor OF the
emperor's visit 10 the town When Stoly-
= IL
Rasputfr made no secret OF the satisfac-
ton which his death had occasioned to
him. and exerted hiTnsel: in favor OF
several people who Were supposed to
have been privy 70 the Plot that had been
Matched against the life OF the prime
minister he told his disciples that the
fate which had overtaken the unhappy
Stolypine did not surprise him at ali,
and that every one OF those VINO would
venture TO oppose him would meet with
q similar fate in the future.
In a certain sense. this ;nreat had an
effect on those before whom IL was ut
tered. People began TO dread Rasput.n.
not on account OF any supernatural pow
ers he might have been endowed with.
but because they saw that he had man
aged to get into association with indi-
viduals utterly interruptions and ready
to resort to every means. even TO as
et&@1llAlAolls gEa-I ~ Nchlc ~ NANA+
own ends. They thought II better and
wiser. therefore. 10 get out OF his way
and not to attempt to tnwart him. He
became associated in the mind OF Rus
sian society with conspirators similar
10 the Italian carbonari of Camorrists.
The conviction that under the veil OF
religious fervor he was able TO per-
suade his satellites TO do whatever he
pleased. and 20 hesitate at nothing in
the way of infamy and crime, gradual
~ established itself everywhere until IL
was thought advisable TO have nothing
to do with him, or else to submit TO
him absolutely and in everything. II
was very well known that he had had
a hand in the murder OF Mr.. Stolypine.
but not one single person could be
found daring enough 20 say so. and an
atmosphere OF impunity enveloped him
together with those who worshipped at
his shrine or who had put themselves
under hts protection.
RUSSIA TREMBLED BEFORE RAS-
PUTIN
IL was during this same winter Of
1sI2-13 that the name OF Rasputin be-
came more and more familiar to the
ears OF the general public. which until
that time had only heard about his
vaguely and had not troubled about him
at all. II was also then that rumors
without number concerning the prayer
meetings at which he presided began to