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There was evidently a disposition among very many of the most
ardent Russians to make a merit of this imperfect civilization；
and to cultivate hatred for any people whom they clearly saw
possessing anything better： hence it came that； just as so many
Frenchmen hate Great Britain； and so many in the backward；
slipshod regions of our country hate New England； it was quite
the fashion among large classes of Russians to hate everything
German； and especially to detest the Baltic provinces。
One evening during my stay a young Russian at a social gathering
of military and other officials voiced this feeling by saying； 〃I
hope the time will soon come when we shall have cleared out all
these Germans from the Russian service； they are the curse of the
country。〃 Thereupon a young American present； who was especially
noted for his plain speaking； immediately answered； 〃How are you
going to do it？ I notice that； as a rule； you rarely give a
position which really involves high responsibility to a Russian；
you generally give it to a German。 When the Emperor goes to the
manoeuvers； does he dare trust his immediate surroundings to a
Russian？ Never； he intrusts them to General Richter； who is a
Baltic…Province German。 And when his Majesty is here in town does
he dare trust his personal safety to a Russian？ Not at all； he
relies on Von Wahl； prefect of St。 Petersburg； another German。〃
And so this plain…spoken American youth went on with a full
catalogue of leading Baltic…Province Germans in positions of the
highest responsibility； finally saying； 〃You know as well as I
that if the salvation of the Emperor depended on any one of you；
and you should catch sight of a pretty woman； you would instantly
forget your sovereign and run after her。〃
Richter and Von Wahl I knew； and they were certainly men whom one
could respect；thoughtful； earnest； devoted to duty。 Whenever
one saw the Emperor at a review； Richter was close at hand；
whenever their Majesties were at the opera； or in any public
place； there was Von Wahl with his eyes fastened upon them。
The young American might now add that when a man was needed to
defend Port Arthur another German was chosenStoessel； whose
heroism the whole world is now applauding； as it once applauded
Todleben； the general of German birth who carried off the Russian
laurels of the Crimean War。
One Russian official for whom there seemed to be deep and wide
respect was Count Woronzoff…Daschkoff； and I think that our
irrepressible American would have made an exception in his favor。
Calling upon him one day regarding the distribution of American
relief to famine…stricken peasants； I was much impressed by his
straightforward honesty： he was generally credited with stopping
the time…honored pilfering and plundering at the Winter Palace。
One of the most interesting of all the Russians I met was General
Annenkoff。 His brother…in…law； Struve； Russian minister at
Washington； having given me a letter to him； our relations became
somewhat close。 He had greatly distinguished himself by building
the trans…Caucasian railway； but his main feat had been the
annexation of Bokhara。 The story； as told me by a member of his
family； is curious。 While superintending his great force of men
and pushing on the laying of the rails through the desert； his
attention was suddenly called to some horsemen in the distance；
riding toward him with all their might。 On their arrival their
leader was discovered to be a son of the Ameer of Bokhara。 That
potentate having just died； the other sons were trying to make
their way to the throne by cutting each other's throats； but this
one had thought it wise to flee to the Russians for safety。
Annenkoff saw the point at once： with a large body of his cavalry
he started immediately for Bokhara； his guest by his side； pushed
his way through all obstacles； seated the young prince on the
throne； and so made him a Russian satrap。 I shall speak later of
the visit of this prince to St。 Petersburg。 It was evident that
Annenkoff； during my stay； was not in favor。 It was said that he
had been intrusted with large irrigation…works in order to give
employment to peasants during the famine； and that he had not
managed them well； but it was clear that this was not the main
difficulty： he was evidently thought too progressive and liberal；
and in that seething caldron of intrigue which centers at the
Winter Palace his ambitions had come to grief。
Another Russian who interested me was Glalkin Wraskoy。 He was
devoted； night and day； to improving the Russian prison system。
That there was much need of such work was certain； but the fact
that this personage in government employ was so devoted to
improvements； and had called together in Russia a convention of
men interested in the amelioration of prison systems； led me to
think that the Russian Government is not so utterly and wilfully
cruel in its prison arrangements as the Western world has been
led to think。
Another interesting Russian was Count Orloff Davidoff； and on my
meeting him； just after his return from the Chicago Exposition；
at General Annenkoff's table； he entertained me with his
experiences。 On my asking him what was the most amusing thing he
had seen in America； he answered that it was a 〃sacred concert；〃
on Sunday； at a church in Colorado Springs； in which the music of
Strauss's waltzes and Offenbach's comic songs were leading
features； the audience taking them all very solemnly。
In the literary direction I found Prince John Galitzin's readings
from French dramas delightful。 As to historical studies； the most
interesting man I found was Professor Demetrieff； who was brought
to my house by Pobedonostzeff。 I had been reading Billbassoff's
〃Life of the Empress Catherine〃； and； on my asking some questions
regarding it； the professor said that at the death of the
Empress； her son； the Emperor Paul； intrusted the examination of
her papers to Rostopchine； who； on going through them； found a
casket containing letters and the like； which she had evidently
considered especially precious； and among these a letter from
Orloff； giving the details of the murder of her husband； Peter
III； at Ropscha。 The letter； in substance； stated that Orloff and
his associates； having attempted to seize Peter； who was
evidently on his way to St。 Petersburg to imprison the Empress
Catherine；if not to put her to death；the Emperor had
resisted； and that finally； in the struggle； he had been killed。
Professor Demetrieff