Year: 1879

A LIFE DRAMA OF To-DAY.-A myste.
rious Russian, supposed to be noble and
certainly of aristocratic lineage. has Just
closed his career in manner pitiably
mournful and romantic. He has been sent
to Siberia for life; and unless something
hastens to topple over the throne of the
Romanoffs, or unless, like Mazeppa, this
young Nakotin can sweep back from the
plains of Tartary to bring ruin and desc.
lation upon his oppressors, he is as dead
as if he lay at the bottom of tomb, and
the world will hear of him no more.


This man has been famous during the
last few years ut nearly every capital in
Europe. He was the friend and aided in
the escape Of Vera Sassulitch. He was
the author, bearer and dsseminator of
nihilist pamphlets and announcements to
Berlin, to Paris and to London. He was
at the bottom of every conspiracy, the in
ventor of number of the most artfnl and
alarming devices that have of late kept
the Russian authorities in q state of the
utmost alarm and have ceaselessly crum-
pied the rose leaves on which is couched
the uneasy form of Alexander the second.
Nakotin was perfect enthusiast for an
archy, and like the petrel, his coming ever
BODIED storm. His ingenuity has been SO
remarkable that he has constantly evaded
arrest. The ablest detectives of Berlin
and St. Petersburg laid traps for him in
vain. But he fell into their clutches at
last. He became the victim, like SO many
noble natures before him, of the treachery
of woman; and. in truth, his loftiest and
most admirable qualities became the di-
rect causes of his downfall.


When in London in the summer of last
year engaged in one of his nihilist expe-
ditions Nakotin fell in with a young girl
of enhancing beauty who was the daugh-
ter of German who kept a lodging house.
The hard-headed and astute political con-
spirator, the man of high family, who had
given up all the privileges of rank to serve
and raise the down-trodden people, be-
came this girls slave. They were mar
ried and from that moment the doom of
Nakotin was sealed. Almost from the
tered into intrigues with all the men she
fancied, and speedily made the life of her
husband wretched. His friends implored
him to part from her, as he had ample
reason to do. but he refused. He thought
he could reclaim her, and believed it was
his duty to do so. In the sequel. while
with her in Russia, she deliberately plotted
his destruction. She had involved herself
with certain major, an officer in the
Russian service. and desired to be rid of
her husband altogether. She therefore
conveyed to the solicitor-general written
denunciation Of Nakotin, under oath,
giving an account of his life and deeds,
with information respecting his papers
and correspondents. His arrest and exile
followed, and the miserable wretch, his
wife, is said to be now in Paris enjoying
herself.


There may be dramas in real life more
sad and more terrible than this, but for
the honor of human nature il is to be
hoped they are few and far between. 1t
is almost impossible in reading of poor
Nakotin's history and fate not to sympa-
thize with his comrades, the Nihilists,
who, it Is said, have sworn vengeance to
the death, upon his betrayer and her
companion, and who are pretty certain to
carry out their vow.-New York Euening
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