The Washington times., 1921-10-09

An infinite discouragement filled the
soul OF the Empress; she felt that
the entire universe had turned
against her. The perpetual fear Of
an attempt on either the life Of the
Emperor or the Czarevitch contrib
uted also to wear down her nervous
resistance.
1t was then that the most sinister
figure in all Russian history made
his entrance. A simple peasant Of
observation-disclosures brought TO
her.
He said: Believe in the efficacy
Of my prayers. Believe In the power
Of my Intervention and your son
will live"
The devoted mother cluns to this
new hope with the whole force Of
her being. For q long time she had
been persuaded that the safety Of
Russia and Of the dynasty came
from the people and she imasined
that this humble peasant was sent
by God to save her son. The power
or faith did the rest and by Q sim.
- phenomenon of auto -suggestion
she persuaded herself that the fu-
ture Of Russia depended on this
man.
HIS DIAB0LIC PLANS.
Rasputin fully realized the part Ire
could play and by diabolicai ability
he managed to bind up his own life
with that OF the Tsarevitch.
To appreciate this enterprise Of
Rasputin. one must take into nc.
count the role played by the staretzi.
religious men in Russia, who were
neither priests nor monks.
The staretz was an ascetic. lfy-
ing generally in monastery.
though sometimes also In solitude. a
sort or conductor Of souls to whom
one had recourse in trouble or SUI.
fering.
The influence Of these men was
considerable up to the revolution in
1917. In province and country their
influence was even greater than that
OF the Russian church priests and
monks.
Lost In the marshes along the
Tobol is . small viliage-Pokrov-
shoie. There Gregory Rasputin was
born. The poverty Of the soil COM
PEELED the people to live by expedi-
ents-often by robbery and murder.
Gregory soon distinguished him.
self by the audacity Of his exploits,
and established the reputation Of an
unrestrained libertine. They kn.w
him only by the sobriauet Of Ras-
putin, a corruption Of the work ras.
poutnik, "the debauchee." which
became In time sort OF family name
for him.
The Inhabitants Of the villages Of
Siberia rented horses to travellers
who were crossing the country and
they themselves served as guides
and coachmen.
One day Rasputin conducted to the
convent Of Verkoturie q priest, who
was struck by the vivacity Of his M.
tural gifts and brought him to con.
fide the story Of his dissipated life
of licentious orgies and long fits Of
drunkenness. He persuaded Greg.
DRY to consecrate his talents TO
God.
So great an impression did this
extortation produce on Rasputin
that he decided to abandon his life
Of debauchery and robbery. He
made a long stay In the monastery
Of Verkhoturie and began to fra
duent holy places in the surround.
ing country.
SAINT" BACKsLIDES AGAIN.
When he returned to his native
village he seemed transformed, and
the Inhabitants had difficulty In
recognizing In this holy man Of
grave behavior and austere nien
the former ruffian celebrated only
because Of his orgies. They saw him
go from village to village helping
the unfortunate, and making long
citations from the lives Of the
saints drawn from his prcdirious
memory. for those who wished 20
hear him. W
Public credulity. which he 60
plotted In q decidedly clever mapner
lost no time In procisiming him