The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-14

] chen met her cousin refer Olrlch' AT LuIiui
che knew that his mother had been daugh-
| ter Of Peter the Great and she knew also
tho story Of that other daughter OF Peter
the Great. the Elizabeth who had 81
nearly been her mothers sister-in-law.
having been betrotlfed to Prince Karl
August Of Holstein. Now. all at once. came
the news o. the accession TO the throne OF
Russia Of this very princess. In Docenbsr.
174I, BY ono Of those coups DIS theatres which
wers so frequent at the northern court. Eliza
beth had put an end TO the reign OF tbs little
Ivan Of brunswick and to the regency OF his
mother Less than year aftsrward. Prince
Peter Ulrieh-th little cousin whom Figchon
had one day met-disappeared suddenly from,
kiel. where he usually lived. and rsappearod a
few weeks later at st. Petersburg. Elizabeth
had sent for him in order to proclaim him
solcmnly as her heir. Here was nm event OF
manifest i'm portance to the young Princess OF
Zerbst II was the Holstein blood -FIGchen's
mother blood-that had triumphed IN Russia.
to the exclusion oithat Of Brunswick. The duss-
tton whether tho posterity OF Peter the Great or
that OF his elder brother Ivan had been settled
In favor OF the former. 1t was not. how
ever. until the end OF 1I43 that the prediction
OF the chlromancer seemed near fulnlment
Then a courier from Berlin brought letter
from the master OF the household OF the Grand
and this letter was addressed to the Princess
Jeanne Elizabeth OF Zerbst. inviting her to
come at once with her daughter to the impe-
rial court Of Russia. IL was expressly stipulated
that her husband was not to accompany her
and that she was to keep absolute silence as
to the purpose OF her journey. A bill OF OK
change on q Berlin banker TO cover the ex-
penses OF the journey accompanied the letter.
The sum was modest. 10000 roubles, but
the assurance was given that. once In
Russia the princess should want FOR
nothing. A subsequent letter from Frederick
the Great explained the Intentions OF the
Czarina, and gavs the Prussisn sovereign all
the credit OF Elizabeth's choice Of young Erin
cess Figchsn to be the wife OF her nephew and
successor. No time was lost in accepting the
invitation. Figchen did not even wait for
new outfit Two or three dresses. dozen
chemlses. the same amount OF stockings and
handk erchiefs.' that was all that she took with
her The journey to Riga was anything but
agreeable. The cold was SO intense that the
two women had TO cover their faces with
masks Then there were no comfortable
quarters in which to rest. At the posting
houses they had to take refuge in the land
lords room. which was Just like a pigsty
Tlgchen had an indigestion through drinking
the beer OF the country. 1t was not until tho
9th OF February that they reached Mikau in a
state OF exhaustion. But the next day they
arrived at Riga. aud then suddenly the scene
changed. Rooms magnilceutlv decorated
sentries at all tho doors. couriers at all the
Btsircases. drums beating at all the courts.
snons lighted by a thousan1 tapers and
crowded with people. kissing OF hands.
obeisances to the ground. magnificent uni
forms. marvellous toilets. dazzling dia m onds,
yelysts silk. and gold. To Jeanne Elizabsth
II .s.mad "a ~ her head wers turning: as for
Fiucb.n va know nothing OF the impre.sion
nrodv.ai n, b.r Inv aJl tbia .nI.ndor but
No Doubt n was profound Presently they
got out tor ST. Petersburg where by the will of
IN, Czarina they were to stay for n few daya
hstors reioinipe her Mt Moscow Co see whether
THAR toil,ts w.re conformed TO the fashion
of tho country. This wa. EIizabeth's delicate
v.y OF repnirInz the deHcisncy. known or
.puess.d ~ her euest.' vnrdrobe Assur.dIv
with her three dresses and her dozen chemises
the future Grand Duchess would cut a sorry
figure at A court whose mistress was said TO
have IL, 900 silk dresses and 5000 pairs OF
shoes. Catherine did not mind in later days
recalling her poverty Mt the time when abe
arrived In her new country
III.
The Young Princess O. Zerbst. no longer TO
be known us Figchen. was but l6 years old
when, in l745, having previously been admit
[ ed TO the Greek Church under the name OF
Catherine. abe was married to her cousin. the
Grand Duke Potter. who was aftsrward to reign
as Peter Ill Tho child, for she was nothing
more. underwent during the next seventsen
years, a second education, OF which IL 10 but
lust to say that the merltorious part OF 1t was
due 10 herself alone. IL Is impossible to con-
ceiye OF a worse atmosphere than that In which
she was hencsforth brought up for, in respect
OF general, unabashed and brutal sensual.
fly, the Court OF the Empress Elizabeth was TO
that OF Catherine IL. as a stable is to a salon.
The Young Grand Duchess soon lost the guild
anee Of her mother. such as II was for
IN. Princess Jsann. Elizabeth had come to
Russia with the intention OF prosecuting no.
lItIc.l intriguss upon her own account; and
wb.n these cams 10 the knoWlsdce of the
Cz.rinA .he was banished the realm. Her
DAUGHTER Notwithstanding tho warning given
by her mothers sxperIence. could not. II she
would, have avoided taking a personal intersst
T. ,o,ai., .r.t.s 10. = IL, a. a.. F..o,,.n.