FATE OF A BRAVE RUSSIAN

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1931, Page 7

FATE OF A BRAVE RUSSIAN

DEATH IN' PRISONI CAMP. A brave Russian has just died for love of his country. His life was a shining example of the highest kind of patriotism, a patriotism that had nothing to do with the rattling of sabres, but belonged to the true love of mankind and the world, says the “Children’s Newspaper.” Valerian M<uravieff was the charming and brilliant son of a Minister ( of Justice who was beloved for the reforms lie instituted in the penal code and afterward became Ambassador to Rome. The boy who was bred in such fortunate surroundings soon proved that he had exceptional and he was employed in the Foreign Office until the war came.

Then Valerian joined the army. Afterward came the revolution, and he was thrown into prison by the Bolsheviks. He had committed no crime, but hundreds of people were executed because they had once been rich, and Muravieff expected the same fate. To his astonishment he was released. He had so greatly impressed one of the Soviet officials that the man had said: “Let us release him; we shall gain more by converting such a man than by killing him.”

Most people would have left Russia after such an escape, and the way was made easy for Muravieff, who had many rich and influential friends in foreign lands. But he would not run away. He did not want to live at ease in an alien land while Russia was suffering. So the ambassador’s son became a street-cleaner. .With the brain' that had so impressed his enemy he' could have made money and lived in luxury if lie had not believed it to be his duty to stay in Russia. One day, he thought, he might have an opportunity to serve her. Again hnd again he was taken off to prison and released. In time lie was given work at a scientific institute.

Suddenly Murawieff was arrested and sent to work in one of the dreaded timber camps in North Russia. Such a sentence is a recognised punishment for political offenders, but Muravieff had taken no part in politics, and his only crime was his birt». In that frightful camp he contracted typhus and died. Yet to the end he did not lose faith in Russia.