MR. BEGBIE'S TALK WITH A PROPHETESS OF RUSSIAN EVOLUTION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 179, 2 June 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

MR. BEGBIE'S TALK WITH A PROPHETESS OF RUSSIAN EVOLUTION.

A VISION OF THE NEW RUSSIA

INTERVIEW WITH THE COUNTESS

808 RINSE Y

Hope was ever on her mountain, watching till the day begun— Crowned with sunlight—over darkness—from the still unrisen sun. —"Sixty Years After." By ''The London Daily Chronicle" Special Correspondent, HAROLD BEGBJE. MOSCOW When we arrived she was sitting upright and calm before a business table, listening to two Russian gentlemen, slightly nervous, who had journeyed from Petrograd to get her patronage and assistance for a new religious society—a society whose name, apparently, did not explain its object. Presently one of the gentlemen, sitting on the edge of his chair, made that object known—the society they were forming, he said, Avas for the spiritual regeneration of Russia Good gracjous, you should have seen the Countess! Also, you should have heard her!

Let me explain that she is one of the greatest ladies in Russia. She may be called, I think, the leading philanthropist and the most successful crganiser of charity in a country which has only lately turned it* genius in this direction

She is an Elizabeth Fry, a Florence Nightinga'e, a Catherine Booth, and a Mrs. Pankhurst rolled into one. A tremendous lady.

Let me explain, toe, that she is of

of a certain social scandal which has become notorious during the last few months. She concluded : "Do you think that we who know how our soldiers are suffering will allow such things to continue after this war? No. I will go to the Ministers. 1 will go to the Emperor —yes, to the Emperor ! And I will say to them (oh, lam not afraid, I tell you!), I will say to them, 'This sort of thing stinks in the nostrils of Russia. It disgraces us before the world. Stop it. You must stop it. We are sick to death of such scandals.' And I believe it will be stopped. For a new Russia has been born since the war. It is a Russia which has drunk of the wine of selfsacrifice. It 's transfigured. It is a Russia which feels itself graid, glorious, unconquerable. It will no longer suffer itself to bo treated like a wicked child. It will be free It will make an end of tyranny aril corruption. Ana such a scandal as this, disgracing and shaming us, it will become impossible —im —possible!"' 1 expressed my admiration of her courage, and said I wondered fear of Siberia did not a little mince her words. She burst out laughing. "They dare not touch me!" she cried. "I will go to Petrograd after this war; I will confront diem all; 1 will say to them (striking her breast)—' Send me, send me to Siberia!'—and they will not do it. No, T have faced them before. 1 have spoken my mind freely. lam afraid of nobody, of nobody. "Besides, I know them all. We are very good friends. They only want stirring up now and again. But you will see. After this war there will be a change in Russia such as no man has dreamed of. It will be immense, immense, im—mense! We are waiting. We are holding ourselves back. We do not want discussion and disputes now. But after the war ! All, we will set our house in order. I can tell you." "As for the Church "