Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-11

seldom in st. Petersburg. He spent most
Of his time at Tsarskoie Selo, where
his headquarters were the apartments of
Mime. w. He used to make only brief
and flying visits to the capital, where he
possessed several dwellings,. One never
knew in which one he could be found,
as he used to go from one to another,
according to his fancy. He gave audi
ences like a sovereign would have done.
and before any one was allowed to enter
his presence that person had to be sub.
jected to course of cross-eXamination
so as to make quite sure that no ma
licious or evil designs were harbored
by him in regard to the prophet"
At last, after a succession of unavail-
ing efforts. l CHANGED to light on a GER
tain Mr.. de Book, with whom Rasputin
had business relations, and for whom he
procured when the war broke out an i'm
portant contract connected with the sup
ply of meat for the troops in the field.
1t was this parsonage who finally Cb-
t. ned for me the favor of being admit
ted to the home of Rasputin. The lat
ter was living at the time in a very
handsome and expensive flat in a house
situated on the English Prospekt, a
rather distant street in st. Petersburg,
whose proximity to the quarters OF the
working population of the capital had
appealed to the prophets tastes. When
1 arrived there, at about O'Clock in
the afternoon, 1 was, first of all, stop
ned by the hall porter, who wanted me
to explain to him where and to whom l
was going. Upon hearing that IT was 20
Rasputin he insisted on my taking OF
nv fur coat downstairs, and then exam
ined me most carefully and suspicious
". surveying with special attention the
size and volume of my pockets, so as
to make sure that I was not carrying
anv murderous instruments hidden IN
their depths. -.--,
INTERVIEW WITH RASPUTlN.
ITpstairs the door was opened by an
elderly woman with a red kerchief over
ba,, head. who, l learned afterWard
was one of the sisters" who followed
the prophet" everywhere. She "s%rd
for nv name and then ushered me :nto
a room sparsely but richlN furnished
There some half dozen people we're wall
| ing. in what seemed to be TO be extreme
ironatience. for the door of the Eext room
IA omen and admit them. Voices were
rea I'd through the door angrlIy discuss
| Two something or other. Among the leo-
rIe nresent recognized lady-in-waltinS
On The en1Dress an old general in pos
| session of an important command Two
narish priests. three women belonging 70
! tba lower classes, one OF whom seemed
! 70 no in great trouble, and typical
Russian merchant in high boots ana
dressed in the long caftan which is still
| worn by some of those who nave kept
! the traditions of the old school, Then
| there was a little boy of about ten years
| old noorlv clad who was crying bitter
". All these people kept silent, but thy
| eager expression on their faces shoWeH
| that thev were all laboring under an
| intense agitation and emotion Nhel
| I entered the apartment distant 1000
| or disappointment appeared on all their
| faces At last the old general APP
nroached me and, asked me in more or
| less polite tones whether / had a spe-
| cial card of admission or not.
s'What do you mean?" l inquired.
| well. YOU see." he said, I'VE all who
are in this rom have got one, but there
and he pointed with his finger to the
| adjoining door-"there sit the people
who have come here on the chance, Just
to try whether Gregory Ehmitsch Will
| condescend to speak to them. Somf
have been sitting there since last night.
he significantly added. And as he spoke
he slightly pushed ajar the door he had
mentioned I could see that room, =
ANYTHING smaller than the one we were
in. was packed full of persons of differ
emit ages and types. all of whom looked
tired They were sitting not only on the