A NEW LIGHT ON RUSSIA[efn_note]“Russian Memories,” by Olga Novikoff. Jenkins, 103. 6d. net.[/efn_note]

“You know my feelings with regard to England. What I have told you before I say again: it was intended that the two countries should be upon terms of close amity, and I feel sure that this will continue to be the case; and I repeat that it is very essential that the two Governments should be on the best of terms, and the necessity was never greater than at present” (Emperor Nicholas I. to Sir Henry Seymour).

The Emperor Nicholas I. was the originator of the Entente between England and Russia. Could he have ever supposed that his work, unrealized by his officials of the time, would be continued with such perseverance and success by his godchild? Whoever wants to realize this fact must read Madame Novikoff's “Russian Memories.”

At the beginning of her chapter on the Emperor Nicholas I., the author explains how the idea of an Entente with England and France was encouraged in the Emperor’s lifetime by the sending of three leading scientists to study the geological features of the Russian Empire.

“Sir Roderick Murchison, M. de Verneuil, and Count Alexander Keyserling were appointed by their respective Governments to make a joint expedition, and, as a result of their labours, wrote a book entitled ‘The Geology of Russia in Europe and the Urals,’ which was published by the British Museum in 1845 in two volumes. This was indeed a promising beginning, and may be said to have been the precursor for much co-operation between these nations long before an Entente was within the sphere of practical politics.”

But we regret to have to add that this noble and statesmanlike example was not always followed; and Madame Olga Novikoff shows how, on the contrary, she received much discouragement both at home and in Chesham Place. Prince Gortschakoff, the Chancellor of Russia, actually suggested to her not to mention the word “Slavs,” and Count Shouvaloff here almost paralyzed her good work. It was only with the arrival of Baron de Staal that matters took a slightly better turn, and, to quote her words, “the Baron was not afraid to show me publicly his sympathy and support.” It may be added that in his view Madame Novikoff was often better informed than he of what the Russian Government was thinking of doing; she also received a tribute from Prince Lobanoff, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, who wrote to her: “I admire your courageous perseverance in dealing with Messieurs les Anglais, and I am very grateful for the assistance that you render us.”

But if, in official quarters, she did not always receive the encouragement she deserved, she numbered among her friends and co-workers many whose names are now on the page of history.

There is a very vivid description, which must be read by everyone, and should be always remembered for its quite exceptional character. We mean the great St. James’s Hall Conference, organized under the superintendence of Mr. Gladstone himself in favour of the orthodox Slavs in Turkey. Of those very dark and gloomy days at the end of 1878 she writes: “I have been described by my brother Alexander as maintaining a persevering, although a forlorn, struggle in the interests of peace. It may have been a really good cause, but it was almost a forlorn one. For a woman to endeavour to paralyze two nations who seem determined to misunderstand each other was a folly which, had I been more versed in the ways of the political world, I might have never attempted. Out of my ignorance came my strength, for I dared to hope things at a period when hope was not quoted on the political exchange.”

Of great abiding interest also are the pages describing Mr. Gladstone’s interest in the Old Catholic Movement, and the controversy raised by Count Keyserling[efn_note]Though immersed in philosophic speculations, and quite outside the current of political events, he wrote from the depths of Esthonia to a friend in 1877 as follows: “Since Mme. Novikoff has been away from London, affairs with England are getting quite dangerous. I will persuade the lady, for the sake of consolidating the peace, to pack her trunks again and go back there.” A quite unexpected tribute to Madame Novikoff’s influence.[/efn_note] at the time: “The Old Testament knows no Immortality.” The identity of the author of the pamphlet is now revealed for the first time. We cannot refrain from quoting the passage from a letter she received from Mr. Gladstone on this subject.

“Nor can we forget that the Mosaic dispensation, coming as it were upon the back of the old patriarchal religion, being essentially national, was also predominantly temporal, and tended very powerfully to throw the idea of the future state into the shade. Nevertheless it is, I think, generally admitted that, while in certain passages the Psalmist speaks of it either despairingly or doubtfully, in some Psalms the subject is approached with a vivid and glowing belief; as when, for example, it is said: ‘When I awake up after Thy likeness I shall be satisfied with it.’ You know how much upon some occasions I have both sympathized with and admired your authorship. I do not dissuade you from following up the task to which you are now drawn.”

Space does not permit of more than a mere mention of the names of Sir Henry C. Bannerman, Kinglake, Froude, W. T. Stead, Mark Twain, and the many charming anecdotes concerning them which the author has given us.

