THE EMPRESS On board the Royal Yacht ‘Standart’
H.I.M. THE TSAR WITH THE TSAREVITCH On board the Tender going out to the Royal Yacht ‘Standart’
“Why,” said he, “don’t you kill Rasputin if you are so against him?”
He received this surprising but wholly truthful reply:
“Kill Rasputin! Why, we should like him to live for ever! He represents our salvation!”
Rasputin’s position was many-sided. One section of Society looked upon him as a “cult,” and I have no doubt that there was a certain pathological interest in this. Another group formed a mystical conception of him as a “teacher,” and a more material clique courted him, hoping thereby to gain influence with the Empress. The shame lies not so much with Rasputin as with those who “exploited” him.
At one time Rasputin was the guest of a well-known general, but, when this gentleman discovered that there was nothing to be gained by his hospitality, he quickly dropped his one-time acquaintance, and Rasputin took up his quarters in a small flat where he was supported by voluntary contributions. It was a humble abode, the “staretz” lived on the meanest food, and it was only during the last year of his life that he received presents of wine.