EUROPE TO-DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 121, 22 April 1938, Page 2

EUROPE TO-DAY

A RUSSIAN HEROINE. Let us think of a young heroine as we travel over the flat plains of Russia: Prascovie was about 15, the child of Jean Lopouloff, a former Court’ officer exiled in Siberia, and what she planned to do was to see the Emperor and ask him to pardon her father. Prascovie and her father and mother were exiled at Ischim over a century ago, and very poor they were. She knew that nothing could make her father happy except the permission to return to the capital of Russia, then called St. Petersburg, and as lie could not go without the Emperor’s permission, she must get it. When she told her parents about her intention they thought it ridiculous. Tlie distance was over 2000 miles, and she was too poor to go by sledge. She set off on foot. What she was attempting to do was to cross the great Siberian desert without a guide, and that was always said to be impossible. But after long months she did it. Friendless in the great capital, she did not know how to begin to find the Emperor. She learnt that a pardon had to be presented to a Senator in writing, and day after clay she stood at the door of the Senators’ Palace, and held out her petition. But no one would read it. At last the Emperor (Alexander the First) heard of brave Prascovie, and was so moved by her story that lie sent for her to go to the Imperial Palace that lie himself might give her her father’s pardon. So Prascovie overcame all difficulties, accomplishing what line! seemed possible. Her father was reinstated, and word was sent to him that he and his wife could return to St. Petersburg. It is sad to think that Prascovie passed away before they reached the city. She was just 17, but site had proved wliat love could do.—(G.)