THE MONK RASPUTIN.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 18 January 1917, Page 3

THE MONK RASPUTIN.

j The Russian monk Gregory Rasputin, whose murder in Russia recently has been the subject of our cables for some days past, was an extraordinary personage, who exercised a strange influence over the Czarina of Russia. It is stated that he inspired her with the belief that so long as ho was near no harm could befall the Czarevitch, and when, by a strange coincidence, the heir to the throne was stricken with a mysterious illness nearly five years ago the fact that Rasputin was away at the time strengthened the mother's belief in his miraculous faculties. One by one the Czarina's trusted friends and retainers left or were dismissed, and their places were taken by Rasputin's nominces. For instance, a woman who superintended the education 'of the Grand Duchesses, an old trusted retainer, resigned after a stormy interview with the Czar, during which she protested strongly against Rasputin being allowed to enter the young girls' apartments at any hour of the day or night. Later on Rodz'ianko, President of the Duma, also spoke to the Czar o*l the same subject, only to be abused [ for '' impertinent interference.'' ! Two years ago Kionia Goussiewa, a Siberian woman, attempted to stab the monk. Following the news of the attempt upon Rasputin's life, the International News Service correspondent went to ' Pokrowskoie, where, after considerable difficulty, he succeeded in obtaining an interview with the woman, Mine. Goussiewa. She was a pathetic figure, old, bent, and somewhat hideous looking, owing to having lost her nose, as the result of an illness. "I had long intended to kill Rasputin," said Mme. Goussiewa,, "in order to avenge the hideous wrongs he has done under the guise of religion. '•'Nobody can have any idea of what a monster he is. He deceives everybody. He has dishonoured our Czar and brought shame upon the whole of Russia. "Knowing he is assured of immunity, dozens of women and girls, both rich and poor, have fallen under his spell. It was he who caused the fall and disgrace of that holy man Illidore. "I'm only sorry I didn't kill him outright. I wanted to give him another blow, but his son seized my band. What do I care for life? I am incurably ill, and it is a matter of little difference to me whether I die sooner or later.

"I followed Easputin for a long time, determined to kill him, -and bought the knife especially to do so a year ago. Before Whitsuntide in Yaltai I once got near him, and was preparing to strike, but he was surrounded by court ladies, who always follow him, and I didn't wish to harm them." Here the woman burst into tears. "Even if he doesn't die now, Rasputin will be killed before long. Russia can't bear' the shame with which this monster covers her.'' The Czarina went into dreadful hysterics when she heard the news of the stabbing, and wanted to go immediately to Pokrowskoie to nurse Rasputin herself, but the Czar almost by force had her put on the Imperial Vacht for Finland, where she is completely prostrated, and refused to return to St. Petersburg to receive President Poincaire, of Prance. Before leaving the Czarina insisted that her friend, Mme. Wyroubeff go to the monk's side immediately, and I send daily reports of his condition.

Until ho was 30 years of ago Easpu- ! tin was only known in his obscure village in the south of Russia as a horse thief and a debauchee. He was a splendidly successful horse-lifter; he was a Rabelaisian reveller. Then he suddenly became religious; retired into solitude, and gradually acquired the reputation of being a saint and a faithhealer. The superstitious peasants saw in his reformation the intervention of their Providence. He wont to a small monastery and schemed his way irregularly into holy orders. In his confessional he intrigued with a rich merchant's widow, inveigled her into becoming his patron, and through her reached St. Petersburg. He possessed some extraordinary influence over all womankind. They were as patty in his hands, and he used them to push his way through the church into court, until he stood on the right hand of theCzarina and became the word and law to both her and the Czar. He became immensely wealthy by using his position at court, and although he was only a common Moujik,, Scarcely able to read and write, his sway wa s so universal that the greatest in the land sought admission to his salon. Wherever he went he was accompanied by a bevy of beautiful female disciples, quite a number of whom died suddenly from some undetected ailment. He was the chartered libertine of Russia, yet the Czarina openly attributed the birth of the Czarevitch in 1904 to Rasputin's intercession. He made open boast of 'his gross immorality, and wa sonce banished for a particularly shocking scandal. But he told the Empress that something terrible would follow his exile. The Czarevitch fell ill, and he was brought back post haste to St. Petersburg to again become the sinister man •f mystery, ,