How Great Russians Got Their Names

It is necessary to be moro carcful in the nmniier that we render Ruesian proper names, because of the general!ty of them, espelcallj the inore anclent ones, possess a meanlng represeñting somo characteristio ot the founder ot' the family, or sorae incident in the lile of itsearliest niembers. For instance, take the great house of Glediinino, grand prince of Lithuania in the fonrteenth oentury, and whidi has l'uruishod so nmny gi"eat actors to Russian history. Their patronymio was oained by Michael Ivanowitch Boulgakoff, wno was surnamed Golitsa (:i gsi ntlet), on account of the gauntletor mitten of leather he was in the habit oi' wearing over liis wooleu ffloves. The origin of the sm-mme of OrloiT, borne by so many eminent Kussians - auiong othera by G regory Orloff, the favorite of Cntherine 1 1.; by Moxis Orlofl the fuctotum of the Emperor Nicholas, and by th present Bussutn ambassador now on leave of absence trom his post at Paris - ames us bacK tothe terrible rebelHonofthe Russian Sirelitzin l(98 at Moscow,and tlie inoro terrible retribution Üat lbllüwed it. Tlio rebels- were beieaded kueeliug in rovra of lit'ty at v t.nie bc tb re trunks of trcc3 .slrewn on tai' pround, a ood sliare of the butcherf being dono by tlio Czar Peter himaaf, who struck off scores of Strelitz heats with liis own hands. - One oi' tht'ii number owt'd his lite and future fort One to a singular exhibition of cooliit'ss nul presence of mimi. As he wasaboutto kneel befoue tbo fetal block he percived that it was occupled Í by the head o' a cobirade, The story I goes tüat lie t traed it off with a kick, t&ying, "Xliis is my place. Make room lor nu: I" Peter was eo etïuok by his niarvelous saug-froid that he gave lürn li Ls pardon and tuok care of hia i'uLure fortune.