Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-10
PARIS GOSSIP.

Thedeath Of Prince Demidoff brings some re-
lief ffpm the gloomy state Of things in which
the court had been plunged for some tune
With him let us hope that the old type of Mus
/. covite tyr0Rs de BseLOdr0me has passed awsy
forever. Demidoff was the original of I,nyato.
in Eugene Sue novel of "NathIlde." and /
have often heard it said that most of the events
IN which he bears part throughout that novel
did In reality occur. He was the very essence
CT the old Russian nObleman. The moral part
ot his nature must have been handed down
without the smallest taint of foreign matter
ron one oil the courtiers, half-crouching slave,
naf-sayage tyrant, wAA surrounded the throne
ofPeter the Great. The only sentiment which
was completely developed in his nature Was
that OF the desire Of vengeance, and for this one
alone would he have sacrificed his fortune, his
position, and his very life. Anecdotes Of the
merry sport he enjoyed trampiing on men .
hearts, and driving to despair those dependent
his will, are numerous indeed, and most of
them giving proof of the vastness Of the power
ssconterred by wealth alone, unaccompanied by
wit, intelligence or morality, over those who,
possessing every other advantage, become. as
1t were, the very prey of such heart-crushers as
Prince DemidOf. There was q ferocity of de-
light In mischief about him, which manifested
itself on every occasion where he found means
TO triumph over those whom Providence had
placed within his reach, which believe to be
an exclusive Russian popularity, and which
has always rendered him a most precious study
for the noyelists and romance writers of the
day. The story of his quarrel with the Princess
Mathilde would alone serve to individualize his
character The princess is, by nature, more
fitted for enjoyment than resistance. In other
hands than those to whom the fathoming of her
mind was cOnfided in early youth, she might
have become of different character to that
which she has proved herself
But, as it was, she was little fitted TO soften
the temper, or educate the mind of such man
as Prince Demidof; and no sooner were they
married than 1t became apparent to all that life
would be uncomfortable. Indeed, il is reported
that the princess herself declared, soon after
their union, to her affrighted relatives that il
was already evident to her that Prince Demi-
dOh had rendered the marriage chain so heavy,
that she must look out for some one to help her
p to bear 1t /, They say the search was attended
= with immediate and striking success and,
since that time, many and many are the chain
, bearers who have been called into service to
tighten the burden. Soon, however, did an
open rupture declare itself between the married
couple and on the occasion of the assault and
battery-a horsewhip and a flying candlsstick
being the pieces de eOHUiefiON-a legal separa-
ton became necessary. Here tho Mephisto-
Pniles nature OF the man became visible The
settlement accorded by the marriage contract
was but small, compared with the immense ex-
Penditure and princely luxury to which the
princess had been accustomed since her mar
rage; and the prince, refusing to increase il
legally, consented nevertheless to bestow n
handsome addition, each time it was rendered
Indispensable, upon the sole condition of his
wife seeking him in person to receive il. OF
course this condition, repudiated by the prin-
cess, was considered easy of fnlfllment and
accepted by the whole Of the Bonaparte family
The princess, from that hour, was surrounded
so 1t appears, with spies and eInissaries, dis
patched by Prince DeInidof 10 iDcite her IN
nnfl Of al ktr.ls
were throw in the way, inducements held out
love, ambition and display were all enlisted in
the cause, so that at the end Of n certain time
the poor princess found herself over head and
ears in debt, and compelled to pass through
the ordeal she had so much dreaded She
went to St Petersburg to see the prince who,
On her arrival, started of for some horrible old
castle of bis in UteraiDe. Here he had her
alone, and what passed there none can tell
Balzae guessed the truth, so people say, for
be wrote story after that which bears strong
marks of prObability-the hero and heroine
being recognizable at once For some time
after the visit to the amiable husband the prin-
cess lived the most secluded life possible ON the
banks OF Lake Como. She stated her griey-
ances to the Emperor Nicholas, who reprim a nd
ed DemidOf SO severely that the latter left his
country in high dudgeon, vowing never to re-
turn Meanwhile, the princess, on learning the
lmposSlbility OF cOmpulsiOn, on the part Of the
Emperor, to assist in increasing her income,
repaired to the Emperor himself His majesty
listened to her complaints and sympathized with
her woes-declared Demidof brute, and, until
the day Of his death, allowed from his own ca,-
Sstts the sum of $4,000 per annum, roittout
conditions, towards the increase of her income
and such is the effect Of implicit confidence,
that the princess required no compelling to
fulfill the contract to which Prince Demidof
would, by force, have bound her-always show
ing the greatest alacrity in running to meet her
benetaetor whenever an opportunity occurred
good trait Of that indulging in fendish
merriment at the expense of the feelings of
others, which distinguished Prince Demidoff
occurred even so lately as a fortnight ago
Feeling himself getting worse on bis arrival at
Baden, where he died, he Immediately sent for
all the most famous physicians in the country.
They arrived from every town, as you may well
imagine, eager TO be in at the death of such a
noble head OF game as Prince Demidoff. They
were twelve in number. He saw them all one
By one, and compelled them each and all to
write their opinion of his case. No two opin-
ions agreed on any one point! Then he in
sisted on general consultation being held at
which, be being present, followed the discus
SION with the written opinions in his hand and
enjoyed to his hearts content the exquisite
pleasure Of mocking the discontinue and
wounded amour pTOpTe of them all.
BRIDs AND GRoox CENTURY AGO To be-