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

pass with iAcllty from the most sportlNe duu
childish amusement to the dryest mathemati-
cal calculations" Gazing at her. he forgot"
he said. that there was II Siberia" Not long
after his introduction those about tho Grand
Duchess witnessed a scene which went far to
confirm the floating conjectures. One day. as
Count Horn. q Swede. entered the reception
room OF the Grand Duchess. n little Bou-
loRnese dog belonging to her began 20 bark
furiously. II did tho came to all the other
visitors. until at last, Poniatowski appeared.
when tho little traitor rushed IN to him with
an air OF the greatest delight and with oil the
tender demonstrations in the world. MY
friend" said the Swede. taking the newcomer
aside there is nothing 80 terrible as a little
Bouosnese dog. The hrst thing have always
done with women l have been in love with has
beon to give them one. and | have always
found out By their means II there was any one
more favored than l."
Nv.
The Empress Elizabeth died in January.
1852, and was succeeded by her nephew. the
Grand Duke Peter. In less than six months
later the latter was dethroned. and his wife
was proca med ruler Of all the Russias in his
stead. 1t Is admitted by VI. Waiszeuski that
It is not even yet possible 20 obtain authentic
materials for the history OF the conspiracy
WHICH CObI IsltI III. HIS Illos
All we know with certainty is that things had
come to such a pass between tho Gar and
tho Czarina that one OF them must needs
succumb. and the fact had become clear to
Catherine for some weeks before the coup
detat Her husband had subjected her to gross
public insult. On June II. l7O2. at q dinner
Of four hundred people. where all the foreign
Ministers were present the Car. Peter III.
proposed tho hoalth OF tho imperial family
Scarcely had the Empress set down her glass
when he sent his aide-de-camp to know why
she had not risen to do honor to the toast.
She replied that as the imperial family con-
sisted only Of the Emperor. herself. and her
SON she had not thought 1t necessary. Peter
INN ediately sent back the aide with orders to
tell the Empress that she was n fool (do,TdJ
and that she ought to know that the two
princes OF Holsteln, his uncles. formed part OF
the imperial family. Fearing, no doubt. that
the aide would not execute his commission
faithfully he himself shouted Dona across
the table adJressin. the compliment to
the one for whom 1t was intended. Every
one heard the word. and tears started from
GATHERINGS eyes To those insults Peter had
the folly OF adding threats. The same day the
FrAulein Yorontsof received the order OF st.
Catherine. which was habitually reserved for
princesses Of the blood royal. Catherine her.
self had only obtained II after having been Of
hcially designated as the 1Anceo OF the future
Emperor. 1t even appears that on leaving the
table. drunk as usual. Peter gave an order to
arrest the Empress. and only the entreaties OF
Prince George OF Holstein persuaded him TO
revoke his decision. But II was matter OF gem
sral bsfNf that. urged on by the NorOntsois.
he would soon proceed to this extremity.
Catherine would be shut up In q convent. her
son Paul thrown into prison. and the fayorlts
IL. H. rial 10 hat - hax
moment Of the revolution which hurled down
Peter and his mistress. the manifesto des-
tined 10 remove Catherine from the throne
and to set up the Norontsof was made out
and ready to be published 10 the world.
OF what followed, part is known and part Is
only guessed. On tho 18th OF July 1852. Cathe-
rins was at Peterhof; her husband. with his
mistress. being at Oranienbaum. At , o'clock
on the morning Of that day Alexis Orion pre-
scented himself suddenly at Psterhof and
brought the Empress back to st. Petersburg.
Catherine was sound as!eep-it Is she who
gives us this detail when the young officer
entered her room. Orion simply woke her and
said TO her. - 1t is time to get up. Everything
10 ready for your Proclamation" She asked
for explanations. lie told her that Passek
one OF his fellow consDirators. was ar
rested, and she must come. That was
ALL She dressed herself hurrisdly and
jumped into the coach, for they had
nearly twenty miles TO cover. II was between
q and in the morning when they reached tho
barracks OF tho Ismailofski Regiment. Only n
dozen mon were there. but drums were beaten
and soldiers. half asleep. came tum bling out.
They were told to shout Long live the En-
press" aud. as they booked forward to a dis
tribution OF vodka. they did what they were
told. Two OF them were sent for priest. The
priest raised the cross and mumbled form OF
oath whereupon the soldiers all bowed down.
1t was done. The Empress was proclaimed,
aud It is 10 be- noted that the proclama-
tion made no mention Of her son Paul
but declared Catherine sole and absolute
sovereign. OF tho other regiments of tho
guard, one only, the PreobTaIenski. made some
show OF resistance. but here again. GATHERINGS
good luck displayed itself At the moment
when loyalists and rebels had como within a
few PAGES OF one another. one of the former
In the ranks cried suddenly. Long
live the Empress :" 1t was like firing train
OF powder. The whole regiment Tell upon
their knees, accusing their officers and ask
ing pardon 'of the Empress for not having at
once acclaimed her.
Would the demonstration OF the guards suf-
fee? Peter had with him 800 Holstsinsrs.
excellent soldiers. commanded by the first
captain Of Russia. Field Marshal Munich
Then again. tho main body Of the Russian
army was in Pomsrania. and likely 10 obeT the
orders Of the Emperor. ii no could gain time.
Munich wanted Peter TO stand a siege in |
Kronstsdt. and. when hs Was refused admit !
lance to that fortress. to go on 10 Rsyel. en- |
bark on a war ship. and make his way to Pom !
srania. where he could take command Of his |
sTmJ That was undoubtedly a promising |
plan. but Peter thought only OF entering |
into negotiations, As Frederick tho Great |
said h9 let himself be dsthroned as a |
child let's himself DO put 10 bed ito |
sent tag Of truce 10 Catherine Offering 10 |
divide with her his power AS tho Impress |
di stained 10 answer she received an hour |
aItarHard a formal ACT Of ahdlcatlon On har