The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-03-23
A CASE OF BLACKHAILTNG.

II CdSE OF bLAt n M Il (LINN.
The Princess Souvaroff, with her
suite, who have been the subject of much
scandalous gossip in New York lately,
sailed for Russia in the Scythia. Her
wrongs were first, however, brought to
the notice of the Russian Minister,
through whom, it is said, the State De-
partment will be led to institute an in
vestigation, with view to the arrest and
punishment of the offender.
The story, in brief, is this: The
Princess is the daughter-in-law of the
Russian general, Prince Souvaroff, In
spector General of the Russian infantry,
and chief aidde-camp to the Gar. His
son, husband of the Princess, is also
member of the Imperial staff. The
Princess, who is reputed to be a lady of
great wealth, is an invalid travelling by
orders of her physicians, and was at
tended by several members of her family.
She had scarcely arrived at her hotel in
New York before she began to receive
letters from some unknown person beg
ging for money,-of which she took no
notice. On the 23d of February she re-
ceived through the post-office a letter
written in the Russian language, to the
following effect:
"MME. LA PRINCEssE Il addressed my
self TO you some few days since, asking of
you, as a compatriot, to lend me your aid.
You have not seen fit to answer even one
word. Now the time has come in which |
can be of service to you. An interesting
and piquant biography of your history is in
my hands, and will be published tomorrow
in a journal of the city. If such publication
should be disagreeable to you, it remains
with you, Nine. la -Princesse, to prevent it.
If you will send me to-day twenty-five dol
lars, to the address hereunto annexed, the
manuscript containing this grand portion of
my personal recollectiQns will be sup
pressed if not, it will be forwarded to the
press tonight, and tomorrow you will re-
ceive the number of the journal containing
the details which wi not contribute to rem
der your sojourn here agreeable.
"Accept, Nine. la Prncesse, the express
ion of my respectful regards.
"PIERRE DE MoKIZYsKI.
address Mr.. H. Supervielle, Messenger
Franco-American, No. AZ Great Jones Street,
for Mr.. p. De NJ.
"Please send your letters through a mes
senger."
This, also, was passed by unnoticed,
and, true to the threat, the biography"
was the next morning printed in the
New York Sun 1t was a strange COM
pound of scandal and malice, evidently
written by one who knew something of
the Princess and her connections, and
filled with charges and insinuations of
the basest character. Efforts were, of
course, made to ascertain the authorship
of this brutal attack, but the editor
pleaded his privilege, and declined to
reveal the writer's name. The Princess
addressed the editor the following note:
FEBRUARY 26, 1873.
"SIR:-I am just after reading an infa-
nous article in your paper, entitled, 'The
Adventures of Princess, which not only
attacks my private life but also the honora-
BILE name possess. 1t is my duty to defend
my father-in.law's name. He is a respecta-
BILE gentleman, honored by every one in his
own country. | also defend the name of
my husband, from whom am not separa-
ted, and with whose authority l came
abroad, on account of my health. am as
tonished that you took the responsibility
to publish such an outrageous article on a
lady foreigner, whose thought was that she
would be Hospitality treated in America, as
all foreigners are treated in her country.
AS to your mention of my emigration, beg
you to understand that / love my country
too well to emigrate from it, and also have
too honorable name to do so. In recapi-
tulating every odious line of this article l
am reminded of a letter l lately received
from an individual signing himself Pierre
de Mokizyski, and who threatened to write
some outrageous article against me in
New York paper, should not let him have
the sum of twenty-five dollars. 1 regret
that this individual, whose business is of a
most cowardly character, should have cho-
sen your paper as a battle. field to attack a
lady foreigner in. Hoping, sir, that you
will publish this letter in your paper, /
remain yours, respectfully,
"PRINCEss SoUvoRAFF."
She was also compelled to submit to
an infowing of curious and inquisitive
persons, to one of whom she made full
statement of her case. She then or
dered her trunks packed and passage
engaged by the first steamer leaving the
country.