The record-union., 1893-03-15

one of the loveliest middle-aged women
whom 1t is possible to find. She is clothed
i'll clouds of fragrant old lace, with won
derful antique jewels sparkling here and
there among its folds, and way Of dress
ing her sllvery hair which makes her
look ike fairy godmother. She thor
oughly understands the difficult art OF re-
celvlng, and of making everybody feel
welcome. Had she so willed it she would
have become power in politics, as she
is exceedingly clever, learned and also
very shrewd. But her whole earthly am
bltlon is to make her brother happy, and
to try 10 cheer his spirits, which were ut
terly broken at the death of his wife,
whom he literally worshiped. He has
never entered the apartments of the dead
Princess since the day of her demise, and
they are preserved exactly in the same
condition as when she was alive. The
bedroom IN ruby satin looks as if she had
vacated 1t but five minutes before. Her
Jewel-case, glittering with priceless gems,
stands on little table by the bedside;
tiny, fur-lined slippers are in readiness
beside lounge as if awaiting her, and
fresh flowers are placed every day in the
rock-crystal vases on the mantel-piece,
toilet table and consols.
Difficult it is to realize at Polonaja that
one Is living far away on the Russian
steppe, everything is SO modern and lux
urious. The riding parties meeting in the
huge 'cour d honneur" and then dispers-
ing down the broad forest roads, the
shooting parties so animated and pictur-
esque, the stately dinner at S o'clock ar
ranged like a royal banquet, the little
theater exquistely decorated, the con-
cert-room where artists of European
renoWn make themselves heard-all is
perfection.
Inc stables are a marvel of luxurious
comfort; the horses can be given hot or
cold baths i'll great marble tanks as they
were fashionable beauties instead of being
merely splendid brutes. There are never
less than thirty perfect specimens of
horsefiesh in the marble and oaken stalls
inside the gabled buildings in the park,
which look like picture by Ostade, half
hidden, as they are, by tall lime and pine
trees. Like the French Chateau of Che
nonceauX, Potomac mirrors its bastions
and turrets IN deep, lustrous lake, and
yews ana tlr trees make Il perpetual YER
dure there, even in winter. 1t would take
volumes TO describe the interior of the
house alone, the countless rooms ceiled
with cedar wood and hung with dainty
satlns OF superb tapestries; the treasures
contained In the picture gallery and in
the long inner hall where the Prince
keeps his celebrated collections. One of
the most interesting things to be seen at
Polonaia is the "Rittersaal," where an
absolutely unique collection OF arms is
disposed. Among them are inlaid armors
worthy of the kremlin, and many "A
curved sword and misunderstanding
matchbox brought TO Russia three CEN
turtles ago by the Princes Kalmuk an
cestorS.
The family of Dond@lk Off Korssakow
springs from the fusion of two nobiliary
clans, namely, that of the kalmuk
Princes DondoukoH and that OF the
o-korssakows At the end of the
seventeenth century several tribes of
kalmuks wandered into Russia to escape
the tyranny of the Chinese. Their chief
was one Choe-Orljuk, a man of great per-
sonal courage and dauntless energy. lie
was the founder of the Dondouz off fam
lily, having adopted that name when he at
last succeeded in settling his people on
the plains, which extend from the Ural
Mountains to the shores ofthe Nolga The
present Prince is very proud of his kal-
muk ancestors, and in his study he likes
to snow his visitors great green silken
banner which Choe-Orljuk Kahn brought
to Russia with him on his memorable
expedition. L have met during the course
of my life many interesting and remark
able people, but l may well confess that
Prince Dondoukoff-k orssakow outshines
them nearly all, in my memory, and that
my visits to Potomac will ever remain
Tor me almost the pleasantest hours that
have ever nt.-CorreSpondence New
York Tribune.