The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-13

n to be thoroughly informed of cenes and led up to the killing dethrOnement of the CZar.
 law she took determined stand, and the breach between the two women widene immeasurably.
 Nothing could make the Czar wa yer in his affectionate allegiance to his mother; but the close sympathy that had existed between him and his sisters ceased by degree, and the ties of friendship with some of his cous- ins were severed. The Empress brought dissension into the bosom of his family. She came between him and all his affections, and alienated him completely from his konsfolk." :"
 About 1904 or 1905, the writer says, her conduct became strang and mo- ticeable. She never appeared in pub lie. Private audiences were unwilling ly granted, and only in the most ur- gent cases. Court receptions were abolished. Only the restricted court circle saw her, and all kinds of ru- mors spread.
 Some said that, fearing to grow fat, she had followed a reduction treat ment against the advice of her doc tor, and the result was complete ner- vous breakdown. Others stated tha: she suffered from nervous eczema which prevented her showing herself in public.
 Some affirmed she was the victim ! of a neurotic heart disease, and al times could not bear the presence o1 more than one person in her vicinity Others believed she was simply mad"
 Under Rasputin's Spell ''EIer Majesty began taking a vivid interest in clerical affairs, her devo- tion taking a fanatical turn. She showed a marked predilection for pill grims and monks.
 "Rasputin had then been taken uI | by Bishop Theophanus, confessor o1 the Imperial fsmily. He achieved . decided success, and when it was re. ruted that he had a marvellous hyp. notic power the Bishop spoke of hin
 to Alexandra and brought him into
 her presence.
 "Her Majesty found the priest.
 presence had a soothing effect on he
 shattered nerves. And so began tn,
 influence which steadily led the Elm
 press, and through her the Emperor
 to their downfall.
 Her Majesty implicitly believed il
 Rasputin's saintliness, and her faitl
 in the power of his prayers wa
 boundless.''
 She heard the story of his prophec,
 at the shrine of St. Seraphim, and tn
 idea got hold of her mind that Ras
 putin's life was mixed up with tha
 of her son. The Lord had sent hin ; to the court to protect the boys feli l city. , Rasputin became a mighty tool il
 the hands of those who desired to ob tain a hold ever the Empress. ] The continual presence of thi coarse mujik amid the intimates o } the court circle was a nightmare t most of them. Admiral Niloff ono
 warned Nicholas of the increasing dis z pleasure the monks presence caused r Better one Rasputin than te 3 hysterics,' was the Cars response. Warnings Unheeded
 LC press dlSO IGCeIN6u WdTD
 ings of her growing unpopularity ow
 ing to Rasputin's presence and influ ence, but paid no attention to then Let Petrograd and the aristocrac be displeased," was her argumen They are not Russia. In the province | the Emperor and his family are yer popular and the peasants are flattere to think that one of their class live Il in our proximity"
 Therein she misread Russian char acter. The peasants had stron F. sense of the difference between then
 selves and the Car, and the know | ledge that the Little Father could t
 imposed upon by an upstart frol = their own ranks, a mujik of question II able antecedents, lowered the standin '' of sovereignty in their eyes and il - jured their feelings of loyalty and rt T spect."
 S During the first days of the ws
 with Germany, the writer says, thel '- was a moment when Nicholas coul - have attached to himself the love an II respect of the Nation. Even the En II press could have regained the affe, tions of her husbands subjects. P; Q triotism filled all hearts and mao u the people ready to forgive past grie' T. ances and rally around the thron '- eager to defend beloved and Ho s Russia from the hated Germans" But a few days brought home B. all the conviction that these patriot lc feelings were not shared by ever, one. It transpired that Her Majest n German by birth was not enthusiast D. about the war.
 After two months or war it w
 whispered that the Empress was e
 deavoring with all her might to bril l. about reconciliation between u le Kaiser and the Czar, and thus insu r. a separate peace. The fact was su ly denly revealed that at heart she b T. longed to Germany, and that she bol