The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-05
RoMANorF,s BAD BOY.
Passages from the Career of Russian
Grand Duke Who Is Now in Exile.

st Petersburg Letter.
Private advices from Tmkestan state that the
Grand Duke Nicholas, feeling unhappy in his
place of confinement, attempted to flee to India
on horseback but was overtaken and brought
back The Grand Duke Nicholas was the bad
boy of the Russian imperial family. He has
been several times in disgrace before, and it was
on account of one of his escapades and his sup
posed leaning towards Nihilistic doctrines that
he was exiled. He was brother of the late
Gar, and was born in 1881. One night in the
winter of 1871 there was a brilliant masked ball
at the Opera house of st Petersburg. Among
the company present was an American girl of
extraordinary beauty scarcely out of her teens
vet widow. Among the company, also masked,
was the Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinovitch
nephew of the Emperor. The couple became ac-
duainted The Prince was fascinated and the
result was that they never parted afterwards for
two years and half. The Grand Duke was
after this adventure banished to the Caucasus
About eight wears ago a book was published in
Paris which caused decided sensation. 1t was
called lie Roman dune Americana en- Russie,r
and was written by Mrs Hattie Blackford, also
known as Fannie Lear" In it the authoress
aided bv some hack writer of the boulevards re-
lated her amorous adventures with a person
whom she delighted to call sc. D." and whom
the Almanach de Gotha called the Grand Duke
Nicholas Constantinovitch nephew of the then
reigning Gar. 1t was a wretched production
but the police thought it worth while to expel
Miss Blackboard from Paris and her low victoria
with Russian horses and her ischgotschic, in
blue gaberdine and squash cap, were seen no
more in the Bots.
In the lonely life of the steppes the exiled
Prince looked about him for some one to love-
Fairladies were naturally scarce, but the Grand
Duke ultimately settled his affection upon the
exceedingly beautiful daughter of the police
master, Michaeloff. and married her When the
marriage had been soemnized the Prince sent an
humble and penitent letter to the late Gar, en-
treating his sanction for the unequal match 1t
was refused with anger, and the Gar, as pun
ishment for the offense Cth ered the young Mich
olas to join the expedition TO the AMOR district
for the exploration of Central Asia.
Meantime the beautiful daughter of the police
master determined to take the business in her
own hands Travelled to st. Petersburg managed
to get an interview with the Gar and entreated
him to give his sanction to the marriage of his
nephew. Theimperial kinsman could not openly
yield, but before the young lady departed for her
home he created her Countess Of Orenburg. This
was taken as a proof that her appeal had made
favorableinpresson upon him, and when he died
the Grand Duke was tempted to ask Alexander
LII to let him return to the capital. The request
was refused with scorn.
After this the Grand Duke was allowed to re
turn to St. Petersburg society and imperial ia
vor. He took prominent part in the Russo
Turkish war and received several distinguished