Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-13
WE RANK WITHKINGS
Americans Who Have Enjoyed the
Warm Friendship of Royalty.
CHARMED BY YANKEE VIVACITY
Which Considers an Emperor as Good as
ANY Other Man.
WHY TIE PARvENUs ARE JEALOUS

| hended in the United States, that Americans
of both Sexes have, atone time or another, en-
joyed far more popularity with royal person
ages than have any Europeans Of rank be-
low that of the highest aristocracy. A very
intelligent explanation has been given Of
this In Europe everybody, outside of the
charmed circle Immediately surrounding
kings and queens, stands so much in awe oi
the sovereign and the royal family that they
are formal and constrained in
the presence of even the remotest
relative of crowned head. Americans,
on the other hand, while rendering all due
respect to the Prince and Princess to whom
they may have been introduced, are wont to
chat with them agreeably and viyaciously
as with any other acquaintance, without
the august parsonage. One can readily
| imagine what pleasant change such
bright and unrestrained conversation must
be to those whose intercourse with his or
her countrymen and women, outside the i'm
mediate group of personal attendants, is
limited to "Yes, Your Highness," or mo,
Your Highness," uttered with bated breath
and with an air of intense reverence.
Before the United States was scarcely a
nation there were cases of Americans hob
nobbing with the rulers of the "effete mon
archies." Paul Jones, for instance, the
| famous naval hero, was on the best Of terms
with Louis XVI. Of France, and with Cath
crime of Russia, before the advent of 'S9;
Count Rumford, native of Massachusetts,
who lived and hourished at the same period,
was the closest friend and political adviser
of the Elector of Bavaria; Washington Ir-
wing once trotted Eugene, when she was a
child, upon his knee, and entertained Ma
poleon III. at Sunnyside; while, to cite an
example from the other sex, we have the case
of the daughter of General Cadwalader, of
Philadelphia, whose daughter Frances mar
ried into the great Erskine family of Eng
land, whose descendants to-day include the
present Duke OF Portland and the son of
Lord Archibald Campbell, prospective Duke
of Argyll. But to return to more modern
times.
SOME MODERN INSTANCES.
"One of the earliest on record OF these
friendships" says an American lady, whom
l shall have occasion to quote several times
Weyer, formerly Miss Bates, of Boston,
with Queen Victoria. 1t was a strong per-
sonal attachment on both sides, and was
only broken by the death of the American.
"Mrs. Henry Butterfeld, of Paris, origi-
nally Miss Mary Burke, of New York, and
the niece of the late Judge Roosevelt" con-
tinues my correspondent, to whom I leave
all the responsibility of her contributions to
this letter, twas a great favorite with the
brilliant and charming Grand Duchess
Marie of Russia, the great-aunt of the pres
ent Gar, who, during the period of the Sec
ond Empire in France, was one of the most
admired ladies in Europe, and a leader of
fashion as well, despite the influence of the
celebrated for her elegance OF manner and
her taste in dress, and the Grand Duchess
tried vainly to induce her and her husband |
to quit their home in Paris for one in st. |
Petersburg, offering to the lady prominent |
post in her own household. But the health |
of Mrs. Butterfeld was always delicate, and |
her husband feared the trying effects for her |
OF the Russian climate; so the offer was de- |
clined. She afterward died of consumption |
in Paris. |
'In earlier days also the beauty and win
ming ways of an American young lady had |
won for her unusual attentions and privi- |
leges at the Imperial court. Miss Mary
Talmadge, afterward Mrs. Philip van Rem |
sellaer, OF New York, was visiting during |
the reign of the Gar Nicholas, the family |
of Lord Durham, then British Ambassador |
to St. Petersburg. She was one OF the most |
striking of the many handsome American |
ladies who have at one time or another Wis
tied Europe. The Czarina, attracted by her |
gentle and graceful manners as we'll as by |
her personal charms, took great fancy to
her, commanded her presence continually at |
the court entertainments, and showered |
upon her attentions and civilities with an |
unsparlng hand. But Miss Talmadge was
not to be induced to take up her abode in |
Russia, though urged to do so by the EN-
press, who desired to keep her fair Ameri-
can friend beside her throne.
EUGENIE's FRIEND.
'The rigid etiquette of parvenu court
the Empress Eugene from form
ing any actual personal friendships among
who were not of royal blood. but
she always manifested a great liking for the
Baroness de Pierres, who was formerly Miss
Thorn, of New York, and who was one of
her ladies-in-waiting. She forms one, and
that among the fairest of the charming
group, painted bv Winterhalter, OF the EN-
press and her ladies.
''The Duchess of Edinburg (formerlv the
Grand Duchess Marie of Russia, and only
daughter of the late Gar, Alexander IL
has always manifested strong preference
for American ladies' The Duchess is of a
very reserved disposition and is averse to
forming friendships with anyone. But the
musical talent and winning manners of
Lady Randolph Churchill (who was, as will
doubtless be remembered, Miss Jerome, of
New York; has gained for that lady
marked share of favor in the eyes of the
Duchess, who is, by the way, one of the
most accomplished royal ladies in Europe,
being not only good musician, but lin
yuist of extraordinary requirements. She
spends good deal of time at her piano, and
delights in playing duets with Lady Ran
lolph, whose skill as a pianist equals that
If her royal friend.
when Lord and Lady Randolph
Churchill made a journey sometime ago to
St. Petersburg, the latter was rather sur
orised and possibly felt little aggrieyed
because the Duchess offered her no letters of
Introduction to her brother, the Czar, or to
my OF the other members of the imperial
amily. But on her arrival in Russia the
whole matter was fully explained. The
Duchess had written beforehand to bespeak
he attentions of all the family for her
American friend and her husband, and the
,air were consequently feted and petted at
ourt and by the imperial household in a
manner quite unhesrd of in the annals of
Russian society.
BOXER AND THE CZAR
"Another American who was personally
great favorite at the court of Russia, and
With the late Czar as well, was Mr.. George
i. Boxer OF Philadelphia, at one time
United States Minister to ST. Petersburg.
DR.. Boxer is good-looking man, with cni-
ivated tastes, considerable poetic talents, /
nd refined manners, and he quite won the
cart of Alexander II. by refraining from
making a speech on the occasion Of
is first private audience The Gear
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