The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-01-22
From the Ceaveland tOhio) Herald, Dec. 16l
Singular History of a Once Wealthy
Russian.

The eccentric genius, Karl lansing, con-
cerning whose actions at the station house on
Sunday, we gave short notice, has an inter
estng history, which we give in part below.
Born in Russia, he early showed DISPOSE
tion to acquire knowledge, and his father,
who was at that time immensely rich deter
mined to give him thorough education, and
for that purpose sent him to the best schools
and colleges the neigIboring empires could
boast AS consequence of his facilities,
Karl acquired several languages, and when
his education was pronounced finished, he
could speak German, French, Italian, Rus
sian and Spanish with huency. Shortly after
coming from college he married one of the
most beautiful ladies in st. Petersburg, anu
at once became the envy of the whole city,
His father was n man of note, not only in
Russia, but in the adjoining provinces, where
his fame became ahousehold word. During the
wars of Napoleon the First, Lansing the ell.
der, moved to France, and his means were
free ly loaned to the Emperor to aid in carry
ing on the war withItaly. The rupture between
Russia and France produced Il GOODNESS be-
tween Napoleon and Lansing, rs he rather
favored his native land, and would not fur
nish the means to fight his own countrymen.
The GOODNESS finally grew into an open rnp-
ture, and after the disasterous campaign
against Moscow, Lansing was ordered out Of
the country. Karl, with his still lovely wife,
came to America, and procuring q stylish
house in New York, prepared to settled down
there, as the course he had seen in the
French-Russan war prevented his going
home, on pain of banishmcnt to Siberia -
For several years everything went smoothly
with him and his, but at length his wife
4 ;ol olo 81, !
nearly crazed at his loss. One reverse fol-
lowed another in rapid succession until the
patrimony given him by his father dwinded
to nothing, and he was thrown upon his own
resources to gain livelihood. Having re-
ceived splendid military education he Sc
cured a school for instruction in the broad
sword exercise, and for time did very well.
Sickness came upon him, and he was forced
to give up his school and write home for as
sista1te HIS father dared not send it, as
Karl had been prescribed by the Russian
government, and to aid him was to secure
the cOnfiscation of his enormous property
Worrying through his sickness he at length
was able to get about. Next he tried to earn
a living by means of his musical talents, than
which no man possessed finer, and managed,
by strict economy, to keep the wolf from his
hapgry door. AT length he came West,
rambling from city to city in search of EN-.
ployment as piano tuner, which profession
he still pursues. He is said TO be an excel
lent performer on tho vioincello, and even
in his old age, for he is now upwards of sixty
years of age, he can be exceled by very
few
He possesses the happy geniallity of most
Russians, and seems but little troubled so
long as he gets fair living. He refers to
the scenes of his former days with great
deal of pride, but speaks of France as his
home, to which he intends to go before he
dies. He cannot, however, forget his wife,
and on each recurring anniversary of her
death his sorrow is SO great that he resorts
to the flowing bowl to drown it. Such is
the brief history of one of Cleaveland's citi-
zens. Born aud educated in afluence, the
admired of powerful nation, petted at the
Court of his native land, he has gradually
decended the ladder of fortune until now he is
at the foot, plodding along as cheerful as
those who are enjoying the smiles of the
fckle goddess. -..