The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-09-11
A STRANGE HISTORY.
How a Russian slave Rose ErOI
Slavery to the Throne.

ssA&sE RAC!aS1 a--- fs..--- = 3 y f.tfSss i
How a Russian Slave Rose From
Slavery to the Throne.
At Ringen, village Of Livonia, Rus-
sia, on the 9th of January, 1853, 4 gifl
was born named Martha Rabe, whose
history is so wonderful it seems ideal
rather, than real. When she was be.
tween, four and five years of age her par-
|ents died. leaving her in SO destitute
condition that the parish clerk, out Of
pity, ,provided her with'la home in uis
family Soon afterward DR. Gluck, "a
lutheran minister OF Marienburg, near
Ringen, on his way through the latter
pace saw the child, and was so please,t
with her appearance that he,yolunt tetrei
to take her under bis owlfRrotec,ipn,-
AS the expense necessary to Byf ssis-S
port was quite an item to one receiving
his smallincome and besides, knowing
that her advantages wouhi be greater o,
Marienburg than at 'Ringen. the clerk
willingly committed Martha to the min
ister's care Bright, active. amiable,
she. shortly endeared herself to every
member, of, Dr.. Gluck's household, and,
manifesting great desire TO be useful,
she was inductedi into the mysteries OF
housekeeping and rendered his vile val
uable as istance. In 1902 she was
sought in marriage by brave and hon.
0ra5 officer of the Swedish garrison
Of Marenburg under1he goverD-
lmenl Of Sweden-and with the approval
LOT her ,fostertather, consented to become
his wife. Just prior to her marriage the
struggle between Russia and Sweden
began, and some authors satflfm, that on
her wtdriing-day, others that on the day
after, Marienhurg was takenby.the Rus
siam army Wuat became OF the hus-i
band is not known, though it, is certain
that his bride never saw him again. At
this time, less than Ia years old, she bad
la womaply. appearance, and of slight
| figure, regular features, iair complexion,
dark eyes, was really handsome Aware
that the RussiaEs were want to sell their
semales sprisoners. :ifryeung and good,
looking, ~ slaves. ID, Turkey, she dread
| i g such ate. concealed herself insanl
foven, where she was Jlissrvered7 by the
soIdfefs..a Gen Bauer, lieutenant of
tSheremetief, wh5 accompanied THIS vic-l
itorious army, seeing her among the cap!
tives, was smitten with her beauty and
sent her. to his tent, where. she was gim-
en- the superintendent OF his domestic
affairs. She lad Iheentin bis eivicei but
short time, when Prince Menchikdtf-
saw and expressed 8 desire ID purchase
her. Bauer made a present Of the fair
servant to the Prince, into whose SER
wee she, at. once passed. - Abent this
time; l703, che joinedNhe Greek church,
taking the name of Cathsrine Alexiewna
Peter the Great enjoyed nothing bet
ter than to dine with bis favorite quite
informally. One day, while seated at
thetables of, Prinoe Menchikoff. q vis-;
ion Of loveliness in the guise OF young
woman who had poured wine into-hi
cup caused he laugh on his lips to die
sway, and, when she went from the
room, =.
W no is she2 he askel tremulously.
'Mv slave was the response.
i desire to purchase Der, and l will
pay any price you may ask
Il shall be plrase.i if your Majesty
will accept her., said the Prince. defer
entiallv, however averse to parting with
mis- slave he NAV have been
That very day Ca,harine went to Mo-.
co " with the Gar. b her cheerfulness,
gentieness and menlal vigorshe acquired
great iiluence ever hi u, aud 6nalip he
transacted all business with his Minis
ters in her presence, frequently asking
her ai,i:e With reference to important
Tmatter4: In 1907 he privately married
her For several years the marriage
twass not, made pub'ia, hat y her position
and power were well understood. Peter
was subj ct tc attacks of despondency,
which amounted to almost insanity, and
caused him the most acute physical Au:-
fering. While they LASTED he was sbso-
lusely dangsrons. but evpna then CatLa-
riDe hesitsted not to approach him, anil
found tina. her voice and touch Jcalmed
his mini and soothed his pain. So she
accnmpanied him on all his journeys
and expeditions, deeming her presence
essential To his comfort, il not To his
vSay exis ence. In March I'LL. be
publictyAavowed his marriage with Cath
aripe and called upon Rissla t. ac-
kno wledge her as Czarina. A few
rnonths41dter hosti'Ities were heeun
-asainst him, ,hvf the .Suitan. OF, Turkey
and. be sell forih to. met the Turks -
Near the Sru,h, a river that forms the
boundary between the Russian and the
Tsrkish.dominiops, jlhe two armies en-.
Ecnuniered each other. The position
was' an unfortunate gone for Peter, and
he found himself completely surrounded
by troops numbering at least five Ii nes
a. msny as hi, own. For thr,e days
the Turks endeav>red to force passage
Through The Russian lines unsuccess'ully
Ehenpthe Grand Vizier commanding tn.
Sultan's army resolved to starve out
the enemy or compel it to surrender.
Seyeral Thousand Russian Ives bad ial-
len ON the le-feld;, their .ammu' l.
tion and provisions were almost ex-
haustAd: y they suffered terribly from
thirst. Further resistance seemed ho,h
'oolish and useless, and Peter, in des.
,ir, retired to his .ent Despite hi.
orders that no one he permitted t. his
presence Catharine went to him, and by
her tact AMI erergy effected the saliva.
ton OF his honor, At her dictstion
Sheremeiiei wrote letter to the Grand
w zer, which led -. a declaration Of
lpeace. Tbef story that she, gave her
jewels and money. collected from the
soldiers, to the VIzier as a brihe is
without foundation. The 10th of Feb
ruary.il7l2, she was regularly proclaim
ed ,Czarira, with considerable pomp
and splend"r, though the ceremony was
less magnificent than 1t would have
been save for the disasters OF the recent
war.v For dmany years Peter and Caths.
rine ,liyeyi together happily, but in 1924
there was an unp!easantness that led to
their separation caused by certain ru.
mors affecting her integrity However,
when he, died, Jan. 2S, 1925, it was In
her arms. Immediately after Peters
death Cathaiine was, proclaimed En-.
press Of all the Russias. Tie begin
ming of her reign was marked by nu
merous acts .o!, clemency, She freed