The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-25
SCANDALS OF THE COURTS
DlSeRACEFUL ENTANGLEMENTs OF
ROYAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Astonishing Career OF an American Ad-
venturess In Russia-Amours of the
italian Court-Queen Isabella's Esca-
pades.
From the New York World.

the Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria
with the Baroness Marie Vesera, which
have lately been the sensation OF the read
ing public, has its counterpart in nearly
every Court OF Europe, TO say nothing Of
the undiscovered amours OF the public
men OF our own country. 1t is great
| pity, says the Cincinnati Enquirer, that
history cannot be written by the Buckles,
Gibbons, Suetonius and Heckels, instead
OF by men who suppress the truth and
color facts. In the scandals of European
Court life in recent years American wo-
men have played no inconspicuous part.
In the winter Of 1871, at a ball in st.
Petersburg, the Grand Duke Nicholas
Constantinowich, a cousin of the Car OF
all the Russias, met and became desper.
ately infatuated with Fannie Lear one OF
the most dashing and INSCRIPTIONS adj
venturesses that ever turned the head OF
n silly prince or set up job on wealthy
baronet. lie was big, heavy stupid
| young man, fierce and brutal in his pas
sions Her history is full OF romance and
adventure, and no woman OF this age has
been so successful in turning the heads
OF royalty. Her true name was Hattie
| Ely, land she was the daughteroi preacher
| Her father was the Rev. Ezra Stiles Ely, q
| Presbyterian clergyman, and his maternal
/ grandfather was chaplain TO Congress
| She was born and raised in Philadelphia,
and, after her fathers DEATH went 10 visit
| Miss Lily Jackson, a schoolmate, at Park
crsburg, tho daughter Of John j. Jackson
a United States Court Judge. Buxom,
! vOlupiuous, mature far beyond her
| yclrs-iOr she was odly sweet sixteen
years.-she was at once surrounded 10y a
gay cOterie OF the young men OF the town
She surrendered TO young clerk In the
Baltimore & Ohio freight office, B!ackiord
by name. They lived together rs husband
and vile a short time, when he died sud-
denly. Some said she poisoned him, others
let II go rs a case OF suicide. She returned
to her home in Philadelphia, where her
great beauty began 10 attract attention.
For short time she WIS employed in the
Mint.
Her first unpleasant noioriety occurred
one summer at Long Branch, where she
cut great figure and was much talked
about In Philadelphia she was socially
osluczcd and finally sailed for Paris
DISCOVERED ~ TuE WINTER PALACE.
Al last she appeared in st. Petersburg
and became the heroine of an adventure
that gave her worldwide renown. The
Grand Duke Consianlinowich, who was
member OF the House OF RomanofI, Snug
gled the beautiful Aspasia into the Winter
Palace, and not having the ready cash TO
satisfy her pressing and inordinaic de-
mands, he stole his mothers diamonds
and conferred them on the soiled dove Of
the bOuleyards. She was found by no less
n parsonage than the Car himself. in
search that was made OF the palace, rolled
up in an eiderdown quilt In the bed OF his
imperial offspring the Duke Constantine.
She was placed under arrest aud treated
TO dose OF nursery discipline. Then she
appealed TO Dir. JUwctt, the American
Minister, and was ban.shcd-not 10 the
chilly aud cherries atmosphere OF Siberia,
but TO the light and the sunshine OF the
Champs Elysec. The Grand Duke was
cent Gar into the interior while the youns
adventures Tor couple Of years, In her
low victoria, with Russian horses, and
l,yhrcslchic, in his blue gtbyrline and
square cap, was one OF this sighti Oi the
lOi.
Left 10 herself, IN an evil moment she
tumn OF 1879 she delighted aud aston
i,hcd the patisiun world by volume ON.
titled "Le Roman dune Americana On
i.ussie,' which was an account OF her liai-
son with the Grand Duke. She became
the Tcigning sensation. Her books were
seized hy The police aud she was requested
10 ave Paris. This period OF her career
Is depicted in "a Modern Don Juan"
She nest figured in Italy, where her
charms always fatal 10 y0nlhs OF the royai
blood, soon cniangl,d the Count d. Miro
iiOri, the lcit.hlndcd sen OF Victor En-.
manuel, ia their tolls The young man.
mother, the celebrated CJuntp., Ru.iua.
put an cllcclunl stop 10 tho lins,n,ani the
Italian poles were charged with the task
% politely showing La Belle Americana
out oi Her Maiasiy's dominions. Driven
lfum Italy she yclfnpd 10 return 90 beau
tiiul Paris, aud was permitted 10 return on
condition that she gave up all letters, por-
traits. heirlooms, DC. presented her by
lhe Grand Duke. Here she lcd a COM
parItiycly quiet life until about 1855, when
she returned To Philadelphia, took y small
house IN the upper part OF town, affected
rcmorc for her past life, aud ~ worked
upon the sympaihies OF some OF her old
school girl friends that ;hcy sent her
money aud good wishes. After q short
period Of pcnaucc Hattie tired Of the
new life and disappeared. She Is said %
have died abroad. but nobody knows.
She WIS in real want when last heard
from.
rHE uALisN COURT.
The scandals Of the Italian court would
form volume. Victor Emmanuel, the
libculor Ut Italy, was known for his ga..
lunlry al over the world. and toward the
end oi his reign was possessed with an
idea 20 place the daughter OF drum
major. With whom he had been en- bonnie
fortune. us the late Count Rudolph said,
on the throne Of Savoy. lie would prob
ably have carried out the within had not
the whole ROYAL family combattcd the idea
and death taken Oh the monarch Ia the
flower OF his age.
King llumbcrt inherited his h,hcr'f
pcuchant Tor amorOus dalliancc, and his
youth was ihickly soWn with a crop ol
Wild oats. lie was leader In the de-
hauchcry In which the gildcd youth Of
Italy participated. aud whenever foreign
Prince came To Rome llumbcrt took him
La charge and showed him his conception
OF royal pleasures Ills marriage with
Queen Margaret had soothing effect.
aud, while he no longer has an innmomia
al every street corner, he still remains
faithful 10 nc least one OF his early attach
ments. At first this made the Queen cx-
cos,iycly jealous, and she tried every way
10 stop the affair. After the hunt the |
King was In the habit Of sending the |
choicest gnmc 10 his bonnie annie. One |
day the Queen became 40 cnrigtd that |