Mower County Transcript

SIBERIA

Its Secrets Revealed—George Kennan's Wonderful Journey.

MOST interesting contribution to secret history will be the illustrated papers on "Siberia and the Exile System," by George Kennan, which are to begin in the May Century magazine. They will embody the results of what is believed to be the first successful attempt by a competent investigator to make a thorough study of the Russian exile system. Before undertaking his arduous journey of 15,000 miles, in the interest of The Century, Mr. Kennan, author of "Siberia," etc., had spent four years in Russia and Siberia, was thoroughly conversant with the people and the language, and had reached the conclusion that the Russian Government had been misrepresented, and that the exile system of Siberia was not so terrible as was supposed. Knowing that Mr. Kennan held these views, the Russian Government gave him every facility for a thorough inspection of mines and prisons of Siberia—the most thorough that had ever been made by a traveler. Armed with letters from the Russian Minister of the Interior and other high officials, Mr. Kennan went everywhere, inspecting mines and prisons, convict barges and hospitals, and traveling with chained exiles along the great Siberian road. He made the intimate personal acquaintance of more than three hundred exiled "liberals" and Nihilists, many of whom wrote out their histories for his use. The actual facts, as revealed by this searching investigation, were far removed from Mr. Kennan's preconceived ideas, as this thrilling narrative of fifteen months' privation and adventure will show. As is already known, the publication of Mr. Kennan's preliminary papers has resulted in his being placed on the black list by the Russian Government, and copies of The Century containing them have the objectionable article torn out by the custom officials before being allowed to enter the Czar's dominions.

"I expected, of course," says Mr. Kennan, in a recent interview, "to be put on the Russian black list. The stable-door is locked, but the horse has been stolen—and I've got him."

BOARDING A CONVICT BARGE,

Mr. G. A. Frost, artist and photographer, accompanied Mr. Kennan, and the results of his work will form a wonderfully interesting series of pictures of Russian and Siberian life and scenery.

The articles begin in the May Century, which is a great issue in many other respects, containing also an interesting illustrated article on ranch life; first chapters of "The Liar," a novelette by Henry James; the exciting narrative, "A Locomotive Chase in Georgia;" a suggestive paper on "The Chances of Being Hit in Battle;" an essay on Milton by Matthew Arnold; "A Love Story Reversed," by Edward Bellamy, etc., etc. Our local bookseller will have the number after the first of May.