The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-19
WASHINGTON SCANDALS.
UNFORTUNATE MATTERS RECALLED
BY CdTACdZP'S DEATH.
The Scandal About IIIs Beautiful wire-
other Irregularities witch Have Dis
turbed Washington OnciAl Lie.

The Scandal About His Beautiful WiTe-
other Irregularities Which Have Dis
turbed washington Oncial Lie.
WASHINGTON. May 1S.-When the news o
the death Of Mr.. Constantine Cataeazy was 70
ceived in Washington Il few days ago an agi
tated ripple went over the social wave in OF
fetal circles. Mr.. Catacaay was the Russian
Minister nt this post twenty years ago. Better
men have been forgotten in half OF twenty
years But it II not the Russian Minister peo'
ple caro- TO remember evon now. but the Rus
sian Minister'S wife beautiful woman
whose marvellous golden hair was the envy oil
other women. Nine. Catacazy was not only q
| beautiful woman. but she was n brilliant
| woman in intellect and accomplishments.
| Those WHO are familiar with the social
! regime OF the early part OF President
! Grants Administration, know all about the
"Cataca2y scandal" Madam Ind been mar
| ried when worry young to an italian Count.
many years her senior. There was no love on
her side She soon after met Mr.. Catacazy.
then handsome young Russian. who had
Just been appointed Secretary Of the Russian
Legation at Washington She left her Italian
husband whom she did not love. and came to
Washington. living quietly here. but under the
protection OF the young Russian Secretary.
Official society shrugged its shoulders, but
made no protest Meantime the young Rus
sian diplomat was welcomed everywhere.
courted and smiled upon by fashionable
mothers and their more fashionable daughters.
quite the same rs many young diplomats are
courted and smiled upon in the present time.
MIR. Ca:acazy's rotations with the " beautiful
stranger" did not stand in tho way
OF his promotion, and when no left
Washington 1t was to go to the
Austrian Court. Step by step he advanced In
tho diplomatic service, and about fifteen years
later he returned to Washington and presented
his credentials as Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary. the representative OF
the Car.
In the mean time the Italian Count had died.
and the beautiful Countess with the marvellous
golden hair was free. They were married. and
she became Mime CatacaHy. The interposition
OF Providence in the removal OF the first hus-
band was followed speedily by her marriage 10
the second. This seemed to be sufficient atone
ment for her early fault. and she was received
at the Russian Court. or course. she returned
to Washington the wife Of the Russian
Minister. Her beauty and brilliant intellect
at once attracted attention. and she was
q prominent figure In the diplomatic circle
At first 1t was not known that her coming was
q return for 1t was not suspected that the Rus
sian Minister'S wife and the beautiful
stranger" OF fifteen years before were one and
the same woman. plain, uninterestng woman
perhaps might have passed nsuspected, for
she would have attracted little or no notice.
Not so. however, With Nine. Catacazy. and the
" Republican court y would not receive her.
And vet. when ono remembers that the " lie-
publican court " lust at that time was not the
most circumspect in good behavior. one feels
that its righteous Indignation against the
beautiful foreigner was rather far fetched.
1t has been said that Mrs. Fish, wife, of
she was tried to avert the social banshmcnt Of
Nine Catuca2y. but in va in. American women
would not receive her; though; without doubt;
have been leceil ed without her. But President
Grant decided there should not be one cole Of
morals for the husband and another code of
morals for tho wife lie declined TO receive the
Russian Minister but OF course. without half
Mr.. CatacaZy was shortly after recalled. at he
request Of the President. IT is a serious thing
has Taa 10 T' aboV three Sen! four
Instances since the Ca:acazy recall 1t was kept
SO much of state secret that not above
generally understood 10 be q resignation was;
in fact.,a recall. asked for by the President and
the Secretary OF State
History it Is often said. repeats itself II the
Catscazy episode does not repeat itself II will
not be because official society has wholly re-
formed since the Catacazy day. Several other
young men in tho foreign circle are following
pretty closely The example set by the young
Russian so many years back, though they may
years since the secretary OF n legation. one OF
became surrounded bv n mysterious friend |
ship Strangely enough, this " beautiful |
STRANGER" Is also blonde bho win golden nair.
ceptiona among the young legation men. is I,
supposed to be wealthy He has spent his
7 oney very generously here in social entertain
mcnts. He did not attempt to introduce his !
beautiful " friend" and her presence III Wash |
ington. though known in his set did not pre-
women who knew something OF the truth only |
their shoulders, IT is none Of our |
y tor the young secretary but more fnrtunate- |
Is, perhaps. for official society, his duties have
dis his lie lie viii excite no question as mere In
The small olllcial round. But in many features |
!! is a scond Catacazy beginning. In one par
IS very clever, and, like Young Catacazy, gave
promise Of a brilliant career. one wonders how
It will end, and il the end will be SC. much OF
Eomnn's consistency and mans faithfulness as
was the end OF the Catacazysi,
Monsieur nmuses himself oyer here and
madame amuSes herself over there: II they
are agreed who shall compIain;' This was
he comment made by the wife OF foreign
Secretary of Legation had become the subject
u open gossip.
Sfo Who prsePs I've Sa ' rH0usn
he las served his country at Washington some
half dozen or more years his American wife
with her presence. Naturally. the man has no
home life Of mis- own. and he has sought It in
the homes Of other meI. For some time after
he came to Washington, his constant, attend.
ance the Wits Of another diplomat
gave strangers the impression that he
was the ladys husband. However, this
was dspelled by the occasional appear
Lnce OF the husband aud wife together nj the
to bea bachelor, II very liirtatious bachelor.
who had the leisure for llirtatiouS amusement.
Now il may not DO that diplomats in Washing
lon nre so much more inclined to such amuse-
menl than American olicinls. But tho diplo-
mat !, man Of more leisure and more surface
polish IN captivating address. The American
Inlciai whatever his rank. is busy man. and
Tie time that Justly belongs TO his family is In
most cases given 10 official duties. And 90 it
i lint this drive in official life often throws in
me way OF gay young wives tho most limo
Gently begun acquaintances which drift into
lbV scandal.
There are no Inconsistencies so Inconsistent
rs no Elhrlng Inconsistencies in official cir
tles. That people who are known TO he walk
ing on the crust of IL social volcano should be
Kept IN danger by their friends or protessed
friends IN the same set is, amazing; 1t was