Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 147, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1918 — SCRATCHED RASPUTIN’S FACE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SCRATCHED RASPUTIN’S FACE

Mlle. Vera Smirnova is known to every Russian who has been in Petrograd within the last five years. Her marvelous contralto voice had won for her the most enviable position in court life. She was the lioness of the most exclusive set of all of Russia, and she .was the idol of the peasants of that ill-fated country. Her rendition of the Russian gypsy songs endeared her to all. Traveling in the set she did, she was bound to come, sooner or later, to the notice of that famed mystic of all mystics—Raspufin, the Holy One of Russia. For a long time the ma&sjvho dominated Russia even more than the czar himself, had cast covetous eyes on the charming singer. Finally, the mo-

ment he had long wished lur cmne during an entertainment held in the home of a grand duchess. On the plea that be desired to. talk with her on spiritual things, she went with him into the conservatory. When she realized his plans, she forgot that she was the guest of the grand duchess, forgot what the result might be, forgot her surroundings completely and almost’tore into shreds the face of the Holy One. When Rasputin was questioned as to the cause of his scars, he replied that he had been wrestling with the spirits of evil controlling the fair Mile. Vera. , Prince Youssoupov and his wife. Princess Irene, were the intimate -friends of Mlle. Smirnova. Nqturally she told her story of the encounter with Rasputin to them. The prince.

already worked up to a pitch over a similar insult by Rasputin to Princess Irene, vowed that within 48 hours she would be revenged. Almost to the minute the body of Rasputin was found. Mlle. Smirnova is now in this country, where she is helping to swell the coffers of the Red Cross fund by singing her loved gypsy songs to the people of her own country, in the language they understand.