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Whilst Vouk saw his studies highly appreciated in Germany, in Russia, and in Bohemia, what was his situation with regard to his fellow countrymen and the rising principality of Serbia. Let us first understand the two personages principally concerned. On the one hand, there was Prince Miloch, a sort of royal cowherd or swineherd, wholly illiterate; on the other, Karad jitch, a Malherbe of the village, who, without knowing it, carried in his brain the literary future of his nation. Karadjitch, was living in Vienna when Miloch conceived the idea of calling him back to Serbia during the year 1820, and taking lessons in reading and writing from him. But, as an innovator, the scholar had a great many enemies, and his instruction of the prince had barely commenced when they hastened to convince Miloch that it was not worth the attention of such a sovereign as he. The instructor was thrown into the street. He begged for a pension which would enable him to continue his literary labors; but he failed to secure it, and had to leave Serbia in straitened circumstances. He had meanwhile gathered materials for a biography of Miloch, and in July, 1822, that capricious prince summoned him back, promising him five hundred ducats for the history as well as a subsidy for the publication of the third volume of the folk-songs. But in the latter there were poems describing the Serbian insurrection, in

which the character of Miloch was not treated as he wished.

Miloch, moreover, presumed to exercise a severe censorship over his biography. Great was his fury when he discovered that the manuscript had been stolen, and that his life had already appeared in Russian at Petrograd, but he was at length sufficiently appeased to grant a fresh subsidy to the unfortunate historian. The work appeared at Budapest in 1828, with the title Miloch Obrenovitch, Prince of Serbia. The book was by no means distasteful to its hero, who invited the historian to go to Kragouievatz to revise the laws of the young principality.

The point of departure for this work was a translation of the Code Napoleon, which was to be finished by the end of 1829. Since this work did not please Karadjitch, Miloch relieved him of it and asked him to translate the Gospels, a Serbian version of which had been requested by a biblical society.

During the same year, Miloch named Karadjitch a member of the Supreme Court; for, though the philologist had never studied law, in a newly established state such as Serbia then was, an educated man ought to be good for any purpose. Karadjitch survived Miloch by only four years, dying in January, 1864. He had remained faithful to the ideas of his youth, and in the end they had triumphed. Asked one day, 'Where is the best Serbian spoken?' he replied, 'Where there are n't any scholars.'

Between 1841 and 1862 he published, at Vienna, a new edition in four volumes of his Serbian popular songs. A fifth volume, which appeared in 1865, was in press when he died. In the preface to the fourth volume, which was dedicated to Prince Miloch, he gave details as to those who had furnished the text of the poems, and the localities where they had been collected. Among those

who had thus collaborated were Prince Peter II, of Montenegro, the Bishop of Ovjitsa, and other personages of importance. It was not always easy to secure from the singers the correct texts of the poems; and it was usually necessary to hear several versions in order to complete the song. Every bard was always thirsty, and numerous bumpers were necessary to induce him to give a song as a whole.

Of this sort was a certain Milia, of whom Karadjitch tells in the preface to his first edition. He refused to sing without brandy, but scarcely had he tasted it, when he became so confused that he was incapable of singing with any degree of order or regularity. "To escape this difficulty, I had no other way than to make him sing the same ballad several times over, until it was sufficiently fixed in my memory, so that I would note if any passage was omitted. Then I used to beg him to repeat it once more, slowly, lingering over the words, and I used to write as fast as possible under his dictation. Then I had him sing it once again.

"The loss of time, as well as the work which I imposed on him, began to annoy the old fellow. There were also well-meaning people who ridiculed the whole thing, and used to say to him. "What? Have you grown as silly as all this? Don't you see that Vouk is a lazy fellow wasting his time in trifles? Go home and tend to your business." The singer gave ear to these bad counsels and went off one day without warning.'

Before his death Karadjitch had the joy of seeing the triumph at Belgrade of his ideas of Serbian orthography. After the year 1863, the Glasnik, or Miscellany, of the Scientific Society, which later became the Serbian Academy, was printed in the new spelling, which has since that time been officially approved. The collection of songs, translated into all languages, has been read throughout Europe, and a collection of Serbian tales, which Karadjitch also made, was translated into German by his daughter, Wilhelmina, with a preface by Jacob Grimm, faithful to the sympathies and admirations of his youth.

