National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-12
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ROMANCE IN 4 NEW YORK COURT.
A Brooklyn Journal furnishes the following
sketches Of two remarkable women who sp-
peared not long since in the Supreme Court Of
that city in the eharaeteECf plaintiff and de-
fendant:
Helen p Blavstsky IS about forty years of
age. At the age Of seventeen, she married
Russian nobleman and Counselor of State,
then in his seventy third year. For many
years they resided together IN Odessa, and
finally a legal separation was effected between
them. The husband died recently in his nine
ty-seYenth year. The widow is now resident
of the city of New York; she is highly accom-,
plished. As musician she has few suDeriors.
She converses and writes fuently in Russian,
Polish, Romaic, Low Dutch, German, French,
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English. She
has translated the works of Darwin. and the
Treatise of Buckle on Civilization in England,
into the Russian language. She is thoroughly
yersed in the Darwinian theory, and embraces
its doctrine in her creed. She is firm be
lever in Wallace's Scientific SpiriJualism, and
is a member of the Order of ROsicrucians, the
medal of which she wears.
WONDERFUL RECORD.
Her life has been one of many vicisitndes,
and the area of her experiences is bounded
she entered her teens, she visited this country
with a party of tourists, hunted the moose in
the forests of Maine, lassOOed the buffalo On
the Western prairies, rode through the gOrges
of the Rocky Mountains, and camped with the
gold seekers of California. On her return to
Europe she married, and in the struggle for
Italian liberty, dOnned the helmet and the
gauntlets, mounted the fiery charger and
fought side BY side with the heroes who ranged
themselves under the victorious standard OF
Garibaldi. She won renOwn for unhinching
bravery in many hard fought battles, and was
elevated to high position on the staff Of the
great general. She still bears the scars Of
many wounds received in the conflict, for
where the fight waged iercest there the young
heroine was ever to be found. Twice her horse
was shot under her, and she escaped haSty
death only by her
GOODNESS AND MATCHLESS SKILL.
Altogether Madame BIayatsky is an aston
ishing woman, and despite the life of excite
ment she has led, and the scenes of danger and
hardship through which she has passed, is
still feminine in her tastes, ladylike in her de
pertinent, and fascinating in her person and ad-
dress. One vice OnIy-and, if it can be called
a vice, very mild One-she acquired in camp,
and that she retains to this day-she smokes
But she does it in so distinguished manner,
and is SO perfect an expert in the choice of the
fragrant weed, that the habit seems to lend
charm to her presence, and to give just that
spice of eCcentricity to her character, which
suits enc with such a history as hers. Added
to all this, she is wealthy, generous and ME
pendent, and, therefore, can do very much as
she phases without exciting enviOus comment
and slanGerOus jealousy.
ANOTHER HEROINE.
So much for the plaintiff in the suit referred
TO. Now for the defendant.
Madame Clementine GerebkO is the daughter
of a French Count, who was high in the favor
of the Emperor. At this moment her uncle IS
French ambassador at the British court. In
1869, when Clementine was but seventeen years
old, she accompanied her father on pleasure
trip to Russia. While crossing the Caucasian
mountains, the tourists met with an accident
which delayed their journey, and necessitatsd
their taking refuge in a roadside inn. There
they met Russian gentleman in similar
condition to themselves, and an acquaintance
sprang up between the companions in mistor
tune. Their new friend, Count John GerebkO,
was an officer of high rank in the Russian
navy. He was young, accomplished, fascinat-
ing and susceptible. Though Clementine spent
but few hours in his company, he fell in love
with the beautiful foreigner, and when the
| tourists continued their journey he accompanied
them.
TUE ACC EPTED sCITOR.
In . short time, Count NJ. was recalled to
Paris by the Emperor, and Clementine
returned with her father to the French capital.
| and resumed her studies under Chopin, the eel
ebrated music teacher, and soon became the con
| tire of a thrOng Of admirers. GerebkO followed
| hertO Paris, and was cordially received. 1t was
| soon discovered that he was the favored sutton.
He declared his love and was accepted.
| short time afterward Napoleon ordered Count
NJ to RussiO a secret mission, ana he took
| his daughter with him. GerebkO was also of
| the party, and not long after their arrival in
| st. Petersburg he and Clementine were mar
| Eied amid great pOmp, all the leading nobility
| Of the Empire being present at the ceremony
! Two yeOrs ago Monsieur GerebkO and Glenn
| entine came to reside in this country. They
I purchased beautiful residence at NOrthPOrt,
4; in Suffolk county. Here they lived very hap
| ply for some time.
THE OLD, OLD STORY.
| At length, however, Gerebko began to alb
| sent himself from home, and frequently re-
! turned with signs of dissipation on him. He
| made away with large sums Of money, and
| offered all kinds of excuses and explanations
| Finally, when over $4,000 OF Madame
| GTebko's money.had been squandered, she dis
| covered that her husband had been unfaithful-
She accused him of the crime, and announced
| her intention of procuring a divorce forthwith.
I Gerebko gathered together ali the money he
| could lay hands on, appropriated his Wite's
| Jewels, and entered himSelfas mate on board a
| merchantmen bound for Australia. Thither he
mas gone, ueClATlu8 Ills lutClls4OA ACfCA " IL
turn. A suit for divorce has been begun, and
| an order of publication procured.
It is now necessary to explain the circum-
| stances under which the suit referred to at the
outset was begun. Madame BlaTatsky first
| met Madame GerebkO at the residence OF the
| RUSSIAN CONSUL IN NEW YORK.
A warm friendship was.the result. Madame
Blevatsky was frequent visitor at Madame
Gerebko's villa, at NorthpOrt. The latter was
! passionately fond of flowers, and was desirous
of laying out magnificent terrace gardens.
Madame BIayatsky, it is alleged, offered to
advance money to enable her friend to carry
out her project, and, furnished $4,000. Since
this 4 misunderstanding has arisen between
the ladies, and Madame Blayatsky AYERS that
she advanced the one thousand dollars on con-
dition that Madame GerebkO gave her mort
gage to secure it. Madame GerebkO denies
this, and the suit has been begun to compel
her to specifically perform the contract by eX-
ecuting a mortgage. Application was made
by Counselor A. Marks, for the defendant, to
compel her to give security for the costs, on
the grounds that she was about to quit the
country The application was opposed by
Major ]. II. Bergen, who appeared for Madame