The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-07-06
An Idiot Carlow Elizabeth Became
Empress of Russia.

Empress Of Russia.
The night of the 25th of November,
1741, was bitter cold in the Russian
Capital on the Neva. 1t has been snow
ing all day, and at setting in of dusk a
furious gale had sprung up, and rendered
the cold almost intolerable. Neverthe-
less the Annikof Palace where the
Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Peter the
Greats daughter, resided was the scene
of a gay festival.
1t was the birthday of the Princess,
and her sumptuous apartments were
crowded from an early hour in the even
ing with elegantly dressed gentlemen,
who congratulated her with all the sub
missiveness usually displayed toward
crowned heads.
Elizabeth herself was radiant. She
was not exactly beautiful, but still a
most attractive woman. Her form was
perfect, her complexion was dazzling
white, and face, dotted with two hazel
eyes, constantly Wore a commanding,
majestic expression. She looked very
much like her illustrious father, and on
the present joyous occasion more so than
ever.
The large bell on the st. Isaac's dome
proclaimed the hour of nine, when an
elderly gentleman, with a Machiavel-
liam face, approached and whispered to
her in French:
"They are in the cabinet, your Impe-
rial Highness."
The Princess replied, smilingly:
81 shall be there in few minutes"
She bowed graciously to the assem-
bled guests, and said, with the most en-
gaging smile:
Gentlemen, | have to retire for a
short time. Will you meanwhile drink
my health?"
Strangely enough, they responded to
by shouting in an enthusiastic MANNER
Long live our Czarinap
She kissed her hand to her guests and
then disappeared.
A few moments later she entered her
private cabinet, where she found DIR.
Lostocq, her French physician, M. de la
Chetardie, the French Minister to Rus
STA, besides several superior officers of
the famous Life Guard Regiment Preo-
brazensky.
" Every thing is ready, Your Imperial
Highness," said the Doctor to the Grand
Duchess.
The latter looked at the officers of the
Life Guard Regiment.
"Can l trust your regimentF" she
asked.
owe will 60 through fire and water
for our Czarina!" they replied enthusi-
astically.
"You know, if we fail, officers"
she rejoined, slightly inclining her proud
head, the scaffold awaits you. If you
succeed, each of you will receive three
hundred thousand roubles and a regi-
ment of his own"
eve will succeed, Czarina |" cried the
officers.
"Then proceed to the Imperial
Palace" she said CDR. Lestocq will 20
with you, and tell you what to do"
They wrapped themselves up in their
costly furs, and left the room. shouting
enthusiastically
Long live our CzarinaW
She returned to her guests, and the
officers, headed by Lestocq, fastened to
the barracks of the Preobraszensky
Guards. They found their soldiers under
arms ready to march.
=" Forward to the Imperial Palacep
shouted Colonel Samineff to them.
They tramped silently through the
deep snow. Upon their arrival at the
Imperial Palace, they dismissed the SEN
tinels, and with crossed bayonets rushed
up the great staircase.
At the landing they were met by
beautiful, fair-haired woman, who held
an infant in her arms
"What do you want p she said, in ter
ror, to the officers that headed the column.
:" How dare you invade the palace of
your legitimate CARR
She held up her infant. 1t was only
three months old, and yet it was under
the name of Ivan the Third, Emperor
of all the Russias
=" He is not the Gar" shouted
Lestocq, brutally. "Our Czarina is
Elizabethp
Traitor!" replied the lady, who was
no other than Anna of Lourland, the
mother of the infant Gar. "You shall
mount the scaffoldp'
"Enoughl enoughw cried Lestocq.
Send her and her brat down stairs.
Put her into the carriage
"What is all this 7" asked man who
suddenly appeared by the side of Anna.
He was her husband, Prince Anthony
Ulrick, of Brunswick, lazy, indolent
sort of fellow.
" Take him down stairs, toop' ordered
Lestocq.
Several guardsmen hustled Anna, who
was speeches. with terror, and who
closely clasped her little son, Ivan, to
her bosom, down stairs. Others dragged
her husband after her.
In front of the palace large travelling
coach awaited them. They were thrust
into it, and the Waterman, who sat by
the side of the coachman on the box,
whispered to the latter:
"1o Riga!"
The ride lasted twenty-four hours
During these twenty-four hours, not
withstanding the inclemency of the
weather, not morsel of food was given
to the prisoners.
At Riga they were delivered, in a
truly deplorable condition, to the COM
mander at the citadel.
Put them into a solitary cell and