Russian Memories

y Brother's Death—Aksakoff's Famous Speech—Russia Aflame—A Nation's Sacrifice—My

and Russians, about our institutions and customs, confessing even our drawbacks when th

follow the life of a Russian, who, like myself,

ppreciated in Russia, but even enthusiastically admired, things were quite

'77 and '78 were permeated with severe bitterness ag

in fact the whole country, was convinced that Turkey would never have refused to introduce the reforms

t time was seething with i

pers, and in every mouth, were

st legitimate demands in favour of our co-religionists, our brethren by race. Turkey's insolent opposition is England'

understood that she was not coveting new acquisitions, and was quite unprepared for war, which was true enough—indeed she seemed as if she never cared to be prepared. She

It will also teach us to develop our own endless resources without depending on foreign help, which is always

om their relatives and friends their determination to support the Slavs, notwithstanding the complete unpreparedness of the latter. That was perhaps pure folly on the part of our volunteers, but a subli

?ts, where medical aid could be obtained. The insurrection in Bosnia and Herzegovina was already spreading, and no preparations had been made. The helplessness of the wretched Balkan Slavs was simply appallin

gement, when I read in all the papers a short but terrible telegram: "Hadji Ghiray is killed at Zaitcher

which said: "The Emperor has sent for me and informed me of our brother's death. He allows me to go to you at once,

ake's account of my brother's sacrifice. It w

s of assailing an entrenched position at Rakovitz. Young Kiréeff very well understood that the irregular force entrusted to him was far from being one that could be commanded in the hour of battle by taking a look with a field-glass and uttering a few words to an aide-de-camp; so {33} he determined to carry forward his men by the simple and primitive expedient of personally advancing in front of them. He was a man of great stature, with extraordinary beauty of features, and, whether owing to the midsummer heat, or from any wild, martyr-like, or dare-devil impulse, he chose, as he had done from the first, to be clothed altogether in white. Whilst advancing in front of his troops against the Turkish battery he was st

n of the Crimea

AS KI

AS KI

tish, stating that he and his men would probably be of more use to Germany alive than dead. When I think of the tragedy surrounding

army into being. But for his death my own humble efforts to bring about a better understanding between two grea

that people in Great Britain could not or would not understand. Officers and men of the Russian army clamoured to go to the front. By giving his

e has w

gerous flame. Under countless green domes, big and small, priests fiercely chanting the 'Requiem' for a young hero's soul, and setting forth the glory of dying in defence of 'syn-orthodox' brethren, drew warlike responses from men who—whilst still in cathedral or church—cried aloud that they, too, would go where the young {35} Kiréeff had gone; and so many of them hastened to keep their word, that before long a flood of volunteers from many parts of Russia was pouring fast into Belgrade. To sustain the once kindled enthusiasm apt means

n of the Crimea

spark falling on a train of gunpowder. In a

in the ranks of the people. This feeling soon grew in intensity when, not only old soldiers, {36} but even peasants, came to me with the same request. And how humbly did they persevere in their petition, as if begging alms! With tears they begged me, on their knees, to send them to the field of battle. Such petitions of the peasants were mostly granted, and you should have seen their joy at the announcement of the decision! However, those scenes became so frequent, and business increased to such an extent, that it was quite impossible to watch the expression of popular feeling, or to inquire i

ial Guards at Petrograd resigned their commission in the army, and hur

ent that according to private information 20,000 Cossacks were going to the

3

ments the Cossacks are getting their arms ready, with a full conviction that in a few days the order will be given to fall on the enemies of the Holy Faith and of their Slav brethren. There is at the same time a general murmuring a

tervention to protect and save their co-religionists." At that time Russia knew perfectly well that nobody outside her realms cared to share her sacrifices

ian nature. Ivan Aksakoff, the President of the Benevolent Slav Society in Moscow, alone collected more than a million roubles, and everywhere Red Cross Societies {38} sprang up with a suddenness that was amazing. I belonged to the Moscow Red Cross Committee. It was one of our duti

examples of a deep religious enthusiasm that seemed to animate the whole country, irrespective of clas

Russians who rushed to meet almost certain death in heroic defence of their oppressed and unarmed Christian brethren in the East, the vast sums o

own mind. {39} As soon as I was well enough and influenced by all that I had read in our Press about England's interference with Russia's humane policy, and also by my personal passionate grief, I simply lost my head. Can it be believed that I wrote to my English friends in these very words: "It is England who has killed my brother. It is England who prevents our Government from helping our brethren in the Balkans. Russia

o me rather as clever and pleasant conversationalists—all answered me with extreme kindness and sympathy. They assured me that Disraeli's policy in Turkey was wrong, that Parliament intended to question it, that The Daily News and other papers had already started the campaign

er, I received a communication

DAME NO

also know as you do how to rejoice in a beautiful unselfish life being crowned with joy eternal. You will ere this have read the answer to your question as to Bulgaria in my husband's pamphlet in the n

INE GL

t, but I was soon enlightened by the appearance of

LF I

LF I

he sympathy expressed was with me personally rather than with the cause I had s

construction upon the {41} acts of the other. Seeing this, I decided to do all I could in my humble and unpretentious way to further a better understanding between the two n

. My brother Alexander, who was present at the ceremony of naming the village, was deeply impressed by its fervour and the gratitud

miantzoff Museum in Moscow. Certain documents and letters belong to history and must not perish with our death.) Let me give some further details about what I (unsupported, unprotected, ignorant as I felt myself to be) returned to face on my arrival in England. Those visits to England, by the by, did not extend at first over a couple of

w real Russians and Russian views, and to let Rus