The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-03-14
a Russian Heirsss.

LIS queen OF Q 1ete described by Lont
Q truth was a Russian girl of Is, the
Princess Helen M. granddaughter
on the paternal side Of a famous Slavon-
ic poet, and in many respects a remark
able young lady. Princess Helen was
too recalcitrant to school discipline to
remain in any Swiss, German, French
Or English pension, and SO was brought
up rowing over southern and central
Europe with a highly accomplished
mother, albeit OF Kalmuck race. This
Q had learned MS a child Homer,
Dante, Shakespeare, Milton and the
Bible. She broke her head, when She
grew up. agains. all the new philoso-
plnes which have been discussed at
afestsow sirSn tho death of the Gar
Nicholas. One of her philosophers was
tiei,eri Spencer, whose system she
amalgamated, perhaps unknown to
herself with Rousseau's. This Illus
frions lady, in her wanderjahr in
southern Europe, had with
her not only Helen, but her husband
and three SONS, a couple of servants, and
q whole squadron Of blood and Orloff
horses. which the different members of
the family took turns in grooming.
She wished to see the world Just as it
is, and really to rough it in Wilhelm
Meister fashion. A nihilist, aspiring to
propagate his gospel in factories and
villages, could not have shown more
tenacity in holding on to the program
that she wanted to carry out.
In summer the nomads bivouacked
gypsies in forests and other wild
Places. They had tents, and wheeled
vehicles to transport their camp furni-
ture, and heaps. of books-which were
their sole link with civilization. In the
winter they lay. by in village inns.
During all the four years they never
passed through u large town or slept in
a fine hotel. Helen aud her brothers
became handy and enterprising.
Their mother kept up their
Russian, and Taught them
English, French, German and Italian.
which they speak huently, and brushed
up her rusty Latin and mathematics, to
prepare the boys for civil service and
military examination at st. Petersburg.
The sons and eldest daughters have
grown up, she has re-entered the pale
of civilization, and resides in a villa near
Paris, where she keeps Is horses. two
OF which are devoted to the service of
Victor Hugo. She has translated his
works into Russian, and his pleasure.
Shellys and Swinburne's into French.
'Heian is mistress of the villa, and goes
to market and u musical class unattend-
ed. With her snomadic" experiences
the fears no man, and yet feels lawfully
shy" Her expectations are most bril-
liant, rs her maternal grandfather
stands, in point Of wealth, IN line with
she DemidoEs.
throne he owned about 1OO. 900 serfs.
Whenever he had a shooting party at
his Onral residence he used to send
about 300 Of them to beat the woods for
game. The fair translator of Shelly
and Swinburne was brought up accord
ing to the precepts laid down for q boys
education in" Emile. Although pros
pective heiress of great wealth she had
to dress in the coarse garb Of a peasants
child, and to spend many hours q day
In genuine and very fatiguing agricul-
tural tasks aud dairy business. She
used to be taken to those dangerous
and exciting wolf hunts in sledges in
which the hunter is really the hunted.
This yirile and original education formed
Q sprightly and original little woman,
who seems to be made Of spring steel
and impressionable nerves, to wear her
heart upon her sleeve. to be led in all
things byinstcint, andto delighted by en-
thusiasm. To preserve her illusions
she avoids crowds, and cultiyates poets |
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