Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-14
2he Story Of the Slaoe Girl Eho Became
Empress of Russia.
Golden Argosy. |

Az hlngen, village Of Livona, Russia,
on the 9th of January, 1859, a girl was
born, named Martha Rabe, whose history is
so wonderful it seems ideal instead of
real.
When she was between four and five
years of age her parents died, leaving her
in so destitute condition that the parish
clerk out of pity provided her home in his
family. Soon afterwards DR.. GIuck. a
Lutheran minister at Marienburg. near
Ringen, on his way through the latter
place, CHANGED to- see the child, and was
SO pleased with her appearance that he
volunteered to take her under his own
protection. AS the expense necessary to
her support was quite an item to one re-
ceiving his small income, and, besides,
knowing that the advantages would be
greater at Marienberg than at Ringen, the
clerk willingly committed Ma,tha to the
minister's care. Bright, active, emiable,
she shortly endeared herself to every mem
Der of DR.. Gulk's household, ana manifest
ing great desire to be useful, me was
indicted into the mysteries of housekeep-
ing and rendered his wife notable assist
ance. In 1902 she was sought in marriage
by brave and honorable officer of the
Swedish garrison Of the Marienburg-then
under the government of Sweden-and
with the approval of her foster father,
consented to be his wife. just prior to
her marriage the struggle between Russia
and Sweden began, and Eeme authors
affirm that on her wedding day, others
that on the next day after, Marienburg
was taken by the Russian army. What
became Of the husband is not known,
though it is certain his bride never saw
him again.
At this time, less than Il years old, she
had a womanly appearance, and of slight
figure, regular features, fair complexion,
dark eyes, was really handsome.
Aware that the Russians were want to
sell their female prisoners, if young and
good looking, as slaves in Turkey, she,
dreading such a fate, concealed herself in
an oven, where she was discovered by the
soldiers. General Bauer, lieutenant of
Sheremetif, whe commanded the victorious
army, seeing her among the captives,
was smitten with her beauty and sent her
to his tent, where she was given the sup
erintendence of his domestic affairs.
She had been in his service but short
time when Prince Menchikof saw, and ex-
pressed desire to purchase her. Bauer
made present Of his fair servant to the
Prince, into whose seavioe she at once
passed. About this time, 1903, she joined
the Greek chnrch, taking the name of
Catherine Alexiewna.
Peter the Great enjoyed nothing better
than TO dine with his faTorites quite infor-
mally. One day, while seated al The table
of Prince MenchikoH, 4 vision Of lovliness
in the guise of a young woman who had
poured wine into his cup caused the laugh
on his lips to die away, and when she went
from the room.
'Who is she:" he asked TREMENDOUSLY.
''My slave" was The response.
81 desire 10 purchase her and will pay
you any price you may ask.
Il shall be pleased If your Majesty will
accept her" said tbs prince, deferentially,
however averse TO parting with his slave"
he may have been.
That very day Catherine went to Mos
COW with the Gar. BY her cheerfulness,
gentleness, and mental vigor she acquired
great influence over him, and finally he
transacted all business with his ministers
in her presence, frequently asking her
advice with reference to important mat
tiers.
In 1907 he privately married her. For
several years the marriage was not made
public, but her position and power was
well understood.
Peter was subjected to attacks of de-
spcndency, which amounted almost to in
sanity, and caused him the most acute
physical suffering. While they lasted he
was absolutely dangerous but even then
Catherine hesitated not to approach him,
II ELo+ 49, To-, In1
his mind and smoothed his pain. So she
accompanied him on al his journeys and
expeditions, deem1ng her presence essen
tial to his comfort il not TO his very eIis-
tence. In March, I'LL, ne publicly
avowed his marriage with Catherine, and
called upon Russia to aoknowlegs her as
Czarina. A few months later hostilities
were begun against him by the Sultan of
Turkey, and he set forth to meet the
Turks. Near the Pruth, river that forms
the boundary between the Russian and
Turkish dominions, the two armies en-
countered each other. The position was
an unfortunate one for Peter, and he
found himself completely surrounded by
troops numbering five times as many as
his own.
For three days the Turks endeavored to
force passage through the Russian lines,
unsuccessfuIly. Then the Grand Vizier.
commanding the Sultan's army resolved
to starve out the enemy or compei it to
surrender.
Several thousand Russian lives had
fallen On the battle-feld; their emmuni-
ton and provisions we're almost exhaus
ted, they suffered terribly from thirst.
Further resistance seemed both foolish
and useless, and Potter, in despair, retired
to his tent.
Despite his orders that no one be ad-
mitted to his presence, Catherine went to
him, and by her tact and energy, effected
the salvation of his homer. At her die
tation Sheremetif wrote letter to the
Grand Vizier, which led to q declaration
of peace. The story that she gave her
jewels and money collected from the
soldiers to the Vizier as o bribe, is without
foundation.
On the 10th of February, 1912, she was
regularly proclaimed Czarina, with con
siderable pomp and splendor, though the
ceremony was less magnificent than it
would have been save for the disasters of
the recent war.
For many years Peter and Catherine
lived together happily, but in 1924 there
was an unpleasantness which led to their
separation, caused by certain rumors af-
fecting her integrity. However, when he
died, January %, 1925, it was in her
arms.
Tr,7,ed-o4oJ- oeGo- DID,, 5o.LL H,4L