Kennan was persona non grata to the Russians, especially after his visit to Siberia, but Mr. MacQueen was most cordially welcomed.
What an odd scene at Tolstoi's table! The countess and her daughter in full evening dress with the display of jewels, and at the other end Tolstoi in the roughest sort of peasant dress and with bare feet. At dinner Count Tolstoi said to Mr. MacQueen: "If I had travelled as much as you have, I should today have had a broader philosophy."
Mr. MacQueen says of Russia:
During the past one hundred years the empire of the Czar has made slow progress; but great bodies move slowly, and Russia is colossal. Two such republics as the United States with our great storm door called Alaska, could go into the Russian empire and yet leave room enough for Great Britain, Germany, and Austria.
Journeys taken by Mr. MacQueen:
1896—to Athens and Greece.
1897—to Constantinople and Asia Minor.
1898—in the Santiago Campaign with the Rough Riders, and in Porto Rico with General Miles.
1899—with General Henry W. Lawton to the Philippines, returning through Japan.