Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-21
.RASPUTIN
Devil or Saint {?
By the Princess Radziwill
(contznusd from Last rssue)
Copyright. 1917. Public Ledger Company.
AuKfghts ReServedl

RaSputin. however. was of a different
opinion, and in his desire that others
should share IL he liked to boast in pub
nc or the things which he had not done
and OF the words which he had not
spoken He was upon excellent terms
with some OF the palace servants. in
whom he had found comrades and with
whom he felt more at his ease than
with any one else He got them to re-
late to him all that was going on in
the family Of the car. He very clever
ly made use Of this knowledge later on
II is well known in Russia that tine
emperor himself was watched by the
secret police, not only in view of his
personal safety. but also because 1t was
20 the interest OF the police TO be thor
oughly acquainted with all that he did
and with the remarks that IL pleased
him TO make. And the secret police
were working hand in hand with Ras-
putin Their provocative agents. Of
which there existed considerable num-
lbers. were everywhere talking about the
Prophets influence and ever-growing
Importance, as well as relating in all the
restaurants and public places in the
capital wonderful and improbable tales
concerning him and his doings. From
these they were spread among the public
and penetrated to people who otherwise
would never have had the possibility of
hearing anything about them Among
those who showed themselves the most
active and the most eager to talk about
Rzsputin and about the influence which
he was acquiring were persons well
known for their German sympathies and
others suspected OF being German
agents in disguise
At that period the great, aim Of the
German foreign ONCE was to bring
about the collapse OF the Franco-Rus-
sian alliance. and it set itself most
cleverly to try to bring il about Among
the persons whom IL employed for the
purpose was RaSputin, perhaps unknown
10 himself. but led by men like Count
witte- who had always been pro-Ger-
man in sympathy and who had almost
engaged himself to bring about rap
nrochement between the St Petersburg
and the Berlin courts Working with
Witte was Mr.. ManuSSewitsch MANU-
loft. one of the most abominable secret
agents the world has ever known, who
II his unscrupulousness would have
done anything he was asked, provided
he were paid high enough. For years he
mad been in receipt OF German SUBSIDIES
Ry dint of Matchmaking he had con-
trfved To maintain himself in the ca
nzcity of one of the editors OF the
~ovoIe vremia, where he wrote all that
vas asked of hmm for consideration,
IRE extent and nature Of which depend
I'd upon circumstances He was also on
me stan OF the Russian political Inteni-
-encs Department, to which he rendered
,s-l-h services as he considered to be adj
vsntareous to himself without the least
thought Of the use these might be 10
ne state which employed him
- nrs~-rr-Tn E-E uaS a snend-
mi thrift who never could deny
4fA himself any OF the good things
or life. These are always considered
10 be expensive ones. and consequently
ne had expensive tastes. His capacity
ar poIice agent had allowed him to
blzckmziI TO advantage people against
whom he had discovered. OF thought he
had discovered, something in the way
Of dangerous political opinions One
OF his fayorite, occupations consisted
IN going about among these people and
limiting to them that unless they show
Cd themselves willing to minister TO his
numerous wants they might find them
selves one day in q very tight corner.
Generally these tactics proved success
mi. until he was caught red-handed in
Paris. where he had been sent on a
special mission, =. tampering with the
funds of which he had control This
accident caused him to be dismissed.
BUT the man knew far. too much and
had been far too advanced in the con-
fidence of his superiors Tor them 10
ne able 20 do without his services, so
he was allowed TO return to Russia and
enroll himself in journalism, thus TO
make himself useful again. He had
wonderful intelligence and was an ex-
ceIIent worker and talked fluently in
most OF the European languages. He
therefore made his way up the ladder
once more. until at last he became the
private secretary of Mr.. Sturmer when
the latter was Prime Minister. an ad-
vancement that proved fatal to him be-
cause il brought him to prison But
Of this / shall speak later on when
touching spon the events which culmin-
ated in the murder OF Rasputin-
THE MONK BECOMES 4
PROPHET"
Such were the men who virtually
controlled every action of the Prophet,
and IL is no wonder if guided by them
he sometimes contrived TO influence
even the Tar himself, but the latter's
Ministers and officials who had been
told they did not even know by whom.
but probably by the loud voice OF the
public. that to do anything to please
Raxputin was to secure for oneself the
EOO0 EFdCES oA AAAE HASh0oN R~NFaN -
the land AS time went on the "Proph-
e. showed himself less and less in
pubIic. remaining among small circle
of personaI friends. whose interest II
was to represent him as a kind Of In
dian idol. unapprozchable except TO his
worshipers-
And in the meanwhile the ladies who
had been the first artisans Of Resputin's
favor were still holding religious meet
fn~s under his guidance and still seeking
fuspfration from his teachings They
believed him to be a real saint, refused
70 admit that he could do anything
wrong and refused to accept as true the
r1Imors which went about and whicn
unfortunately for the prophets" rep
utation. we're but too exact. that he was
fond of every kind of riotous living. thai
he spent his nights in drunken revels
and that he gave his best attention tc
brandy mixed with champagne. His ad
ufIrers persisted in seeing in him the
prophet OF the Almighty and believef
mat they could never be saved unless
tfaev con formed to all the directions
which IL might please him to give them
The Rasputin craze became more vio-
tent than ever during the few months
which. Immediately preceded the war
and IL very nearly verged upon completi
fanaticism for his personality. Every
thing that he did was considered TO bC
holy. His insolence and arrogance, dis
PLAYED with increasing violence every
,Hax+ and hour were almost incredible