St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-12
LOVE LEADS TO A DUEL.
THE TRAGIC STORY OF FERDI-
NAND LASSALLE.
Helena Won DOeDniges in Love
With the German RefOrmer
and Socialist.

With the German Reformer
and Socialist
Washington Post.
The story of the death of Ferdinand
Lassalle, the great German reformer,
who was killed in a duel in 1854 by
the young Wallachian prince, Rack
ow1tza, is so filled with love and ro-
nance that its recital cannot but prove
of thrilling interest to those who are
unfamiliar with the details. Ferdinand
Lassalle, an Israelite by birth, was at
the time of his death the leader Of the
reform element in German society.
and has been justly styled the father
OF modern Socialism. He was a man
OF stupendouS genius and high intel
lectual achievements. He had risen by
his own eXertions to a commanding
position in national affairs, and fondly
dreamed of the day when Germany
should be declared a republic, and him
self chosen as it's first president He
was a man of excellent birth, and de-
spite his democratic tendencies, was
an aristocrat in his appearance and
mode of living. Society was at his
feet, and all Berlin regarded him as
one of the intellectual giants of his
throughout the remotest parts of Ger
many, and even royalty itself was
compelled to recognize and fear him.
The cause of his untimely death was
woman, Helena Won Doenniges, the
beautiful and accomplished daughter
of the Bavarian ambassador of Swift
zerland. She belonged to one of the
oldest and most exclusive of the aris-
tocratic families of Germany. In her.
Lassalle found his fate. When he
first met her in 1862 Helena Won
Doenniges was but eighteen years of
age, and an exceptionally beautiful
type of young womanhood with gold
red hair and a commanding presence.
She was possessed of unusual accom-
plishments, poetical by nature, and en-
dowed with all the graces that go to
make up the perfect woman. Her SUI
perior knowledge, enthusiastic nature
and great beauty combined to make
her favorite in Berlin society.
With Lassalle and Helena Won Dozen
nges it was a case of love at first
sight. Like Helena, Lassalle, though
twenty years her senior, was strikingly
handsome. Tall, graceful, well-formed,
with a head like Caesar, his very
presence was full of power and might.
His eye was full and penetrating, and
yet at the touch of the hand of the
woman he loved it would become as
gentle and tender as a does. On the
evening on which they had sworn to
love each other for life Lassalle car
ried his child, as lie called fe", down
stairs to her carriage, although they
had met that evening for the first time,
and their friends were nor even aston
ished at this sudden familiarity, such
favorites in society were both the hero
and heroine.
Helena, however, had a lover al
ready, youthful passionate, devoted
admirer, the handsome Wallachian
prince, Yanko Rackowitza, a descend
ant of an old royal Tartarian family,
who was then but nine teen. On &C
count of his very dark complexion
Helena called him her Moorish page"
When informed the next day that she
had found the only man she could
ever love, the prince, with tears in
his eyes, replied: IF it be your happi-
ness have nothing to say"
LassaIle and Helena met frequently
in society during the succe eding win
ter, and their complete congeniality
deepened their affection for each
ether. Then came a temporary sep
aration. The fair Helena was COM
PEELED to return to her fathers home.
She did not mention Lassalle's name
to her parents, fearing the storm she
knew would ensue. Herr Won Dozen
niges was an aristocrat of the old
school, proud, naughty, implacable, and
nobody would have dared mention the
name of the Socialist and Republican
Lassalle in his presence. Helena.s
father favored the suit of the young
Rackowitza, and urged marriage be-
tween them. Besides, LaSsalle'S repu-
tation had suffered somewhat from
his platonic friendship for the Countess
HATFIELD, an eccentric character with
whom rumor said Lassa1le had been too
intimate. But all these obstacles only
rendered the lovers more determined
to overcome all objections to their mar
riage, and, having met in Switzerland,
formed plans with that in view. Las
sale followed Helena to Geneva,
whittier she had gone to join her par
ents. Here an unfortunately premature
avowal to her naughty mother OF her
Dasson for LassaIle caused sucn
storm of Indignation that she was COM
PEELED to flee from the house.
Her parents cursed her for loving
this 'tsocialistic jew" and threatened
all sorts of direful consequences If
she persisted in her blind infatuation-
She then fed to Lassalle's hotel and
implored him to take her to france
and marry her. This he would not con-
sent to. and himself led the young
woman back to her parents, who
treated him in turn with the utmost
contempt and Indignation. LassalIe
vowed he would return and take Helen
to his own home and marry her. He
was, answered by her parents that he
should never see her again. The
daughter was then imprisoned by
heFlfather and treated with the utmost
indignity. Lassalle repaired to Alu-
mich for the purpose of securing the
Influence of powerful friends, which he
Intended to bring to bear upon the OBJ
dilrate father This only made mat
ters worse, and so incensed Herr Won
Doenniges that he acted more per
fidiously than ever He intercepted
Lassalle's letters to his daughter, and
when Lassalle returned to Geneva with
his influential friends coerced her into
renouncing the engagement, and COM
PEELED her to declare that she did so
voluntarily. This she was induced to
do because she had heard: nothing from
her lover, and believed that he had for
saken her.
Lassalle Immediately challenged her
father, and the latter induced the
young Prince Raclzowitza to accept the
duel for him. The prince informed
Helena, and, as she knew Lassalle tC
be 2 dead shot, she took new courage
thinking he might wound or kill his
anita gOniSt and then she might seek
him out and explain everything. She
fully prepared for the fight as soon 4.
the result became known. 1t may be
that Lassalle in despair preferred tt
die. ct any rate, to the INFINITE sur
prise Of all concerned, the young princl
inflicted a wound from the effects of
which Lassalle died on the third day.
Helena was utterly Frustrated, AM
for months lay in a semi-unconscious