New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-08

nm iron bOuse in order, as he sald, 10 DC 'p'c "
lanph M his neigh bors whenever they became we
tins to one of the confaeratios frequent IN that
city He was twice married ana ~ reporter W INV
illreaed his unfortunate wives to snch an e11ont
M 70 cause their death. He had several cDlluIcn
whom ina wanted TO have educated In Germany. bn'
as they learned TO speak German better IMAM iueI
mother tongue he became disguised win tDehl ahu
adopted all means IN his power TO deprive theIh OF
the greater part of his fortune co this branch OF
Demidons is comparatively poor. AT MOSCOW ne
founded hospitals, schools, asylums and richly en-
dowed the university.
THE GREATEST OF THE FAMILY.
Count Nicholas Nikitich, Admits grandson was,
probably, the most ilustrous of the family. lie
was born at TchekOvitch, chateau in the vlclnlty
of st. Petersburg November g. 1873. He entered,
in very early youth. the military services his mu-
nifcenoe as well as his gollautry secured for him
rapid promotion, he was lieuteDant-colOnel at the
age of nineteen and greatly distinguished himself
in two campaigns against the Turks. His marriage
with the Baroness Str0gOnOff placed him in n con-
spicuous position among the aristocracy of the En-
pre- lie was appointed by Paul l. Prlyy Councillor
of state, and thereupOn left the army and devoted
himself to q series Of travels for scientific and IN
dustral purposes. He imported into Russia large
number of most skllfu workmen, and maintained
abroad number of his own cOuntrymen In order
that they might perfect themselves In various
branches Of trade He developed to such an extent
his mining and other industries that he could have
secured "A monopoly from which would have accrued
untold profits Far from this, however, aiming be
fore all things at the industrial advancement OF ms
country, he authorized every Russian TO enter and
learn I'm his workshops, and he was ever ready to
aid with his own money any one VINO dlspiayed an
enteTpTIsin0 spirit. When the war between Russia
and Napoleon |. broke out. Nicholas Demdoh again
took mp the sword, exhibiting all his old gallantry
i'm the field, and DID not sheathe II tIll the last
French soldier had quilted the soil OF Russia. After
NAPOLEON,
at Paris. Every month he distributed 10000 francs
trthe poor of tie city. His palace was ne TeDdez
vOus Of all the celebrities Of Paris. But l-nea-th
compelled him to seek mllder climate, and he es-
tablIshcd himself IN Florence, where so great were
the benefits conferred by BIN Oh the country OF ms
selection that the Grand Duke OF tuscany created
BIN Prince. II was at this period that he purchased
the old convent Of San Donald, which, IN few
years. he transformed into villa which may with
justice be rcckoncd one Of the wonders OF the world
PRINCE ANAToLEs CRUELTY AND EXTRAYAGANCE.
II was at Florence that Prince Anatolo was born,
and passed most Of his life. He was hunchback,
and bad hardly any Of the noble qualities of his
father. Tho good he did was done rather for OSten
tation than for any natural impulse. He was sub
iect TO fits Of cruelty that bOrdered insanity At
times lac treated his servants as if they mere
animals. but on one occasion no was made 10 feel
the weight Of a servants hand. His wife, also, the
lovely Princess NathIlde daughter Of jerome, eX
King Of Wcstphaa, had so much to endure that
finally her cousin, Napoleon ILL., eXiled tho Prince
from Paris. This marriage had been an unfortunate
affair for both parties. The Emperor Nicholas of
Russia, who could not tolerate the idea Of having
become a relative OF one of his subjects for as is
known, his daughter Marie the wife of the
Duke of Leuchtenberg the son Of Eugene Beauha-
mais and n cousin Of the Princess Mathilde, exiled
the Prince from Russia. Their union was finally
broken in consequence Of the painful notifications
inflicted by the Prince on his wife, even IN the pres
ence of his household. The Princess took
up her residence IN Paris. and the Empe-
hundred thousand rOubles year. TINS act Of JUS
tce reused the Prince to Madness and this eXtrava
CANT spendthrift who literally threw money by
sackslul ont of the window, showed himself in
every way most unwilling TO contribute to the de-
cent support of the woman whom, In his better
moments, he called the Queen Of San Donate, and
whose name IN letters OF SOLID gold was inscribed
over the gate of the prlncely residence,
1T is almost useless 10 sta;e that at the departure
of the Princess from San Donate the legend Villa
Mathide" was removed from its proud position.
From that rime the Prince devoted all his energies
to the establishment of his residence, The rarites
which his wealth enabled him 10 accumulate within
Its walls bafled description. DE made important
additions to the building. among which the con-
servaOres and the winter garden were probably the
most splendid IN the world. His collections of roses
Camellas and palm trees exceeded ANYTHING which
the imagination even of the East has suggested. or
the mas teTpleCes of art which Prince Anat0le and
hrs tather had assembled IN Tue ElYsldn III is need
less speak after the publication OF so many ac-
counts of the late sale by which these treasures were
An idea of the luxury which pervaded
the whole est ablishment in all its details may DO
gathered from the fact that the racks In the stables
were OF solid silver.
The PRESENT PRINCE.
The Prince died at Baden In 1870. Leav-
ing no children Of his own, he bequeathed his
fabulous fortune to his nephew, the Prince Paul
Demidoff The latter has never entertained for San
Donate the strong affection of his ancestors To
him the ground for princely residence appeared
ill-chosen. He preferred the enchanting hills
looking Florence, and commanding the plain
around it. This is probably the main reason OF his
Pratolino and of his selling San Donate.
The lovers of art need not worry. If San Donate
passes away, PratoIno awakens to new life The
old chateau, formerly belonging to the House of
Lorraine, Is about rising from its ruins undoubt-
edy in n moro splendid form than Its rival cow
done away with. PratOnO, commanding as IL does
an extensive view of Florence and the valley of
the ArnO, Is unquestonabiy Que of the finest To-
caliies III the world for the erection OF q royal
residence. The natural park around the hill. with
its lovely waterfall. has only rival IN Europe
tue Sch0enbrunn at Vienna. The Prince has opened
n competition In which all the architects OF the
world may take part for the reconstruction of the
chateau of PratOlno. NJ. Baudot. distinguished
pupil of Niollet-le-Dlc, ~ charged with organizing
the competition and selecting tue design to be
executed. The motto of the DemldOff family being
" Acta Verba." it is to be expected that Prince
Paul and his charming wife, the Princess Helen.
Will shortly devote all their energies to building for
chateau worthy of their wealth. AS
regards suitable decorations, there need be no
anxiety. Ii would be great mistake to fancy that
all the art treasures of the family were sacrificed
at the sale of san Donate. MAURICE MAURIS
New- York. July 80. 1880.
THE PARIS OPERA IN THE LAST CENTURY