New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-06

mat the orders transmitted to him were entirely
wrong This attracted the attention Of NJ. Wish
hegradski, who was at that time the president
OF the railroad on which NJ. de Wtte
poyed. On NJ Vishnegradski becoming Min
lister of Finance he brought the Young station
master with him to St Petersburg where he
rapidly promoted him from one post t. another
until. four years ago. he succeeded him - Ain
lister of Finance
NJ de Witte is about fifty years oil / Years
full beard. his hair rather long and dresses very
badly. He always looks as If he were man en-
gagged in scientific pursuits who mad been up al
night endeavoring to solve some a5struse prob
lem, and then had taken a few hours .cst wi h.
out removing his clothes
The more one considers the question f filing
the place of Prince Iobanofr The etr,nc,r he-
comes the conviction that NJ. de Wittc. who was
created count some two years ago is the ONLY
statesman in Russia who is in any way fitted for
the post There is no other dignitary who can
IN any way pretend 10 rival his qualifications for
the Office Count Schouvaloff. the former Rus
sian Ambassador at Berlin. who at one mo-
men' regarded as possible successor of NJ. de
Tiers mas since then made such a dismal failure
Oh the Gov"rnor-Generalshp Of Poland to be
altogether out of the running. while Il IS only
people who are lamentably ignorant If the side
nShtS OF society in 81. Petersburg who would
ever dream of putting forward tie names Of
Baron de Mohrenheim or NJ Nelidorf for tn,
office The Baron is indebted for his inainte-
nance at the head of the Russian Embassy al
Paris solely and entirely to the part which he
played in bringing about the marriage hctv cen
the late Car and Princess Dagmar of Denmark
and had it not been for the interest exercised in
his behalf by the now widowed Czarina as well as
by the old Queen of Denmark he would have
been recalled long ago and shclv"d notably at
the time of the So-caed forged letter ~-andal
into which he permitted himself to he dragged
much to the disgust of the late car.
As for VI. de NclidOff. who is Ambassador al
Constantinople. il Is notorious that he owes his
position entirely to the influence of his remark
ably clever wife who makes her hea,uuarters
at 81 Petersburg. where she has figured as the
ESeria Of a number # statesmen in turn nota-
bly, of General Loris Melikof Who drew up in
her salon that scheme for endowing Russia with
constitutional form Of government which
on the eve of being promulgated when AleXan-
der ii was murdered. Another of her admirers
was the eX-Minister of Finance. Alexander
AbaZa. who died short time ago as president
of the Committee on Finance Of the Council
of the Empire. and to whose influence was due
the immunity of Mime. de Nelidoff's famous
brother General AnenkoM for the dishonesty
of which he convicted in connection with
the Trans siberian railroad. we'll in the
distribution of the famine fund
Were the improbable TO take place. and NJ de
Nelidof to be appointed to the office Of Prince
Lobanoff. should speedily hear Of the retire
ment into private life IF NJ. de Witte who Is
the sworn enemy Of Nine. de Nelidoff. as the
first person bold enough To expose her brothers
mafeasance and dishonesty But the posi-
bity of such an appointment need not be taken
into serious consideration. Emperor Ni'holas
possesses far NOR intimate acquaintance with
St Petersburg society than was enjoyed 10y any
Of his predecessors or the throne. and being fully
aware of the reputation Of Nine. de- N"lidon.