Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-07-25
Death Of Madame De Catacazv

Death OF Madame De Catacazy.
News from Europe announces tho
death of Madame De Catacazy. This 4
beautiful and unfortunate woman had
singular career. When very young
she was married to an italian u rank
who was in the diplomatic service. She
had one son who bears his fathers title.
and resides in Rome. Husband and wife
we're bound for Brazil. On the same
ship was an envoy and his secretary
from Russia. The young secretary.
who was Mr.. De Catacazy, saw the Ital.
ian nobleman ill-treat his young and
beautiful wife. He interfered, and not
long afterwards, when the Russian Sec
rotary was transferred to the United
States, the beautiful young countess
left her husband and fed with him.
At Bladensburg. seven miles from
Washington, Mr.. De Catacazy hired
cottage and concealed his prize. One
day she wearied of her loneline and
came to Washington, visiting the Capt.
toll. She was too magnificent to escape
attention. Senators were wild to find
out who she was. She was tracked to
Bladensburg, and Mr.. De Catacazy's Sc
cret was discovered and reported to
Baron Bodisco, the Minister, who sent
him home in disgrace. Eighteen years
afterwards Mr.. De Catacazy returned to
Washington as Minister Plenipoten.
tiary from Russia. and, the husband
having died. the lady had years before
become his wife. They took large
house and imported from Paris superb
furniture. Preparations we're made to
entertain on scale of great magnifi.
cence. During the first winter of their
residence in Washington, the beauty Of
the lady, the wit and humor of the gen.
tleman, and their matchless cuisine were
the theme of every tongue. But the
fatal beauty of Madame De Catacazy
betrayed the past. There were several
who had seen the handsome woman
when she was living in seclusion. They
recognized in the wife of the Minister
her who shared his fortunes before she
was entitled to the name of wife. The
old story was revived heartless writer's
for the press, from political motives,
began a regular persecution gossip
flew from lip to lip, until the trouble
reached the State Department and
opened up a diplomatic disturbance,
This eliminated about the time of the
first visit of the Grand Duke Alexis to
this country. The Secretary of State
had demanded Mr.. De Catacazy's re.
call. Prince Gortschakotf pleaded that
he he allowed to remain until after the
Grand Dukes visit, as there was no time
to send another Minister to replace Mr..
De Catacazy. Alexis came and was re.
ceived by Mr., and Madame De Catacazy
in royal style. But both President
Grant and Secretary Of State Fish were
in the sulks and would hold no inter-
course with Mr.. De Catacazy. When
the Grand Duke and his cutie called to
pay their respects to the President the
day after his arrival in Washington, the
representative of his fathers court &C.
companied him to the White House in
court dress. only to be snubbed unmis.
takably. The reception was cold and
formal, Mrs. Grant not even having the
ladies of the Cabinet present. She her.
self appeared in plain black silk, as if
determined not to put On any style for
the son of an Emperor. That afterk
noon. Mr.. Robson, then Secretary OF
the Navy. escorted Alexis and the off.
GERS of his ship to Annapolis. This
was all the attention accorded in Wash
ington. Mr.. De Catacazy accompanied
the Grand Duke to New York, and
through Canada, when he left the party
and returned to Washington to wind up
his affairs. Everything was sold, even
the Dresden china, with the crest and
monogram of Madame De Catacazy.
The silver, cutlery, glass and table
linen we're similarly marked. All OF
the costly and beautiful things are
scattered among Washington families.
Occasional news from Paris told sad
things about the fallen condition of the
De Catacazys. One report said that
the poor wife had been deserted by her
husband, who had taken up with an
other, that she was not only deserted,
but living in poverty. Four years ago
she wrote to me to thank me for the
kind words had written in answer to
a calumny which appeared in one of
our papers about that time. She de.
MED that she and her husband were in
disgrace with the Russian Government
and were poor. She gave her address
and cordial invitation to visit her in
Paris. The letter was answered, and
that is the last that know of woman
whose beauty, amiability and accom-
plishments fascinated me before perse-
cution aroused my sympathy. still
contend that during her stay in this
country she was harshly treated. She
was branded and stigmatized as though
our society was made up Of such pure
and immaculate women that such case
had never before been heard of, and
that no punishment was severe enough
TO meet her case. There ia no doubt
that her husband was among those who
cast the stones which shortened her.
life. Fly, IN Courier-Journal.
You cannot imagine more polite
company than a crowd OF Spaniards
waiting at the station. No pressing on
one another, no confusion kindly
interest in strangers, and Difference to
those vino appear not to understand the
language, or the customs Of the country.
A onrinuu ipatopoa on1 illuatrotion of