The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-27
AS FROM The DEAD
Kerensky's Appearance in Lon
don Almost Uncanny.
Gaunt, Hollow Checked and
CARRIED i'm Black.
CIAMINc CVEc EuAeTlY EAcE
FLAMING EYES, CHASTITY FACE
Presence Had Been RumOred,
but No One Believed.
In Much Poorer Health Than
He Was Last Year.

London, June 27.-It was a sight
so wondrous and uncanny that those
who saw it have not yet recovered
most of them thought and think they
saw ghost; that gaunt, black CARRIED
stranger with the hollow checked,
CHASTITY pale face and flaming black
eyes rising from his chair in the back
ground on the speakers tribune at
the British labor conference slowly
stepping forward and bowling with
winsome grace as the chairman spoke
his name:
Alexander F. Kerensky."
1t was a moment in which the
genius of a Shakespeare or Poe
would have revelled when, after the
hush of amazement, doubt and Curl
osity among that vast assemblage, one
of the most dramatic figures this
war has produced. re-entered the
arena of the world conflict and an
nounced in fiery words that Russia
had only begun to fight.
What of His Future?
OF his own part, past and future, he
said nothing. What he lived thru
since the day on which, hidden under
a white sheet of an ambulance, posing
as dead, he made his wild race for life
out of Petrograd during the red reign
of terror nine moEths ago, and how he
managed to slip unobserved into Lon
don, incognito, as just a plain traveller
these things remain for him to tell;
and to learn them, or only meager
scraps of them, an army of publishers.
authors and newspaper men are today
making pathetically frantic efforts. A
prominent journalist who suggested
today that Kerensky could get pound
a word for his story may not be far
from the truth.
But the transcendant fact about this
man of surprises is that he is here,
with his hat once more openly in the
ring for Russia'S fight for freedom
from the Prussian yoke. In a week or
so. it is said, he will go to the United
States. His mission as a private citi-
zen,' according to his own modern de-
scription. is to tell the democratic peo-
pies of the world that Russia is about
to throw off the misrule of the Boil
sheviiSi and that all that is needed to
put aer back into the ranks of active
belliSerents is allied and American aid
economic, financial and moral
Reception Was Enthusiastic.
Except for a brief incident which
resulted in the election of a member
who objected 10 the Russian EXPIRE
mier's appearance on the labor plat
form Kerensky's reception was cordial
and enthusiastic.
For days a whisper that Kerensky
was coming to London. or was actual
ly ere, had been making the rounds
.
big papers had a special man assign
ed. with nothing to do but watch for
Kerensky." But it was a precaution-
airy measure more than anything else.
No one bell ved the reports, but no
one wished to be beaten" For five
days the former leader of Russia lived
here in seclusion. altho constantly
comforting with some of his COM
patriots and tther:. The government,
of course, knew he was in London
since his passports had to be vised
But the secret of his presence was well
guarded.
Health Now Precarious.
In his outward appearance Keren-
sky has changed considerably, say
those who knew him year ago. His
health, never too good. is now preca-
rious. His face is drawn and haggard,
the pallor of his sunken cheeks more
siclxly than ever. He no longer walks
with the elastic, youthful step with
which he used to advance to the edge
of a speakers platform in Petrograd
to face, fight and conquer a hostile
audience. His whole demeanor is
more measured and mature. His face
mirrors a world of suffering.
But in his eyes shines the same old
fire Of almost fanatical enthusiasm,
especially when he speaks, and his
speech is as eloquent as melodious
and persuasive ever. Those who
saw rim at the labor conference today
are convinced that the resurrected
Kerehsky. like his beloved Russia, has