BY E. SEMENOFF

[This is said to be the first account of the last Tsar's abdication based upon the testimony of one of the three eye-witnesses. Previous accounts have rested entirely upon the evidence of the two representatives of the Duma, who did not appear on the scene until after the abdication occurred. The three witnesses were General Ruzsky, Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army, and the two generals next to him in command. The author of this article was editor-in-chief of the Allied Propaganda Service in Russia during the war, and it was through him that the 'Sisson Documents' reached American hands.]

From Le Figaro, August 15
(LIBERAL NATIONALIST DAILY)

ON February 25, 1917, by the Russian calendar, or March 10 by the Western calendar, disorders began in Petrograd. Between eleven P.M. and midnight of that day, General Ruzsky, Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army, received a telegram at his headquarters in Pskov from the President of the Duma, Rodzianko, informing him that the people of Petrograd had rioted on account of the food-shortage, and that the trouble was assuming serious proportions. Troops had fired upon the mob.

General Ruzsky was informed through his regular channels of information that the people of Petrograd had food for eight days and the army for fifteen days. The general at once forwarded the telegram to Alexeyev, Chief of Staff at Grand Headquarters, in order that it might at once be made known to the monarch.

Two days later, on the twelfth of March, the Tsar left Grand Headquarters at Mohileff for Tsarskoe Selo, via Smolensk and Bologoie, but had to change his route after he had started, so as to make a detour to Pskov. Regular train-service to Petrograd had been suspended by order. Consequently, the Tsar's suite feared that the

imperial train might likewise be stopped.

The train arrived safely at Pskov about seven P.M., March 14. Just as it was drawing into the station, a telegram was received saying that the garrison of Luga, a neighboring town, had gone over to the revolutionists. That made it necessary for the Tsar to remain at Pskov.

Before the Tsar arrived, a telegram had been received, signed by Alexeyev and addressed to Nicholas II, sketching the progress of the revolution to date, and begging the Tsar to consider the army, and the disgrace it would be for the nation to fail in the war. Alexeyev urged the Tsar to turn a deaf ear to blind and unscrupulous advisers, and to make concessions — above all, to give the country a responsible cabinet, headed by a man who enjoyed the confidence of the people.

A rumor was current in Pskov that the President of the Duma, Rodzianko, had left Petrograd to join the Tsar; but notice speedily arrived that Rodzianko would not come. General Ruzsky explained to us that this change of plans was caused by unfavorable advices sent Rodzianko. His visit was not desired. One of the two generals, next in com

mand to Ruzsky advised the latter to urge the Tsar to bid Rodzianko to come. It would be possible for him to reach Pskov that night. This would doubtless make it easier to obtain the necessary concessions from the Tsar. Ruzsky agreed to this.

That day, Ruzsky and his two generals were invited to dine with Nicholas II and his suite. It was a most gloomy repast. Conversation lagged, and there were long intervals of awkward silence. The Tsar was deeply moved, and obviously preoccupied, but tried to conceal the fact.

Late that night General Ruzsky persuaded the Tsar, with great difficulty, to appoint a cabinet responsible to the Duma. The Tsar would agree, then refuse, and then consent again. He kept insisting that this or that minister of the old cabinet should continue in the new cabinet. As soon as Ruzsky had received the Tsar's final approval, he telegraphed the fact to Rodzianko.

Rodzianko wired back: 'It is already too late.' This concession might have saved the situation on March 12, but the revolution was now running away, the bits in its teeth, and could no longer be stopped. The only thing that might save the dynasty would be for the Tsar to abdicate in favor of his son, and to appoint the Grand Duke, Michel Alexandrovich, Regent. General Ruzsky took this message to the Tsar. The latter ordered the General to ask the opinions of the commanders-in-chief on all fronts. This fact was immediately communicated to the Grand Headquarters, which still remained at Mohileff.

On March 15 the Tsar received the first replies from these commanders.

Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaievich and Generals Evert and Broussiloff urged the Tsar to follow the advice of Rodzianko, in order to save Russia. The fourth commander-in-chief began his

telegram by disapproving Rodzianko's suggestion, but concluded it by likewise advising the Tsar to abdicate.

By this time a report had come from Petrograd to the effect that the Tsar's Personal Guards had gone over to the Revolution, and that the sailors of the Guard, with their commander, Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich, had followed their example. The Grand Duke had even presented himself to Rodzianko and the Duma in an attitude contrasting strangely with his rank.

