West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-05-15
PRINCESS BARNABAS.
Why She Changed Her Mind and
Did Not Commit Suicide.

O1O 1NOb SOullQlB OulC1Q0.
The Princess Barnabas was in a state
of the most profound perplexity. She
could not for the dainty little life of her
make up her mind on the important
question rs to whether she should or
should not commit suicide at the close
of the season. 1t was not very easy for
the Princess many admirers to under
stand why she should perturb her mind
with such a problem at all. but perturb
1T she did with that very problem,
whether wisely or unwisely.
The Princess Barnabas was n very re-
markable young woman, who had
proved the puzzle, the pride and the
passion of London society for three
whole sensational seasons. She was
not yet four and twenty. She bore the
title of great Russian Prince who had
married her just before she came of ace
at time when he himself was Old
enough to be her grandfather, and who
had considerably died within two years
OF the ceremony, leaving her the abso-
lutte mistress of his fortune and his ter
rltorles, as she had been during life the
absolute mistress of his heart for the
short time in which he swayed it, She
was said TO be fabulously wealthy. But
her jewels were the wonder of the world.
and she delighted in wearing them in
season and out of season, with a semi
barbaric enjoyment of their glitter and
splendor which was, like everything
else about her, partly Oriental and
partly childish. Some time after her
husbands death she had come to Paris
and got tired of it, and then she crossed
the Channel and conquered London.
During one Respondent session little
else was talked about but the Princess
Barnabas. Society journals raved
about her delicate beauty, which
seemed to belong 10 the can
vases OF the last century, which
ought TO have been immortalized ON
pate tenure and hymned in madrioals.
Men adored her. Women envied her
marvellous dress and her matchless lew
els The dying ashes of seasons
scandal iiared up into marvellous activ-
ity around her pretty personality. She
was enormously the thing. " Enor-
mously 1.-THE thing she remained dur
ing a second season, after an interval
OF absolute disappearance into the do
minions of the Car. Enormously .sthe
thing she still appeared to be now in
her third season. in spite of the rival
attractions of an American actress who
had not married an English duke. and
an American girl with millions who had
married the bluest blood and tho oldest
name in Europe. 1t would have been
absurd for any one to contest the point
that the Princess Banabas was the very
most interesting figure Of that phantas-
NAL dance Of shadows which is called
London society.
Nevertheless the Princess Barnabas
was weary positively bored. If she had
been less Of a success, life might not
have appeared so desolate. There
would have been piquancy i'm the nos
siDility Of rivalry which would have
lent new interest TO the tasteIess
feast As IL was, however. London life
ut the height Of its maddest activity an
Peared to her as drear and gray rs
those vast stretches Of steppes which
lay like great sea around one Of the
Russian castles Of the late Prince Bar
nabas. II was during this fit Of de-
preston when the Princess Barnabas
was RraciOusly pleased TO agree with
the author Of 'EccIc-iastcs.i that lifa
was vanity, that It occurred 20 her that
IN at her strange experiences she had
never yet committed suicide. She inn
mediately gave up her mind to the inn
portant problem, whether She should
gam this ultimate experience 40 once.
or postpone 10 indehnitciy.
lt was i'm this frame Of mind that tl,e
Princess went TO the great ball at the
Russian Embassy As she nestled
among her furs in tho dim. uxurious
warmth OF her carriage hcr mind yas
running entirely upon the various forms
Of -elfdestruction which had been made
famous by celebrated persons AZ differ
ent stages Of the worlds history and
yhe could find none that were sufficient
" attractive or remarkable ~ plca4e
her Good hcaycns' she houVht 10
herself with q little shudder which even
the warmth n her surroundings could
not repross "is DO impossible To bs
bunn'c even iu th8t2' and She gayo
little groan as DE topped ont Of bier
carnage and up The Embassy stems
The thought was stilI on her mind and
tracing tbe least suggestion of frovu
upon her exquisite 0rIsh face rs sho
entered the great room and took flo
hand n The Amb0s address, Tho thrill
OF interest Of excitement. Of aduira-
ton. which as a matter of course az
tended upon her entrance did not Give
her any answering thrill 9i qualification.
She appeared % listen with the mo.t
gracious attention 70 the compliments