Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-22

Though he had never carried his
knowledge beyond a thorough grasp of
the precedence that ought to be award
ed 20 distinguished guests at dinner
party (which he had acquired while he
was master OF the ceremonies at the
Imperial Court). yet he was convinced or
his capacity to fill the most important
offices Of the Russian state These he
looked upon with the eyes OF a farmer
in the presence Of his best milking COW.
He was not eOurtier. but a flatterer
by nature. and an essentially accommo-
dating one, too. There was no danger
of his ever turning his back on persons
who had reasons to think were in pos
session Of the favor OF personages IN
high places. And he had n wonderful
faculty for toadying wherever he expect
ed that IL might prove useful TO his
career.
For some years he had vegetated In a
kind of semidisgrace and fretted over his
inactivity. when he found himself able
once more 10 make a display of his ad-
mfnistratfve talents he took himself and
these talents quite seriously and iHE
agfned that perhaps he could become
the savior OF Russia but surely a very
rich man. This last idea had been SUE
gested TO him by Mr.. Manussewitscn-
Naniuloff who in conversation with him
had imbued Mr. Sturmer with the con-
viction that il would be a proof OF care
less neglect on his part If he did no'
make the most OF the many oppoFtuni-
ties his important position as prime
minister put i'm his way, and did no;
assure the prosperity OF his old age.
when he had at his disposal all possible
sources OF information out OF which ne
might make a profit. Mr.. Sturmer was
no saint. and the weakness or the tlesh
had always appealed TO him There Is
nothing wonderful in the fact that ne
listened with attention. and even with
satisfaction. to the condolences which
= were poured into his ear by his private
secretary of whose talents he had
most exalted opinion.
When his FTdus Achates was arrested
and thrown into a more or less dark
dungeon. Mr.. Sturmer was so dismayed
that he allowed himself TO be drawn
into the mistake Of identifying himself
with the prisoner and claiming his lib
Arfy as right II is related that when
the object of his solicitude heard OF
the various steps undertaken by the
prime minister on his behalf he gave
vent 10 words OF impotence AT what he
considered an imprudence likely to cost
a good deal 10 the guilty ones
'-Sturmer ought 20 have known that
2 man like myself does not allow him
sen 10 Dc AGEE-NEA HAAAANAA To AAA. IN
en- the precautiOn TO be able 20 impose
on those Who had ventured to do so
the necessity of liberating him." he
had exclaimed.
TINE facc was that Manussewitch-
Maniuloff had put to profit the
months when, in his capacity as
private secretary to the prime minister
ne had access TO all the archives and
secret papers Of the ministry OF the in
terror He had taken copies of more
than one important document, the d.
vuIging of which might have put the
Russian government in an embarrass-
ing position Some persons even said
that his zeal had carried him so far al
to make him appropriate to himself the
originals OF these documents, leaving
only a worthless copy in their place.
True or not, it is certain that the spirit
of foresight that chad always distin-
guished him had induced him to take Ger
tain precautions against any possible
mishap capable OF interfering with bis
career He was able to regard his Inn
prisonmentr really phil sophicallE- This
was more than Mr.. Sturuer could do
The latter had reason TO fear that dur
ing the police search OF the tat Occupied
~ Mr.. ussewitsch-Maniuloff some
compromising letters had been discover
. ed This fear did not add TO his hap
was not strong enough to resist the at
lacks which, dating from that day. were
poured upon his head In spite or the
assurances which Rasputin was con-
t.nuaIly giving him that he had nothing
20 fear. he did not share the confidence
of the prophet"
England and Russia
He had good reasons for this fear.
In the duma- in the PretrOgrad drawing
rooms. in the army and among the pub
lie. all felt sick OF Mr.. Sumner, and al.
spoke Of nothing else but OF the neces-
sitY Of compelling him to resign his
post Among the different reprOaches
which were addressed to him was that
OF being an enemy of England and Of
trying 70 work against the Russo-Eng-
Iish alliance II was very well known
that his relations with Sir George Blu
yhanan. the British ambassador, were
not cordial Sir George. in spite OF all
mat the pro-Germans liked to say about
him, was a popular parsonage in Rus
sia. that is. among the sane portion or
Russian society. which had hailed with
JOY the initiative that he had taken IN
the great work OF reorganization Of the
Russian administration
Thanks 10 the English officers VINO
had arrived in Russia with the aim Of
bringing some kind of order out of the
chaos that had prevailed not only IN
the war ONCE. but in every other branch
Of the government, the military position
OF the empire had considerably improved
and the great work of national defense
had been at last put upon a sound ba-
sis. As a man occupying a very i'm
portant position in Petrograd wrote 10
me during the course Of last summer:
There are some people here who say
that Russia is fast becoming an English
colony. but I reply 10 them that she
might certainly do worse, IL by that
word Is meant the INTRODUCTION OF the
English spirit OF order and Of English
@Nn a Ea 4 n