Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-01
RASPUTIN - Devil or Sal t.?
= By the Princess Radziwill =
Copyright 1911 an Rights Reserved)

As for the body of Rasputin. IL was
at first kept in the hospital where il
had been taken after its recovery from
under the ice. The police received or
ders not TO allow il TO be seen by the
crowds. which one feared would flock
in numbers TO have a last look at their
saint" the Blessed Gregory as he
was called But 10 the general surprise
these crowds did not manifest any
curiosity 10 view the mortal remains
OF the man about whom so much fuss
had been made in his lifetime. hut after
whose death the whole Russian world
seemed to breathe more freely than IL
had been able 20 do for the last ten
years or so. Among the clergy salts
faction was openly expressed. and Il
was only a few hysteriCal women who
were found TO weep over the end OF the
career OF one OF the wickedeSt men who
had ever lived
The question most discussed in con-
nection ith the death OF this sinister
adventurer was whether he was 10 be
allowed a Christian burial. He had
been. after all. but a sectarian. hereto.
% the follower OF a creed which was not
only reproved BY the orthodox church.
but also prosecuted BY the law OF the
land. The synod was called upon 10
pronounce itself on the subject when
the advice OF the Metropolitan Pitirim
OF PetroErad. one OF the personal
friends of Rasputin. at last prevailed.
and he was buried with the rites OF
Holy Church. Some OF the ladies who
had been the first cause OF his havinS
obtained the Importance which grew TO
lie attached TO his strange figure did not
wait, hOweveT. for the permission OF
the ecclesiastical authorities. and a
Few hours after the body had been dis
covered Madame W. one Of the most
hysterical among the many women fol-
lowers OF Rasputin. caused solemn
prayers to be celebrated in her apart
ments for the repose Of his soul She
went 20 fetch his two daughters girls
OF sixteen and fourteen years of age.
who were living with him at PetrOgrad,
taking them TO her house and declar-
ing that she would henceforward con-
slider and treat them as her own chill
dren-
But apart from this small group OF
blind admirers. no one regretted him,
not even the crew Of parasites that
had surrounded him and exploited him.
by one OF those strange anomalies. suoS
as cor only take place i'm Russia, Mr.
sewitscff-AIaniuIoff. who had been
the indirect cause OF his death was
appointed together with other secret
police agents. to investigate the details
connected with the murder OF his for
r1sr friend and patron OF course. this
inquest led 10 nothing. No one had
any wish to see il end otherwise than
in oblivion Every political party in
Russia was agreed in thinking that with
the disappearance of this dangerous
man the dynasty had won a battle Just
as important for the safety Of its fu-
turc existence as would have been a
victory on the battlefield against for
eign foe The names of the murderer'i.
though pronounced nowhere, were bless
ed 0v all sincere Russian patriots. who
cried out when they heard that Ras-
putin was no more. Thank GOD that
this adventUrer is dead and long live
the car"
CHAPTER TX.
Il WISH could think that the extra
ordinary incident which I nave
described has come to an end ana
hat. together with Rasputin. the peo-
ole who pushed him forward and who
used him for their own purposes have
also disappeared. Unfortunately, TINS
assurance fails me. and the terror that
some one else may spring up IN MS
place haunts my mind. as il does OF al
LOYAL Russians. Rasputin. taken inol-
viduaIly. did not deserve any notice he
was never in possession OF the influence
which was attributed TO him. and MS
voice was never preponderanI IN lhe
councils of tho tar II served the IN
terssts or these whose tool he had De
come to spread the notion that he had
acquired IT, and that thanks 10 the
religious enthusiasm which ne hao con-