The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-22
Tho Rotllschilus OF Russia,

The Dcmidoffs contrivc to keep them
selves before the public, as Il family of lis
anteccdents and resources easily can, if Sc
minded. The later members seem too have
love of notoriety, fondncss for creating
sensations, which belongs to many rich Rus
slams who have been ennobled 1t is thought
by number Of his acquaintaccs That Pau
DemldoN decided to sell tho art treasures
IN his San Donate villa, at Florence, in
order to make himself talked about. Indeed
it is hard to explain the sale on any other
ground, for the widest caprice seldom takes
80 serious form, artis'ically and flnanci-
ally speaking. The history of the Demi.
dolls Is singular and interesting. They are
Immensely rich and occupy, as capitalists,
mu Ii the same position in Russia that the
tothschilds do in western Europe. The
founder OF the family, Nikila Demidoff,
was son of serf at the time of Peter the
Great, and quilted his birthplace in the GOV
crnmcnt OF Toola to avoid bearing arms.
lie became Il blacksmith and armorer,
growing SO famous i'll the latter capacity
that he acquired u vast fortuhc Peter hav-
ing favored him greatly, he established in
l099 for the government tho first iron foun-
dry in Siberia at Ncviansk, near the base
OF the Urat mountains. This having, scrv
cd as model for many other prosperous
toundries Ill that region, thelczar prcscnlct
to him with all Its dependencies, and also
conferred title on him. Nikita's SON.
Akimf, employed number OF Germans to
explore the rich mines of copper, silver and
gold found in the valley Of The Irish and
the upper stretches Of the Obi river. In
1873 he erected at the foot of the Magnetic
mountains foundry named Nischncitagi-
lisk, which is to this day the largest In Sib-
erla. Russia, sensible of the value of his
labors to the country bestowed on him the
title of counsellor of state. Ills son, Pro-
cope, founded at Moscow commercial
school-aftcrward removed to st. Peters.
burg-for the education of the SONS of
tradcsmcn. Paul, cousin of Procope, n
man Of mind and energy, travelled widely
in his youth, and devoted bimsclf to the
natural sciences. He gave to the university
OF Moscow museum Of natural history.
and founded I8O3) the Demidoff museum
al 1arosiavi. 4 nephew of Procopc, Count
Nicholas, distinguished himself as an aide
in the war against the Turks; afterwards
married Countess Stroganoff, and became
privy councillor and imperial chamberlain
lie had marked taste for art and science,
and conducted extensive mines with success.
In 1912 he raised regiment, and fought
against the French. He was the father of
Anatolc, who died at Batcn-Baden ten
years ago, and the uncle, if we mistake not,
of he present Paul, the collector of San
Donator. While the Demidoffs have the
Russian popularity we have mentioned,
they have generally distinguished them
selves in substantial and crcditable way.
They have had brains, taste and energy, as
well as passion for munificcnco and display,
and have: first and last, done deal of good
with their wealth. paui Demidorlf ls re-
puted to be worth more than $50, 900, 600.
That family Of opulent princess should
spring from a poor serf. and blacksmith
seems very unlike Russia as popularly ap-
pretended.