The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-08
An Rceentrie Russian Prince Lavishing His
Millions ut the Club Tables.

All the world now il inquisitive to know how
stands the young Russian Prince Narischkine,
who, for the last two months, has been fencing
with the Bank Of Baden. Lucky prince He il
now 90 well known as Victor Hugo. Not q day
passes without the newspapers telling rs OF the
money he has lost, the bank notes that have been
stolen from him, the necklaces be has bought,
the scenes he seeks, and the intermittcnce he
finds. Let rs in turn give some particulars about
this lien Of green-bsize tables. When say lion,
] use. ! need scarcely say, fgurative express
sion; for nothing about the Russian prince in
question reminds one OF me sng o. y; snam a.
sarily seven feet high. and walks about with
bear skin over his shoulders when the thermom-
eter stands at blood heat in the shade. Prince
Narischkine has nothing Of the giant about him.
He il scarcely over feet inches tall, Is as thin
as q iucifer match, and is very pallid. Every
body in Paris has seen him at the drst perform.
snce of new pieces young man looking Ike
tired child, and who is said to be tired OF life,
fairly to live. You have certainly seen him in
stage box, stiff as Q ramrod, rose in his button
hole. his neck imprisoned In white cravst which
brings out still more vsibly the verdigrs color OF
alone s seems &c live; hs ssncs E sstuts and
piercing; his bearing is that Of perfect genue-
man II he rarely laughs tits because ne Is
never amused. Over his lips hits sa smlie
is at bottom only the expression OF ill-con-
cealed deceptions for that satiated child knows
very well nobody can buy with millions the gifts
nature bestows grstuitousy on its privileged chill
dreu The bottom OF this temperamentis fatigue
Prince Narischkine goes to the theaters as he
stakes hundred thousand francs merely to spend
q quarter of an hour. He never laughs. He rarely
talks, and when ne does open his mouth one woqy
think it is put in motion by little stead engMe
his adroit tailor has managed to put into the pocket
of his black dress-coat. All Paris knows TINS
roun0 man but nobody knows his friends. He
is man Of cold and disdainful character, who
does not easily make acguantances: Inc un,
five and twenty to disdsin friendship as Tor love,
he knows what 1t costs. He 10 at Paris seen
almost always alone. He buries his sadness 10
the walls of q cottage where he sometimes re-
mains two or three months together in contem'
plstion of bis millions. They ask at the club,
@Wbere il Prince Narischkine?" One answers
"He lie at Naples" Another says, " He IS sick: "
When everybody begins to forget Prince Nariscn,
kline he returns fresher than ever, more irritable
than before. Nobody knows whether he is good
or i'll natured. for nobody knows anything about
his life, except that he 10 great tease, and tha
all the actions Of his life are contrived TO annoy
somebody. He would give 100000 francs for
nicture worth 60 francs, just for the sake o
annoying an acquaintance. He would lose
AGO 600 francs at cards to irritate his partne
by making the latter lose 400 francs. Tit
master of an infinite number OF millions. ne Ieel
a keen enjoyment of his companions pecaniar,
embarrassments. He knows he has the adyan
tape of millions. and he likes to make It felt
Last winter. after winning 100000 francs At M
club, he set out the next morning Ior itaiy
He did not care for 100 600 francs. but he di'
care good deal to enjoy the knowledge that nj
departure greatly annoyed the acquaintance
whose money he had won. Prince Narischkin
carries this desire of showing the superiority o
his millions with him wherever he goes. A
Baden he pretends 10 humiiate the bank b.
throwing on the table packet OF bank note
which makes the banker tremble with anxiet
and pleasure. Prince Narischkine goes abou
the saloons with two or three hundreo inousa 4,
francs of bank notes, and he throws all on IN
fable, and announces his maximum Is 6Oo
francs. He is as quick at Baden as o al F Pa5
on the rouge. When he wins. his little eye
glitter with an unaccustomed brilliancy. VINE
he has lost 900 francs at tente-et qudrdn
he goes 70 play an ice at dominoes TO avol
the appearance of vexation. Prince Narischkiu
likes 70 conceal his sensations, and none Of b
companions accurately knows what takes plac
in that sick birds little head. 1t is true. NJ
body ever accused him of an evil action;
the same time, nobody ever heard OF his dom
Nobody knows whether his fortune should
enyied or whether he should be pitied for bis q
sent youth. But he shows money does not cons
tute happiness. have seen him often. ! ha'
observed him good deal at the gaming tables
Baden and in the Bots de Boulogne, where
generally buries his sadness at the back OF
broueham. Here Is o child who would like
smuse himself and who is always fatigued, e
Cept Wneu ne Cou pay jOho W souio So.Ai Ponio
We must acknowledge be has an aristocrai
bearing and the only time was in his COZ
pany, in friends drawing room. was surprise
10 hear him talk with great fuency. Concei'
my stupefaction: believed he had in his you
been taught only this phrase: six thousa
francs to the nadsse."
One evening last winter he even made sma
repsrtee. His club has among its membe
another Russian, whom. Prince .Narischki
takes pleasure to mortify. One evening {
president of the club said to him: My de
Narischkine, the club treasury requires 1000
francs. How much will you lend 2"
earnestly replied: $4,000 francs" The pre-
dent exclaimed: alt seems to me that y
might as well make 1t 100000 francs" he q
swered "Oh no; should leave little for I
countrymsn." Now tell me, don't your gor
rise at the sight of such contemplate fello
and does not the very thickness Of his gildi
increase your scorn! Are riches, which o
so warp character and blunt the senses,
desirable