A Matrimonial Conspiracy

Father John Sergieff of Cronfctadt is probably the most universally populal priest in the Russian Orthodox church. His prayers and benedictions are besought by the grievously sick and unfortunate in nearly every government cf Europeau Ruseia, by letter and by telegraph, so implicit is the public confideuce reposed in his piety and wisdom. Father John himself is a man of simple life, making uo pretensions whatever to extraordinary sanctity, of modest habit3 and lavish to.the last ruble of his considerable income in relieving the necessitons, making no distinction of creed or race. Not a little indignation has therefore been raised by the discovery in the government of Orel that the good father'sreputation has forsome time past beenwickedly traded upon by a number of designing mammas who have unmarried and dowerless danghters to dispose of. These solicitous matrons, sometime3 heting in concert, but in different localities. have fabricated etters of udvice, pnrporting to be written by the worthy priest of Cronstadt, recommenciing particular matrimonial alllanoes between their daaghters and certaln pions young bachelor neighbors as being divinely ordained. These spurious etters proved successful baits in very many instances, but eventually the maternal conspiracy was detected, and it is now probable that the more guilty of the intriguing mothers and matchmaking spinsters of Orel will have to do penalice for their indiscretions in a conventual retreat before Fatber.Tohn'sabsolution is granted and the civil authorities are satisfied.