Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-02-08
RondnOf Dynasty Ruled
In Russia for 300 Years
L. A. Milgrom, Former Russian
Soldier, Tells of Conditions Dur
ing War, Revolution.

An interesting lecture was given by
Louis A. Milgrom, Pine City clothing
merchant, at the Methodist church
in that village, one evening last week,
on Russia during the revolution and
the World war, and conditions at that
time and prior thereto. Mr.. Milgrom
served in the Russian army during
the World war and came to America
in 1922, landing on the American
shores on June Is of that year. He
was born on Feb. II, 1897, at Lubar
in the province of VOline, in European
Russia. He has two sisters and one
brother in the native country whom
he expects to visit this summer if
Russia is not embroiled in conflict
dead, his mother passing away in 1929
and unfortunately he cannot see her
now.
The city in which he was born, near
the Dnieper river, said Mr.. Milgrom,
has a population of about $4,000.
When he was boy there was but
one doctor, one dentist, one druggist,
several saloons, several breweries, two
distilleries in the city, and about IS
per cent of the population was farm
ers. Folks had to pay to go to school,
no free schools like in America
Teachers were educated fellows in
full dress uniforms like hotel bell
boys, and saloons prevailed rather
than schools. There was too much
drinking in Russia which was the
cause of its being held down.
Taking his audience back to 1902
Mr.. Milgrom said that all nations
looked to Manchuria and the Japs
it and spent $2OO,00O,00O. War began
and the losses were great, the final
Russ-Jap battle being at Vladivastok.
Revolution in Making.
Theodore Roosevelt. then United
States president, urged the car to
give the people more liberty. The
Duma-like the American Congress
was granted by the car and set up
in 1906 The people demanded cleo
tion of representatives, full civil lib
atty. They were building up to the
revolution and killed many prominent
men over the country.
The speaker said that the car, who
was head of the church and the army
and navy, was a weak man with
weak heart who believed in fortune
tellers. He had four daughters and
no sons, but finally in 1904 a son was
born to the ruling family, but he was
not healthy, subject to internal hem
orrhage.
A Russian by the name of Gregory
Rasputin, Greek Orthodox monk,
from the city of Prokovskai landed in
Petrograd as beggar. The czar's
Oldest daughter was interested in Ras-
putin because he could perform mir
acles. He made the cars son we'll,
for which the car was very grateful.
Rasputin was taken into confidence in
the inner counsels and became very
powerful. He was not a saint but
devil, said the speaker. If a man
was looking for work and his wife
was not good looking he was out of
luck with Rasputin who had many
undesirable immoral fish parties.
He played big part in the revolution.
Rasputin went from Petrograd to
Moscow and performed more miracles.
But Prince YosipOv, a relative of the
car and a good man. could see
through Rasputin and his trickery.
Arena, wife of the prince, who Ras-
putin called on, disliked him also and
fed him poisonous cookies and wine
Dying too slowly the prince shot him
to get rid of him. The murderer was
sent to Finland.
Enters World War.
On July 30, 1914, Russia declared
war on Germany and the Entente
entering the World war. Mr.. Mil
grom was in the second draft. The
officers wanted him in the cavalry
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