Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-10-17

:
October 10. lSIl.J
THE STORY OF MADAME cATAcAzY.
So much has been said at Washington
and so much will be said in st. Peters
burg, before this Fish-Catacazy, or more
properly, Mrs. Fish-Madame Catacazy
muddle will be Strengthened out, that 1t
is proper at this time 10 give to the pub
lie the inside facts of the great diplo-
matte imbroglio o.
COMMENCEMENT.
Mrs. Fish, the wife of our Washington
Premier, threw down the gauntlet to
Madame Catacazy Y one year ago in Wash
iineton. At this lime Madame Catacazy
received a social stab which threw the
Russian Minister on the defensive, and
made too wide The breach in the diplo'
matte corps to be ever closed, or even
| friendly relations to again return.
Last November Mrs. Fish gave her
grand diplomatic dinner. Every foreign
ambassador and Minister, with their la
dies, were invited, for the dinner was
given to the honor of the JOINT hlgn
Commission. Mrs. Catacazy alone was
unlimited. The omission fell like q
bombshell in the Republican court at
Washington.
"Why didn't ou ask Madame Cata'
cazyY everyone asked of Mrs. Fish.
"What is the m'atterY
Mrs. Fish locke ominOus, the gosslps
were busy, the ole secession families OF
the West End, tn ose parasital relies OF
an ancient regular army aristocracy
were ready to huri their darts Of calumny
at Madame CatiGcazy,.. but the dreadful
secret was kept close shut up in the bos-
oms of few oi the diplomatic and old
family aristOcra cy.
Sometimes some gossipping woman
would whisper about Bladensburg, an
Italian count, but the Foreign Legation
generally main tanned their friendly rela-
tions with the beautiful wife of the Rus
sian Minister.
SAD STORY.
Madame Catacazy is a French lady;
her name was Berwick. Eighteen years
ago, while she was scarcely in her teens,
she was the most beautiful child-woman
in all France. Her father and mother
were titled people, and the Berwick
blood is the be st in Europe. At this
tender age she was thrown into the
company of an Italian Count-Count
F.. He ws handsome, dashing
man of the wor Id, knew all its wiles and
snares, and could assume the face and
tone of an ang ell
Count F. won the love Of this
beautiful, inno cent child, NJ lie Berwick,
married her, and took her to Rome to
live. They lived happily for awhile,
when he bee anne dissipated, gambled,
and became a bad man generally, treat
ing his wife, first with indifference, then
neglect, then with positive cruelty.
Coloni Baria, the Italian Charge d AT
faires, year or so ago, knew the char
acter of this bad Italian, and frequently
said, He was countryman OF mine
but he was very bad man, and ! do not
blame Madame Catacazy when she did
run away froml him"
SHE MEETS MR.. cATACAZY.
In Rome eighteen years ago, Mr.
Catacazy saw the abused wife-then one
of the most beautiful women of the
| Italian capital. He felt sympathy for
her. Afterwarcl they met in Paris, when
she, tired and sick of the bad Count, her
husband, had abandoned him and sought
shelter under her fathers roof.
Mr.. Catac azy was appointed by the
Russian government as Secretary Of Lee
CATION to Washington under Minister
Bodisco. Before he came to this coun-
try warm attachment sprang up be-
tween him and the unhappy Countess.
Their fondness ripened into lOve-warm,
con6ding and pure. From the French,
and especially the Russian standpoint,
where almost every Minister, and even
the Gear himself, supports plurality OF
households, the action of the young Sec
retary aud the Countess would never be
questioned.
THEY CONE TO AMERICA.
When the time came for Mr.. Catacazy
to Join Bodisco, her poor lover was desc
late. What was to be done? She could
not live with her husband, and she had
no divorce. To stay was living death.
She could not brook the intermittent
visits and abuse OF her husband, whom
she despised. The Western sky looked
full of happiness, for there she could fly
from every rumor and be happy with one
whom she loved more than her life.
SO they were married and came to
America. This marriage was not strict
ly legal, for she was not divorced from
her first husband; but it was moral
marriage, and never has doubtful ru-
NOR ever clouded the moral sky of that
covenant with Mr.. Catacazy.
They arrived in this country as Mr..
and Mrs. Catacazy. After staying awhile
in New York, Mr.. CatacaZy went on to
Washington, taking with him Mrs. Cata-
eazy. The young secretary rentedrfor
his beautiful companion pretty cottage
in Bladensburg. eight miles from Wash
ington, where he spent most of his time
he with wild, loose notions of a proaigate
Russian count, and she simply conhd-
ing in the only man she ever loved
and the only man she thought who could
dare to call her his wife.
RETURN To RUSSIA.
Eight years ago Mr.. Catacazy returned
to Russia. They we're both received
at the Russian Court; feted by the no
bility, and the little spot which had
caused them so much uneasiness was
forgotten in their mutual happiness and
prosperity.
I The Czarina Of Russia is tall, grace
ful woman like the Queen Of Denmark,
terribly devoted to the Greek church, and
paying very little attention to society.
But il is true that she, with all her ortho-
dox scruples, received Madam Catacazy.
RACK TO WASHINGTON AS MINISTER.
In 1865, Mr.. Constantine de Catacazy
was appointed by Czar Alexander as
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plen-
ipotentiary to the United States.
Accompanied by his wife, he arrived
on the Vile de Paris, and proceeded at
once to Washington relieving Baron
Stoekl.
He was received everywhere in official
circles with great friendship, his beauti-
ful wife sharing in all the honors of her
husband. ! myself have seen them to-
rether at President Johnson's, and also
at Secretary Stewards.
RECEIVING ~ NEW YORK.
airs. James Brooks threw New York
society into an excitement by giving
Madame Catacazy a reception at her