Russian Memories

in referring to her as "the M.P. for Russia in England." With that consummate tact which never fails her, Madame Novikoff has evaded the compliment and justified the sarcasm. Disraeli

every action was a subject for suspicious speculation, a national danger, a syren whose object it was to entice British {6} politicians from their allegiance. Wherever she went it was, according to public opinion, with some fell purpose in view. If she came to London for the simple purpose of improving her English, it meant to a certain section of the Press Russian "diplomatic activity." The Tsar was told by an English jou

her loss. She argued that, had this country refused to countenance the unspeakableness of the Turk in 1876, there would have been no atrocities, no Russian Volunteers, and no war. From that date she determined to do everything that lay in her power to

7

nd on her own ardour and sincerity. It was this sincerity, and a deep conviction as to the rightness of her object, that caused Gladst

ce with honour" talk became a meaningless catch phrase, otherwise it would have been seen that it was "peace with h

ly Madame Novikoff found her voice commanding more and more attention, until

ith men, and she fought with men's weapons, and this gained for her respect as an honourable and worthy antagonist. Even at the time when feeling was most strongly against he

the Press some of the most remarkable tributes ever paid to a woman, from which i

nt of the career of Madame Olga Novikoff, we should begin by saying th

likely to dispute the claim of Madame Novikoff to rank as one o

y: ... For nearly ten years her influence was probably greater than

al and political position in London which few women

dence of any intrigue on her part, of any effort to use the statesman she influenced for underhand purp

s this marvellous lady, who has worked all her life for one thing an

beloved Russia is concerned, as she was in the days when her life was one continuous fight with the war-spirit. In the preparation of these Memories I have seen something of her application, her industry and her personality. In the past I have oft

pleases her most is that which recently appeared in a London daily written

M.P. for Russia, edited by the late W. T. Stead, which told much of her association with her distinguished friends, Gladstone, Kinglake, Villiers, Clarendon, Carlyle, Tyndall, Froude and others. "These have been taken," she says, "and I am left." But she has continued her work, and many of her friends have told he

R.