But it must not be assumed that this book of memoirs deals only, or even for the greater part, with political and theological questions.

The charm of this book is that it has many charms. It is not enough to read Madame Novikoffs work. It is not even enough to read it twice over (an easy task); for in spite of a mass of the most important information it is exceedingly readable and written in an inimitable style. One ought to study it attentively, and have it always within reach. It contains one charming peculiarity: the efforts to efface herself, to minimize her doings, and to throw a new and brilliant light upon those who have been her co-workers and many of whom are no more; whereas it has remained for her to enter the paradise of her wishes and ideas in her lifetime.

Another very remarkable feature of this book—Madame Novikoff has actually thrown a new charming light on the Emperor Nicholas I., and reinstated the memory of her two brothers and her son. Only a very deep devotion could bring such brilliant results. Nicholas Kirréeff has been described by such men as Froude and Kinglake, but the General Alexander Kirréeff has made himself known as the promoter of the old Catholic movement. Both are described with the greatest success. The sister has reproduced his articles in two volumes in French and two large volumes in Russian. His theological studies were so deep that the Metropolitan of Moscow appointed him an honorary member of the Theological Academy—a unique honour in Russia. Another example of a military career combined with philosophical writings is Descartes, though the latter served as a military volunteer for only a very short time.

In her chapter on the sobering of Russia we are introduced to her son, Alexander Novikoff, and a very admirable speech addressed by him to the peasants of the family estate is put. We permit ourselves to make the following extract:

“Let me now tell what I expect from yourselves. I begin with your meetings. You must admit that great disorders have taken place at these gatherings. Were they not often accompanied with drinking? What a quantity of land and property has been exchanged for brandy! I have now given strict orders—which I repeat to you now—that the smallest piece of land is not to be disposed of without the consent of your village judges and unless sanctioned by me.”

Madame Novikoff recounts her own efforts in combating this evil. She relates that she used to invite the peasants from the village to take tea with her, and says:

“Watching my poor folk, I would sometimes ask them if they cared for tea, and always received the same reply: ‘Why, of course we all like tea, but it is too dear for us. Naturally our masters may indulge in it; but we are poor people with empty pockets, while vodka is quite within our reach, and is cheap and plentiful everywhere.’”

“‘Yes,’ I said to myself, ‘Count Witte has not shrunk from tempting the poor people everywhere in every way. He introduced the diabolical habit amongst them of buying their alcohol in small bottles at a conveniently low price. Thus any beggar can buy one of these bottles at a conveniently low price, and put it in his pocket.’”

It is now common knowledge what a great boon the prohibition of vodka has been to Russia, and how, so far from reducing the funds of the Exchequer, it has had precisely the opposite effect.

Among the illustrations we may note two school-buildings erected by Alexander Novikoff at Novo-Alexandrofka, and the magnificent church which, judging by its size and beauty, might very well be, not in a village of the province of Tambov, but in Moscow or Petrograd. Special attention should also be drawn to the frontispiece, showing the two sisters, the Empress of Russia and Queen Alexandra, with a superscription: “Les deux Soeurs et Les Pays Unis.” In this lovely frontispiece we have the whole programme!

Very remarkable, too, are the reminiscences of musical friends—pianists and composers who are one of the many glories of Russia. We read of the anger of Rubinstein: a stratagem to listen to and prolong the improvisations of Liszt: kindly acts of Glazounoff: incidents which once read will always be remembered. The celebrated musician and chorus conductor, Professor Safonoff, is so well known in Europe and America that it was particularly charming to learn of his talent as a clever pencil-sketcher. We naturally turn with eagerness to the pages devoted to the present war, and with feelings of profound gratitude to her descriptions of Russian enthusiasm for England and the part played by her in the war.

Every page of these chapters is as it were impregnated with a fanatical faith in victory.

The Westminster Gazette of October 27 advises Madame Novikoff to write another book on the same lines as the “Russian Memories,” and we entirely endorse the likeness which was discovered by the reviewer between the author and Count Leo Tolstoy the novelist in his most brilliant days. Therefore a new volume would be most welcome.

With the declaration of the Japanese War Madame Novikoff preferred solitude to worldly intercourse, receptions and exchange of visits. Then came the loss of her brother, then of her only son; the idea of having again a salon does not in the least appeal to her now, though, of course, she still has several deeply sincere friends in Russia, as in England.

“The only thing,” she declares, “that remains for these times is work and still more work!”

Madame Novikoff was once described in a charming article as “a woman of two countries.”

“So I am,” said she, “but I never can forget that I have only one nationality, which I can never desert.”