Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-08-14
AN INCIDENT OF RUSSIAN COURT
LIFE.

IT was in the year 1741. Elizabeth, the
daughter of Peter the Great, who inner
tied from her father only his weaknesses
and righteousness, by an unparalleled
palace revolution had conquered the Rus
sian throne and began, in her half-civil-
ized, fantastic way, to reign as thor
ough despot. Very naturally, those cruel,
lawless eXcesses in which Russian court
history is so rich were very frequent un-
der her government. One of the most
remarkable cases Of this kind, and one
which gives us very good idea of the
unbridled license of the Russian court
100 years ago, is the subject of the fol
lowing narrative:
The Empress, conscious of being the
handsomest woman in the Empire, sur
rounded herself with bevy of the pret-
tiest women she could find among the
Russian nobility, who served only as a
worthy background for the brilliancy of
her majestic charms.
Among the young ladies who graced
the imperial palace there were two who
We'd with each other for the palm of
beauty-the Princess Gagarin and Made
moiselle dOlsufied. 1t was not easy to
decide between them, for two women
more unlike personal appearance could
hardly be imagined. The Princess Ka-
tinka Gagarin was tall, willow-like
blonde, with a complexion that might be
likened to moonlight tinted with the od0r
of roses. Nadeschda dOlsutierd, on the
contrary, was brunette, with pair of
fiery black eyes, and had luxurious fig
ure, rather below the medium height.
For long time each one seemed to
have about an equal number of parti-
sans; but, finally, the Princess succeeded
in becoming special favorite of the
Empress, while at about the same time
the handsomest, most elegant and most
lionized cavalier at court, Count Dimitri
Strogonof, offered her his hand.
The rivalry of the two young ladies
had long since begotten in the breasts OF
both sort of hatred for each other,
which, now that the Princess seemed to
be the victor, became more apparent
especially was this true on the day that
Count Strogonoff and Katinka were pre-
sented at court as acknowledged lovers.
Mademoiselle d'Olsuherd on that day
appeared in a rose-colored atlas dress,
trimmed with white.lace, and, concealing
her chagrin behind cheerful, indifferent
mien, suddenly touched her rival on the
shoulder, and asked;
"How do you like my dress"
81 like your dress very much" replied
the Princess, "but not on you-it does
not become you, my dear Nadeschda."
"And why not, If / may askY" cried
the little brunette, crimson with indig
nation.
because the delicate rose-color does
not harmonize with your Moorish com
plexion and your high cheeks,
said the Princess. "When one is AZ
beautiful as the Empress 1t is not neces
sary to be particular about cut or color
but we who are only pretty cannot afford
to disregard such things"
$50, in your eyes, am as black as a
Moor, and, like peasant-girl, have
cheeks as red as beet2" stammered
Mademoiselle d'Olsuferd, with trembling
lips.
"Why, Nadeschda, how can you speah
SOY" returned the Princess, mildly. "It
was far from my thoughts to say any
thing disagreeable."
Oh, how kind you arel" replied the
fiery brunette, turning away half-sufio
Gated with rage.