Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-05-01
ADJUSTMENTS
COMING TO THE COLONIAL TO.
DAY
"The Fall Of the Romanoffs."

TS dt W AliC
Rasputin-illiterate peasant, drunk
en- sled driver, ruffian-learns in a
vodka shop of the death of the wife
of Meliti, q member Of the clergy
who lives in the next village. That
day Rasputin. after an exhibition of
ployed by Meliti to drive him to the
latter's home. Rasputin does so and,
taking advantage of the information
gathered in the tavern, he tells Me-
liti's fortune, prophesying that Me-
liti's wife will be found dead. and
also her infant: and that Meliti will
become a monk and then a bishop.
The latter, somewhat impressed. re-
turns to his home, to find the pre-
diction true. Being very superstiti-
Gus, he falls on his knees before the
half drunken Rasputin and cries
that he is a holy man, an inspired
seer This works upon Rasputin' s
imagination until he believes him
self superhuman and he returns to
his village to preach. His neighbors
scorn him and his family considers
him insane. and finding that, as a
prophet, he is without honor in his
own country. he sets forth to carry
his own version of Gods message
into the wilderness.
In his travels he meets Anna, a
gypsy girl, pure of body and heart
who, becoming fascinated with his
eloquence and weird aspect, follows
him and loves him with dog like
fidelity. And the strange pair jour
ney on. Rasputin is really a hypo-
critic. and although he breaches di-
vinity he has not lost his evil habits
and thinks nothing of theft or any
other petty crime.
In the St. Petersburg palace of the
Romanoff Dynasty. the Czarina gives
birth to a fourth daughter, and Car
Nicholas laments, for it seems as II
he will never have a male heir.
Rasputin. returning to his former
home, steals a harness and is ar
rested.
Meliti becomes a Bishop. thus con-
firming Rasputin's prophecy. He
relates the incident to Theophan. a
church dignitary. and SO impresses
him that he tells it to the Gar
There is a superstition in Russia
that the Romanoff dynasty is to be
saved by a monk from the Siberian
wilderness and when the Car learn,
of Rasputin, he sends for him
When the messenger of the Car ar
rives in the village, he finds Ras-
putin wearing a white shirt upon
which is printed the word thief" ;
around his neck is Il horse collar
while on his head is a fools cap
and he trudges through the village
street. surrounded by a mob from
whom he cannot escape because on
his feet are immense boots given
such culprits. The tops of these
come far above his knees and they
weigh about 10 pounds each. The
rabble jeer him while Anna the gyp-
sy girl lament ut is unable to save
him. Suddenly the royal carriage
surrounded by 4 detachment of Cos
sacks, drives up the street. Prince
Felix, the messenger from the Car
demands Rasputin the prophet. and
is astounded when the suffering
malefaCtor is pointed out to him
Rasputin triumphs over the village
mob, for he leaves the village and
its awe-struck populace, seated by
the side of Prince Felix. Anna begs
to go with him, but Rasputin scornS
her.
The royal family and the court
attendants are shocked when the
former sled driver is announced as
Easputin. Filthy. with knotted hair
and tangled beard. and in tattered
garments, bearing aloft a huge
cross made of forest boughs, Ras-
putin enters and. advancing with
weird steps, he suddenly brings his
hand down upon the %able with a
crash which causes the Gar to
start as the courters advance to
protect their ruler from danger.
Where did YOU feel the shock,
Your Majesty?" cries Rasputin; "in
your head or in your hearth"
The astounded monarch replies
that he feels it in his heart Ras-
putin answers that he shall rule his
people from his heart, and prophe-
sizes that the Czarina shall have a
son.
Rasputin is installed in a magnt-
ficent suite in the Winter Palace
and becomes the power behind the
throne and adviser to the Car in
all important affairs.
At this period Iliodor. young
mystic from Siberia, becomes a
monk, and as he fasts to gain holi-
ness and to wean his mind from
worldly affairs, he has a vision OF
the whole of suffering Russia. The
people are oppressed by gather
ing of ariStocrats. corrupt law
makers. and the Car. AS Iliodor
is a believer in the Car, he fancies
these visions are sent by the devil
and prays to get rid of them.
Soon Rasputin's forecast is veri-
fed. The predicted son is born
and the prophets power becomes
stronger.
Rasputin has not forgotten Anna,
and realizing that with her ready
wit she may be able to help him in
his intrigues, he returns to his viii
lage for her. His mother is dead,
the family have been evicted from
their hut. and his old father. with
Rasputin's three children, has wan
dered away. They implore Raspu-
tins wife to go with him but she
gently refuses and declares her in
tention of waiting her husbands re-
turn.
When he does. it is in grandeur
with a rich sleigh and an escort OF
Cossacks. The wife staggers to him
as he helps Anna into the sleigh
but is repulsed and falls senseless in