The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-08-08
O understand Russian poll
tics it is necessary to un-
derstand Russians. Before

H9kg1 derstand Russians. Before
NNg the war we we're prone
to think of them as race of Co.'S
sacks, fierce and fearless. without
regard for their own or anyone
else's lives. Up to the time of the
revolution this conception-of in
difference to personal safety-was
fostered by the fiction of Kuprin,
Turgenief. ct al, but instead of
terrible Cossack they wrote of the
young university students of both
sexes immolating themselves upon
the altar of freedom, the immeas-
urable sacrifice of young lives being
rendered useless by the torpor and
stupidity of the masses, the mex
orable power of the government.
Now a different note is creeping
into literature about Russia and
we see Russians as superstitious
mystics, gentle. long-suffering, pa
tient. This superstitious mysticism
we are told is inspired by the geo.
graphical situation, the climate and
the Russian religion. The ortho-
dox church prescribes Lenten
season of six months, the six most
vigorously severe of the year, and
consequently when the rain and
snow are almost incessant and the
steppes are grey and monotonous,
the impressionable Russian, instead
of fortifying himself for the strug-
gle with nature with food his ap-
petite Graves, Systematically starves
himself in obedience to religious
mandate, and his underfed body
communicates it's weakened condi-
ton to his undernourished brain,
producing a deep melancholy which
results in dead inerti& and hope
less resignation. When in this
state peasants will walk miles to
consult a sorcerer or a wonder
worker, to obtain a charm, an herb
or a prayer. And like the peasants
the ruling classes, even to the car,
turn to seers and mystics for con-
ISOLATION and counsel. 1t is COM
monty believed that the prophetic
spirit comes often to the peasant at
the plow or the humble pilgrim
who may be wandering over the
vast Russian plains visiting holy
men and sacred places.
The fame of one such a devotee
gradually spread among the people
until it penetrated the royal court.
Gar Nicholas, being of a pliable,
credulous aud superstitious nature,
was peculiarly susceptible to the
representations of these holy
men as made by some designing
courtier anxious to worm himself
into the imperial favor, and always
admitted them to his presence and
confidence. In "The Mad Monk
of Russia" Century Co.. Iliodor,
the author, charges that from 1907
Russia was ruled not by ministers
but by various lunatics, cripples
and saints" that while the minis
ters would be making their reports
to the czar in the council chamber,
this sanity horde, ragged, bare.
foot, filthy, would fill the palace
even to playing with the royal
children in the bedchambers, and
as soon as the ministers were gone
would file into the czar's study fol-
consultation with the ruler. Not
infrequently, he tells US, their
prophetic word nullified the re.
ports and destroyed the schemes
of the ministers. Of course there
was jealousy among these saints
and their intrigues eventually
wrought their downfall. However,
no sooner did ones popularity be.
gin to wane than some alert cour.
tier would introduce another. II
he happened to be honest and sim
cere he would give the czar his
blessing and depart on his pilgrim.
age, but if crafty and cummings