The morning call., 1892-11-13
In UNHAPPY WOMAN.
She Was Only the Victim Of
Circumstances.
Welded TO A GRAND DUKE.
The Honeymoon Was Of Short Duration-sad
Story Of the Countess de Romerode's
Blighted Hope.
Correspondence Of THE MORNING CALL.

It Is reported In Germany that Countess
de Romerode, the Madame de Kalomine
whom the late Grand Duke of Hesse mar
ried in 1884, and from whom he was sepa-
rated a few hours later. has become the
wife of Herr Won Backeracht. an attache
at the Russian embassy in Berlin. 1t Is
also rumored that because of this marriage
Herr Won BackeTacht has been obliged to
leave Berlin and has asked for another
diplomatic post
This report is circulated to the great re-
gTet of Countess de Romerode, who only
asked to be allowed to live quietly with her
child at Dresden. Rumor after rumor &C.
cusing her Of writing offensive books. OF
contracting marriage with men who thereby
lose their official positiOn,- Is circulated
throughout Europe. and, In the meantime,
quietly dressed, sad-faced woman may be
seen walking on the Bruhl Terrace, Dres-
den, and talking to handsome boy, whom
she leads by the hand.
Once a year Countess de Romerode
comes to Paris, and when / see the
quiet. delicate woman / think. How
is it possible that you have been
accused of terrible misdemeanoTs? The
truth is that for one act Of folly Countess
de RomerOde atones by the misery Of
lifetime. A relative OF hers living In Paris
faculty of winning affection and that or
keeping ii even under Instantaneous cir
cumstauees. Until within a few weeks of
his death the Grand Duke Of Hesse wrote to
her continually, and her first husband,
NJ. de Kalomine. often sent her flowers.
was quite amused when / knew that
the entire world accused ex-Mme. dc
Kalomine Of writing under the name OF
AIRY Eeilaw," for it is true public opinion
could not decide between her and the
Grand Duchess Serge OF Russia. j, who
knew Nine. de Kalomine to be most in
offensive, without any especial talent and
yet possessing too much talent TO rehearse
her private griefs before an unsympathiZ-
ing public, felt sure that "Ary Eeilaw" was
the Grand Duchess Serge, that is, felt sure
until my faith was shaken by the announce
meDt that AIRY Ecilaw" was name chosen
by half-dozen French journalists to mys-
tfy the world. AS says her ParsiaD rela-
tive, there is nothing the Countess de
Romerode breads more than notoriety. and
poor child, OF this she has had a little
more than her share. What an experience
crowded into thirty-three years. for she is
only 80 years old. My niece was more
sought after-as much sought after at least
as any woman In the diplomatic CORPS;
now she Is Stunned by every diplomat In
Europe, simply because the continuance of
an acquaintance with her might cause seri-
Gus complications. Look at her portraitl
You know her. Is hers the face of
woman stepped In vice, as they would make
us believe? Every act OF her life has
been exaggerated. For instance, the sirtla-
ton of Prince Gortschakoff and secretary
OF the French legation in Switzerland was
not so com promising as reported. True
ana here was the only fault of my niece
she did love the Frenchman. and Gort-
schakoff tried to bring the lovers to their
senses. That was his only share in the affair.
One day Prince Gortschakoff burst into
the salon where were seated the lovers and
cried, 'Quicki A great misfortunep Hardly
had he finished his sentence before tue en-
ragged husband appeared and fired right and
left, fortunately wounding no one. Then
came the divorce and the proposal of mar
riage from the Grand Duke Of Hesse-Darm-
stadt.
''No one favored this marriage more than