At dinner in his own quarters, General Ruzsky declared to his generals: "The Tsar won't believe me. Let us all three wait upon him immediately after dinner. He needs your counsels as well as my own.'

So the three generals presented themselves at the railway station at half-past two on the afternoon of March 15, and were immediately received by the Tsar in his parlor-car, attached to the dining-car of the imperial train. No other person was present except the Tsar and the three generals. The doors were shut.

The Tsar received his visitors standing. Then he seated himself, and invited them to do likewise. Ruzsky obeyed but the other two gentlemen remained erect, in a military attitude, during the whole conference. The Tsar, who was smoking, invited the others to do the same. Ruzsky lighted a cigarette. The other two generals remained motionless, although the Tsar repeated his invitation. Ruzsky started out by submitting to the Tsar all the telegrams received. He then described the general situation, saying that but one thing could save Russia and the dynasty: abdication in favor of the heir-apparent.

The Tsar replied: 'But I don't know whether all Russia wants this.'

Ruzsky rejoined: 'Sire, it is impossible to ascertain what the nation as a whole really wants. But events are

succeeding each other with such rapidity, and the situation is so critical, that the slightest delay may cause incalculable damage. Be kind enough to listen to what my associates have to say. Both of them are men of independent and upright judgment.'

Ruzsky repeated this request once or twice. Finally, the Tsar turned toward the generals and looking them directly in the eye said: 'I bid you give me your advice, but do it honestly.'

Both were profoundly moved. The Tsar and Ruzsky smoked rapidly. In spite of his distress, the Tsar retained his self-control. The first of the two generals said that His Majesty could not doubt his personal loyalty, but, considering first of all his duty toward his fatherland, which must be rescued from the shameful terms which the enemy would otherwise impose upon it, he saw no other way out of the crisis than that which the Duma had suggested to His Majesty.

The Tsar then turned to the second gentleman. 'And you? Are you of the same opinion?'

This general was so agitated that he replied with a sob: 'Your Majesty does not know me personally, but you have heard me spoken of by a man in whom, Sire, you have placed your confidence.' 'Who?' asked the Tsar. 'General Deduline.' 'Ah, yes!' said the Tsar.

The general, who had completely lost his self-control, merely stammered between his sobs: 'As an honest man, I subscribe without reserve to what the general advises.'

A silence of one or two minutes ensued. Then the Tsar finally said: 'I make my decision. I abdicate the throne."

He saluted. The generals did the same. Then, addressing himself to Ruzsky, the Tsar said: 'I thank you for your loyal service,' and embraced him. Then he withdrew to his private car.

A little later a telegram arrived announcing the departure from Petrograd for Pskov of Gouchkov and Shulgin, the delegates of the Duma.

The Tsar reappeared with a telegram written in his own hand addressed to Rodzianko. There was no sacrifice which he was not ready to make, he said, for the welfare of his beloved country, Russia. country, Russia. He renounced the throne in favor of his son, who, however, must remain with him until he attained his majority. Frederic informed the Tsar that the Grand Duke Nicholas had been appointed Supreme Commander of all the Russian armies. The Tsar approved, this decidedly. Withdrawing again, the monarch at once wrote a dispatch to Alexeyev, informing him of this appointment and of his own abdication.

During the absence of the Tsar, the attention of Frederic was called to the fact that the Tsar did not mention in his telegram to Rodzianko that Grand Duke Michel was to be Regent. Ruzsky thereupon wrote on a sheet of paper what ought to be added to the telegram. Frederic took it in to the Tsar. The latter brought back the telegram corrected, and said that he was expecting Gouchkov and Shulgin to arrive soon at Pskov. Then he dismissed his assistant and bade adieu to his generals, thanking them again for their frank advice. It was now a quarter after three in the afternoon.

General Ruzsky decided to wait until Gouchkov and Shulgin had arrived before sending the Tsar's despatches to Rodzianko and Alexeyev.

Twenty minutes later the Tsar ordered the telegram to be brought to him. Ruzsky waited personally on the Tsar and prevailed upon the monarch to let him keep the telegrams, giving him his word not to send them before learning the purpose of the mission entrusted to Gouchkov and Shulgin.

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