The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-01

him out and gave him n pension.
Meanwhile, she was the delight OF that portion
OF the Russian army which was engaged In the
Livonian campaign. Sho began as the mistress
of n non.commissioned officer, who boat her, ana
finally passed into the possession OF the Gouerai
himself. who soon grew weary Of her. How she
came into Mcnshikof's household Is q question
to which various answers have been given
Some authorities declare that shc was frat en-.
gngcd to wash the favorite's shirts. In one OF
her letters to Peter. written after she had be-
come his wife,. she seems to Rlludc to an incident
OF this kind in her past career: Though you
doubtless have other laundrcsscs about you, the
old one never forgets you" II there DO truth In
this laundress legend, we may sec in Cath.
crime /. a TRANSPORTED Nine. Sans Gone. 1t
is certain that her original position In
her now protectors house was n some-
what humble ono. When Menshikof wrote
in March. 1905, to his own sister. Anne, and to
tho Arsenicf sisters to como and mcct him ut
Witebsk for tho Easter festivities, foresceiug
that their fear OF tho bad roads might prevent
them from obeying his call, he begged them. at
all events. to send him Catherine Troubatshof
and two other girls. An important event, how
over. had occurred In the existence OF the person
thus unccremoniously disposed Of. Peter had
seen her, and had shown himself far from indif-
ferent to her charms. As to their first meeting.
we are told that the Gar, when paying a visit
to Menshikof one day. was astonished at the
cleanliness apparent In tho favorites person
and surroundings Peter asked how menshikot
contrived to have his house 30 VOL kept ana 10
wear such fresh ana dainty linen. lhetaVoritos
only answer was TO open q door, tnronEn
which tho sovereign perceived q hahusome'
fair'hsired girl. apronod, ana, sponge
In hand, bustlinE from chair to CHAIR
and from window to window. BY august.
1904. Peter had made Catherine the mother OF
at least one child, and, during the month OF
March In tho following year. she oore MIN a
son, the little Pietroushka OF whom feter
speaks In ono or MS letters. Eight mohtns i"tcr
she had two boys. These children were uhoues-
tionably dear to tho great man. but he does not
appear. as yet, to have cared much tor tnoir
mother. 10 account Tor her femoVai from tne
favoritos household to the Cars all SORTS OF IN
cidents have been related. According 10 ono
story, the lady. after an agreement between INC
TWO friends and n formal cession OF Menshikois
rights to his master took up her residence IN
her new home, where her eyes shoftiy ici on
certain mhgnlnccht Jcwels. Forth"lOh' ourSt
ing into tears. she addressed her new protector:
WHO put those ornaments hcref IT they
come from the other one, 1 VIII keep noth-
Ing but this little ring: II they como from
you, how could you think l needed thein 10 MAKE
me love your The ~skcptical author OF this
o"'h NP''N' s"''
simpler way. without any such exhioition OF
disintercstcdnrss on her part or prodiRality on
Peters. lie can find no evidence during several
succeeding years of any change IN the humpie
ana DUBIOUS position occupied oy hcr III inc
common harem. where Peter and MehshikoH
wero wont, either turn about or together, to take
their pleasure. sometimes she was win the
Car. and sometimes with tho favorite. AT ST.
Petersburg she lived with all the other ladies' IN
Menshikofs house. Sho was STILL IN other
words. no more than an obscure and conpiaiaant
mistress. Peter had many others, ana she
never vcnturcd to object to them. She even
went 80 far as to pander to tho weaknesses
OF her femalc rivals. and made up, by her
own unfailing chcerfulness. for their hts or
temper. Slowly and almost insensiply she
endeared herself to tho sovereign. and,
above all. grew into n habit with him. She
took root in his heart, throw out her tcndrils
there. and cnIed by making herself indispon-
sable. In 1706 he seems to have feared that
she might slip through his fingers like Anna
Mons. His mind began to dwell upon the draw.
backs attached to the prom!scui'y In which
hitherto no and henshikof had mingled their
pleasures and their rights. He seems TO have
suffered sone pricks OF conscience. which may,
however, have been nothing but stinSs of un.
conscious jealousy. At all events. he who had
joked for years about Mcnshikofs promise TO
injury baTia hrsehie Ho" suuoeuiS' A'oo'
declared 1t valid and sacred. and wrote to his
alter ego, "For Gods sake. for my souls sake.
remember your oath and keep It. Menshikof
set him the example, and Peter followed 1t.
though not until some six years later, 80 far
as 4 public ceremony was concerned. Cath
crime. however. is said to have been secretly
united TO him at this timc. 1t Is certain
that, after the year 1903. she never left him,
and in Poland and Germany whittier she ac-
companied him. was treated almost like a SOW
ercign. Two other children. both daughters.
had bound her still more closely to her lover.
Officially, nevertheless, she was as yet nothing
but n mistress. and she was necessarily in dan.
ger OF being supplanted by rivals. In the year
last mentioned during Peters visit to Hamburg,
n Lutheran pastor, having refused to sacrifice
his daughter to the Cars passion. the monarch
offered to repudiate Catherine and marry the
girl. 1t Is said that a great officer Of state ac-
tuallJ received orders to prepare the wedding
att rant ITplnnIilv for hnraaIf tho fnn rnnHiin.