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

Notwithstanding the relatively good resolu-
tons formed by Peter at this time, he was to
give Catherine innumertble rivals bot ween
1905 and his death in 1T25. Their experiences,
which are separately recounted in this book.
need only be glanced at as We follow Gather
ines own story. Her first appearance IN history
took placo Mt the beginning of the Swedish war.
in July. 1902. when tho Russian General. Sherc-
meticf. who had been ordered to occupy 1.-Two
mia. laid siege 10 Maricnburg. The town was
speedily reduced to The last extremity. and the
commandant resolved to blow up the fortress;
but. before doing so. he gave notice of his pur-
pose to some OF the Inhabitants. Among the
persons thus warned was tho Lutheran pastor
OF the place. named Gluck. who fed at once,
with his wife, his children, and his ser.
want maid, carrying nothing with him but
a Slnvonic Bible, which he hoped might
serve as a safe conduct through the enc
my's lines. When he was stopped by the Rus
sian o~utposts he brandished his book. proved
his linguistic talent by quoting several passages,
and offered to serve as en- interpreter. Tho au-
thoritics agreed and undertook to send him TO
Moscow with his family. The servant girl, how
ever, was detained. for Shcremetief had cast an
approving ego on her fair hair and opulcnt
beauty. With q knowing smile he gave orders
that she should stay in camp. where her society
would be more than welcome. An attack was
to be made on the morrow, but In the mean time
the troops were taking what pleasure they could
find. The newcomer was soon seated at table in
gay company. She was cheerful, anything but
shy, and was received with enthusiasm. A
dance was Just about to begin, and the haut-
boys were tuning up. Suddenly n fearful explo-
sion overthrow the dancers, cut the music short.
and left the servant maid, ~fainting with terror,
in tho arms OF a dragon. The Commandunt OF
Maricnburg had kept his word. Thus charac-
teristically 1t was that, to Il noise like thunder.
and close clasped in a soldiers embrace. Cath
crime L. entered Russian history.
Who and what she was, whence she came, and
how she had reached Marienburg are questions to
which history and legend give different answers,
which agree only in affirming that her destiny
was the most wonderful to which any woman
was ever called, with the exception. as we have
said. OF Thcoiora. What Mr.. Waliszcwski has
collected cannot DO described as absolute Ger.
~tainties; they are simply the data which, after a
careful sitting of the evidence, have behind
them tho largest amount of probability. Thus
qualified. the assertion may be made that the
future Empress OF Russia was born in a 1.-Two.
MAN village. whether in Swedish or Polish
| Lvonin no one knows. In 1918. indeed, on the
anniversary of the capture OF Noteburg, a
Swedish town, Peter wrote to her: "Katerin-
oushka. greeting! