New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-03
A VICTIM OF NIHILIsTS.
BISMARCK AT HOME AND AT w0RK-AN
IMPERIAL SKINFLINT.

In the blind asylum at StssnUz. short distance
from Berlin there lives q man VINO unul re-
Gently was as mysterious parsonage as the famous
aMan of the Iron Mask" Certain persons high
in authority made application for apartments at
the asylum which should be worthy OF wealthy
occupant He appeared short time after, ac-
companied by beautiful woman. who was adj
dressed as his wife Tue man was tall and well
made, and dressed in the height OF fashion, with
hands that betokened gentility Of birth. The
woman was young and aristocratic In looks and
bearing About the face Of the man was linen
mask, with an opening opposite the mouth and nos
trils, which was never removed In the presence
of attendants He sat in dark room, to which
the servants were rarely admitted. and conversed
with few. His food was given to his wife. and
the inmates of the asylum knew nothing of their
name and history further than the fact that they
were from Russia Rumors were rife, as was
natural and many ingenious stories constructed TO
account for the strange Imprisonment But the
mystery has at last been solved, and the Man
of the Linen Mask" proved to be the hero of
strange and touching tale.
year before the death of the late Gar of
Russia, although the scion Of high and mighty
family. the young nobleman, like so many of his
class, became interested in the trials and hopes
Of the Nihilists. Time and association made him
one OF their ardent sympathizers and assistants
When the murder of the Emperor was planned,
unfortunately the execution of the dreadful deed
fell to him. The news staggered him. His oath
bound him to the Nihilists his family ties to the
Gar Thoughts of his people and the attendant
disgrace influenced him and finally deferred him;
be refused to commit the crime. A year passed
by Another revolutionist had thrown the bomb
which he had declined to do, and Alexander was
g dead He had fOrQ0ffpn almost hiatt a had haaY,
aNihihst; but not so those whom he had forsaken.
Passing along one Of the principal streets of St
Petersburg, when about to greet lady upon the
opposite side, something was dashed into his eyes,
and in o moment the light Of day had gone.
HIS mouth was deformed, his cheeks burned and
disfgured 1t was the work of a Nihilist before
whose modern Inauisltion he had been found want
ing; vitriol had performed the work Mad
with pain, he was taken to his home,
but the injury was beyond reparation, and the
doctors aid in vain. The Government had con-
fscated his estates upon learning of his revolu-
tionary sympathies but restored them in part
when informed of the fate which had overtalzen
him. The mask was placed upon his head, for
he was unpleasant to look upon.
But the heroism of one woman was shown, the
heroism of his fanee She was Countess and
the daughter of house as famous and powerful
when told of the fendish act, and the meeting
between the lovers was touching in the extreme
With sorrowful heart he offered to break the
engagement and make her free again. But the
brave woman refused, and declared that she
would remain with him till death took her away
And they were married in the little church on
the old estate, attended by their relatives and
friends. And on their wedding-day they started
for the blind asylum in Steglitz, where tlsey had
hopes of restoring the poor mans sight. And here
his wife attends him with unfsiling devotion and
prsys for the day when the afflicted nobleman
can again look upon her face.
Although Prince Bismarck is again in his pal
ace in the Wilhelmstrasse the place is apparently
as Ifeless as before. Silent and gloomy, separated
from the famous street by the toll iron fence,
stands tlc home Of Germany's Chancellor. He
lives IN aemi-retirement 1t is seldom that
carriage is seen in the great courtyard, seldom
face at the window, and the Baedecker-armed
tourists look in vain for glimpse of members Of
the family. The rooms which they occupy all
front toward the park and Thiergarten, giving
them no cause to frequent the more exposed part
of the building. The interior is, comparatively
speaking, uninteresting and furnished simply.
The great salon where the Congress Of Berlin
held it's sessions is usually empty, and the sole
ornament of its walls, save the portrait Of the
Emperor, is the large map of Europe which aided
the members in reaching their decisions The
vestibule into which one enters from the street
is small, though running, it is true, TO the park
beyond, and the stairway leading up to the second
story is narrow and cramped. The building is
but two stories high, the oblong centre being
thanked by two wings running out to the street
II looks older than it is, and differs from the
majority of the houses in Berlin, which are
peculiarly modern in their architecture. II be-
longs to a time when luxury and comfort were
not the principal things in household, and mag
nifcence was left TO rich parvenus, as unbecoming
people of rank. 1t was the property once of
Prince Radziwill, brother of that Princess whom
the old Emperor William loved but whom dy-
nastic reasons forbade him 10 marry. Soirees
and fashionable balls would seem still out OF
place there; it is more the home of country
gentleman, and the large park with the mag
nidcent rows of trees beyond enhance this effect
Here the Prince is won't to promenade. high
fence shuts out the sightSeers from the SIDE OF
the Thiergarten and gives him comparative Sc
curity. OF late years it has been almost i'm
possible for him TO walk In the public park, his
admirers following him even to the distant end
Of the Thiergarten.
In general appearance the Ministry OF Foreign
Affairs which joins the Bismarck palace on the
western side, is equally simple and unassuming
In appearance The old Franlzish house extends
along good part Of the WilhelmstrasSe and is
surrounded by the other public buildings 1t is
safe 70 say that no other Ministry Of Foreign
Affairs is so devoid of all magnlfcence and archi-
tectural beauty as this. the centre OF European
diplomacy. Over the small door which might be
the entrance TO o house of the second class stand
two lamps, which in the night still burn oil
Electric light is too modern. On the facade
there is not the least ornament, and the interior
is unpleasant, cold and cherries. But here
Count Herbert lives and works, here the Prince
hu.eoh rcsided as -Tresi.Ie,,t ~ prncsia