By "Smoy*
Shanghai, Mar, 1.
'On February 29 Russians' in Shang-hal commemorated the first centenary of the death of Count M. M.-Speransky, one of the most colourful governmental personages of the 19th century. Like many of Russia's prominent servants he knew periods of fame and Influence, and. periods of ignominy and disgrace, although he was in the fend found innocent of all the charges brought against him by his enemies and was brought back to the pinnacle of governmental activity.
Speransky came from humble stock. 'He was the son of a poor priest, and Fecelved his education in a small theological seminary. Later he be-_ came a teacher, and the private seeretary of Prince Kurakin, In the latter capacity he met and became friendly' with a German tutor who was a staunch admirer of the French philo-Sophy of the 18th century. When Alexander [ascended the throne of the Czar of All the Russias, his talents were noticed and he was given a responsible position in, the Ministry of Home Afairs, In 1806 the Prime 'Minister, Prince Kochubel, fell sick and the' duty of making a report to the Emperor fell to Speransky. He made such an impression on the latter thathe was entrusted with drawing up laws for court reform in the Russian Empire. When Alexander 1 met Napoleon at Erfurt, Speransky was one of the former's aides-de-camp, and spent whole evenings with him in discussion. "Together, a century before the outbreak of the Revolux tion in 1905, they planned a new Russian, Constitution and the formation of the Duma (Russian Parliament), which if started a hundred years before it finally came into being, would have saved Russia all that happened to it in the years 1905 and 1917, Activities Excite Enmity 'Speransky's activities, however, excited against him the' enmity of conservative elteles. War with France was imminent, He was accused of being in touch with Napoleon, and was sent to Perm. In 1814, after the War, he was pardoned but given the insignificant post of Governor of Nijni-Novgorod.
In 1819, however, he was raised to the" post of Governor-General of Siberia, He carried out sweeping re forms in this vast land that at thi time stretched from the Ural moun. tains to the borders of Manchurl 'After the death of Alexander 1, Czar 'Nicholas 1 appointed him the head of commission for drawing up a new code of laws, He was made member of the State' Council and was given the title of Count. On February 23, 1639, he died at the age of 60 years—man that together with Chancellor Bezborodko, Prince Gorchakoft and—in our times—Counts Witte and Stolipin—is recognized as one of the five biggest men ever to take part in governing the Russian Empire.
Jewish Refugees The continuous inflow of Jews from Germany. and Austrla—who are ready several thousand strong in this clty—is subject for constant discussion in the Russian colony. The altitude towards these refugees is in general a sympathizing one, as every adult Russian remembers the time when he, too, was passing through the hardships of sudden exile. But mixing with this sympathy is a feeling of alarm. "How will this inflow of fugees react on their fortunes? AS justly pointed out by Mr. Chibunovsky, vice-chairman of the Russian Chamber of Commerce, the field for. foreign employment in' Shanghai is limited in the extreme, The addition of all these job-seekers will undoubtedly increase—and has already me ereased—competition for finding work Will swell the ranks of the unemployed. Furthermore, it is feared that assignations from' the charity funds will be curtailed, Hardly true is the supposition contained in one etter to the Editor of the "North-China Daily News" that the majority of Russians in Shanghai live on charity, but if the present charity work were lessened it would be a hard blow for the various schools and orphanages depending on charity for their existence. It is unlikely that Russian watchmen, bodyguards, volunteers in Russian detachments of the Settlement and French Concession and members of the Police will be affected by this competition, but offceworkers, small traders, musicians and doctors will feel it keenly even if} foreign firms remain equally willing to hiro Russian emigres and the new: German ones. Russians realize that sin the long run Shanghai will profit from the inflow of new commercial elements containing many specialists like tailors, shoemakers, silver-smiths, ete, but they also realize that many among them-—and expecially the un~ employed—will be faced with keen competition.
"At sunrise on Saturday, February' 25, four Russians left on a small yacht christened "La Vida" on a cruise 19) the Philippines, Borneo, "Java and Australia. 'The' 21 foot long yacht well equipped for such a trip, and has been stocked with food and fresh water. Sailing under the Russian tri-colour, its crew is comprised of Mr. M. Volkonsky, Mr. A. Tetiukoff, Mr. V. Pivovarov and Mr. P. Laboda.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.