St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-04-22

held his own with some OF the aoles1
statesmen of the world, gives him q
good title to repose now in his old age
The most conspicuous character in
the Russian colony at Nice is a certain
Baron Won DERIVES, whose history bears
some resemblance to that of the late
Commodore" Vanderbilt. He is what
is called a self-made man, that is, be
has risen, by his own force of character
from low beginnings to great fortune
and social eminence. He was of hum
BILE parentage, but having strong musi-
cal procivities, managed to acquire
sufficient knowledge of music to fit him
to instruct others in that art. Not find
ing this employment profitable, he en-
clerk, and rose step by step to part
nership. At about that time an Oppor-
tunity occurred for himself and the rich
banker to buy up the deprecated
stock and bonds of bankrupt railway
in Central Russia, and through the busi.
ness energy and shrewdness of Won Der
wies, the road became a paying con
cern, and finally fell almost entirely
into the possession of the latter wheth-
er by fair means or foul, is a question
This transaction, followed by similar
operations peculiar to railroad kings
| To-. I,,o,nl,E = 6,
which he is enjoying in way to crafty
his early tastes, and to bring him social
distinction. He is now about so years
of age. Some ten years ago he settled
upon Nice for a winter residence, build
ing a costly chateau-almOst palace
on an eminence in the outskirts of the
city. The surrounding grounds are laid
out with much taste, and filled with
plants and trees of every cline. Ii
seems very paradise. During the years
of his railroad speculations he did not
forget his early love of music. In the
construction of his which
goes by the name of the "Chateau oi
Valrose"-a small theatre occupies one
of the wings, and is used sometimes fol
the performance of operas and at other
| times for concerts. He has an orchestra
of 60 performers, mostly Germans, un-
der the leadership, for the last ten years
of MullerBerghaus, whose reputation
in Continental Europe is like that O1
| Theodore Thomas in the United States
Some of these musicians are celebrated
solOists on their respective instruments
and all are trained to the highest de
gee as orchestIians. Many profession
al musical critics are drawn hitheT tC
listen to their performances, from Paris
from Italy and frOm Germany. In ad
ditiOn to the orchestra, there is a chOil
of 20 singers, male and female, wei
chosen and thoroughly trained. Two
concerts week are given in the after
noon, one of these occasionally giving
way to an evening operate perform
ance. These performances are all free
but open only to invited guests. Tick
cts are sent by the Baron to his ac
quaintances, and to distinguished visit
ors; a few season tickets are given tt
well known musicians, aud to those wh1
are introduced to him as amateurs o
music. 1t is under this last modest cat
egOry that the writer has this year beeI
favored with Il season ticket, for himscl
and family. If money could buy tn,
1 eRtrGe to these entertainments, the de
mand would exceed by ten-fOld tn,
seating capacity of the small theatre
foI it seats but about 400.
There is but one lOge, and this is oc
cupied by the Baron and his family
Promptly at . O'Clock, these enter thei
loge; ; the music begins at once, ant
continues, with but short rests between
the pieces, fol- two hours. The selection
is varied to suit all cultivated tastes
the classic music of the great master
being alternated with the romantic an,
lighter styles of modern composers
There is seldom concert without on
or more compositions of Won Derwie
!. himself, who is a musical composer G
rare merit and originality. Everythin
is rendered with all the perfection an
, fneSSe imaginable. Two pieces are in
. variably performed by the choir, an
generally without accompaniment.
, Within the last five years, thi
wealthy Russian has built chatea
for a summer residence on the banks {
Lake LuganO in Switzerland, which
said to be even more sumptuous tha
: this of ''Valrose." Thither he takes b
, family in the spring, together with b
: entire orchestra and choir, and til
wives and children of all the marie
: artists.
f 1t is doubtful if Abraham himsel
t who was a wandering patriarch, di
things in a more lardly way than vo
DERIVES does. The old patrician fam
lies in the Russian colony here hay
5 hitherto affected to treat this country
man of theirs rather slightingly, as
, pdrreRu and a nOuredU richie but |
! has kept Oh in the even tenor of his wa,
' having faith in himself, and in the pr,
= verb "Handsome is that handson
b does" His superb hospitality,
= princely way of bestowing favors, bi
s gradually overcome the prejudice
T caste and his triumph was complet
I when, two days before the murder