The Indianapolis journal., 1886-04-11
THE WIDOW OF AN EMPERoR.
The Princess Jouriewsky the Favorite Wife
of the Late Czar of Russia.


The Princess Jouriewsky the FavOrito Wife
of the Late Czar of Russia.
Lucy Hooper's Paris Letter.
Amongst the more elegant entertainments of
the present season have been those given by the
morgantic widow of the late Gear of Russia, the
Princess Jouriewsky, better known to the world
at large the Princess Dolgourouki. She is
just commencing to tighten her mourning and
has consented this season to receive and mingle
a little in society for the first time since the as
sassination of the Emperor. She bids fair to
become one of the noted figures of Partisan So
ciety. A modern La Valliere, there is some
thing in the grace and sweetness of her express
sion, no less than in the delicate charm of
her blonde beauty, that seems to inn
plore and obtain an instantaneous Lar
don for the of her career.
The Princess Catherine Dolgourouki is mem
Der of one of the most illustrons families of the
Russian nobility More than once her ancestors
had intermarried with the imperial family. Her
father, one of the most extravagant members of
the Russian arlstocracy, squandered his immense
fortune in all sorts of prodigalities. AT his
death the Princess Catherine was placed
brother. 1t was with this lady that
she visited Paris on the occasion of the
Universal Exhibition. in 1867. Just nineteen,
and in the full brilliancy of her beauty, the
young Russian lady was universally observed
and admired. Tall and finely formed, with
complexion OF snow and locks Of gold-lighted
chestnut, she was a perfect type of Slavonic
loveliness Those superb tresses. which, when
unfastened, touched the ground when she stood
erect, were. according to Russian custom sew
cred by her own hands and laid in the coffin of
the murdered Czar, in token of eternal and in
cons0lable widowhood.
1t was during that visit to Paris that the long
and passionate attachment that linked the Gear
for SO many years to his beautiful subject first
was formed. 1t was fully shared. the young girl
having cherished romantic passion for her SOW
ereign from that day. When child of nine
years old she had been called upon to offer him
flowers when he visited her fathers estates in
1851 From the epoch of her visit to Paris she
withdrew almost wholly from society, never ap-
pearing even at the theater, and passing her
summers on her beautiful estate in the Crimea,
which had been one of the Emperor's earliest
gifts to her.
the marriage that united the Gar TO the Prin,
cess Dolgourouki after the death of the EN-
press Marie. The ukase, promulgating the
union, was dated only six weeks after the death
OF the long-suffering Czarina. 1t was at this
time that the Emperor bestowed upon her the
hereditary title of Jouriewsky by which she is
now known. tits one of those belonging to the
Romanoff fgmily, and therefore was one that he
desired to have descend to his children. Pre-
saying his sudden and tragic fate, he drew up
with his own hand deed settling large fortune
on the children of the Princess, the titles and
securities comprising this fortune being deposit
ed in foreign lands. Nor was this ALL He be-
slowed upon the Princess the grand Gordon of
the Order OF St Catherine, which is only accord
ed to the members of the imperial family. He
commanded that she should take precedence
owes bis daughters and his daughters in-iaw, not
even making an exception in favor of the wife of
the Czarewitch. He made no secret of his in
tention of causing her to be recognized as EN-
press and solemnly crowned his imperial con
sort. But his sudden death prevented his
last named project from being carried into exc
cution.
Not quite two years after his marriage fthe
18th of March, 1881. the Princess was awaiting
the return of her husband from the review
which he was to preside that day She in
driving costume as they were to go out together
as soon as the review was at ar end. The sud
den entrance of the Emperors valet, and his ex-
clamat6n, 'sYour Highness, the Emperor is very
Ill" first startled her from her peaceful and happy
expectancy OF his return. Even then she was
not alarmed. Alexander was subject to attacks
of the asthma, and she imagined that he had been
seized by severer one than usual 1t was not
till. on hurrving to his bedchamber, she beheld
his pale countenance. on which death was Wis
IDLY stamped, that she realized what had occur
red. Her first impulse was to throw aside the
covering which concealed the crushed limbs of
the sufferer, in order to ascertain for herself the
extent OF his injury: but the Emperor restrained
her. mo! no! Catherine" he murmurad. ..you
must not see my wounds-the sight would be too
terrible Then. after moments pause, he
added: do you remember the prediction that
said should die in red boots2 1t has been full
filed" A few moments later he died, his last
glance being fixed upon the fair face bent above
him.
Despite her grief. the Princess would permit
no one else to take charge of the remains of her
husband. She arranged the mortuary chapel.
and with her own hands decorated it with flow
ers. She had literally to be- forced from the
coffin to take necessary food and repose After
the funeral she became seriously Ill, and her
life was thought to be in danger Her
physician in vain recommended to her journey
TO some milder climate than that of Russia
Sunk in sort of mental and bodily stupefaction,
she refused to move. But fortunately for her, at
this crisis her youngest daughter, the little Prn-
cess Catherine, showed symptoms of i'll health, and
for her sake the Princess undertook journey
to the South Of France The climate proved q
restorative to both mother and daughter, and
this fact Led to the choice of Paris as the perma
nent residence of the widow and her young fam
lily. She has taken for term of years the ele-
giant mansion of the Clermont Tonnerre family,
on the Rue de Las Casas, and has now become
one Of the prominent figures Of Partisan society.
She still leads very retired life, but her
dinner parties and her soirees musicales
hare for their guests the most noted aud
brilliant personaRes OF the French capital Her
existence 10 mainly devoted to her children,
whose education she supeript tends with zealous
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