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

| several aapirants, and brought at least one oil
them, strahof. very much into the good
graess OF the sovereign. although he
never occupied the special apartments
! Of the favorite. Very, likely something
| similar happened on various occasions.
On visiting the Winter Palace. shortly be-
fore the death OF Catherine. u traveller was
| particularly struck by the decoration OF two
| little rooms close TO the Gmpress's bedroom
| the walls Of one OF these rooms we're completely
covsred with miniatures Of great price. act In
gold and representing different lascivious
| scenes; tho other room was similarly deco
rated. but the miniatures werc portraits Of the
men whom Catherine had known and loved.
Among these men some showed themselves
slnGulary ungratoful for the excess Of Tsvors
which Catherine had heaped upon them. She
herself behaved well TO every one OF them and
not one. even OF those who were uniaithMl to
her. had to suffer the weight Of her wrath and
vengeance. All-powerful ms she was she was
betrayed and abandoned like the NJ ost vulgar
OF mistrssses; all her power. all her fnscina
ton. and the immensely OF tho price set on her
favor could not shield her from the mishaps
that have tortured the hearts OF expresses and
Rrlset'as alike since tho beginning oithe world.
From Gregory Oriofr she endured what few
women would have All bmitted to: nevertheless.
when she resolved to give him up. she lavished
NIchsIi0 uDOh nun uul eloNeu tthIr lhNtis Oh
hearing Of his death. she wrote The loss OF
Prince Orion nut me into fever with such de-
lirlum during the night that had to be bled.'
In 1880. she surprised Korsakoff in tho arms
OF the Countess Bruce. In 1879, IL was Mamo-
non who icrsook her to marry maid OF honor.
Taking everything into con sideration, IL seems
10 have been Catherine who was the least
changeabe. Referring to the departure OF
Mamonoff whose sole punishment was to be
sent to Moscow with his wife. the Compile de
s6gur wrote ono can shut ones eyes indul-
gently on the errors OF q woman who Is
great man. since she shows even in her weak
ncsses. such mastery over herselL such mercy
and such mngnanimitE Rarely. indeed. does
one find united absolute power. jealousy
and moderation. and such a character could
only be condemned By man without hsart"
Sainte Beuve. on the other hand. opined that
GATHERINGS way OF treating her lovers when
she got tired OF them. 80 different from that
taken by Christina OF Sweden. really told
against her. That she should load them with
gifts, instead OF having them asssssinated
is" he thinks, TOO much. betrays too OPEN
ly the scorn that she has OF men and OF human
nature 1t 10 pointed out by our biograp her
that in this severe judgment. there was an
error OF fact Catherine was not tired OF either
Korsakorf or Mamonon when she learned how
they had deceived her. She chung to them
still. especially to the latter. and It was not
alone her pride that suffered from the disgrace
that they inflicted on her.
N
There is no doubt that favoritism. As Cath
crime practised It. was expensive. According
to some statistics quoted IN this book. the
amount spent on ten official favorites exceeded
81. DOC. 600 roubles. which. at the rate OF ex.
change which then obtained. would he more
than 4OO.000.000 francs. This agrees sub
stantially with the calculations Of the English
ambassador Harris, who records that. from
1852 to 17S3. the O-loff family received from
10000 to 5000 serfs. with the lands to which
they were attached. and 1000. 600 rouhles in
money houses. plate and jewels. Vas
si!tchikof in twenty-five months received
100000 roubles In cash. 10000 in Jewels.
a furnished palace with 100. 600 roubles. plate
worth 10000. a pension OF 10000. ami 1000
seris. with the appurtenant estates Pationi-
kline in two years. got $1,000 serfs and about
g. 1000. 900 roubles in Jewels. palaces pensions.
and plate: Tayadofski. in eighteen months.
4. 900 serfs In tho Ukraine: 1000 In Poland.
800 in Russia, $4,000 roubles' worth in Jewels
10000 roubles In cash. plate worth 30 900 and
a pension OF 10000: their Successors were
treated with equal liberalty.
1t was not only through the cost involved
that the institution OF favoritlsm wrought in
Jury to Russia Prince Chtcherbatoif has dss-
canted on the demoraiizing influence OF sys-
tenn which exhibited cxcesses OF certain kind
at the summit OF society. The plea. however.
has been made for Catherine that she did all
she could to circumscribe the evil influence OF
her example. 1t seems certain that there was in
her no anectation OF cynicism nor even an |
of the moral sense. favoritism
with all its conseIuerces excepted. Gather
Inc showed herself severe In regard to
moral questions. and extremely suscepti- !
g with , Teierentce to ontwa,d decsney:
women. and. at times, was even prudish. one |
dsy. on the way to hisf she requested the |
repeat some verses. He recited a piece. "a
title fee and gay" he tells but. neyerthe-
less, decent enough to have been well received |
in Paris BY ladies as virtuous as they are |
amiable." Catherine at once frowned. stopped |
subject. and turned aside the t conSeasat a
In 17SS the Admiral Paul joiner. whom she |
% h to Rer 's ss fom Ing and
girl belonging to the court lie was immedi- !
atsly dismissed notwithstanding tho deacth OF |
similar reason the English Ambassador Mae |
CARNEY was obi gsd to leave his post: In 1890.
that had been taking place in France. Gather
Inc invsighed Ssainst the Se net ,s whom
the nation. The comic opera" she said has
corrupted the whole country" We may mem |
ZION, HnalIy, thnt u ukhse, Tearing the sigma |
ture OF Catherine. instructed keepers OF public |
baths to have separate com partnents for the |
two sexes, ana not to allow any men in the |
woInens quarter except those required for
Indispensable service and medical attendance.
An exception was made in favor OF painters.
who might study their art in tho feminine
com nArtments.
When all is said the wonder really IS not
that woman brought M from tho age 81 |
fifteen at the court 81 Elizabeth OF Russia
should have exhibited some vices, but that
amid such surroundings she should have
managed not only to preserve bug to devslop
many virtues. TOR whose counterparts We
should seek in va among most OF her con-
temporary soVereigns. NJ. w. II.
4 PHYSICIANS sTORK.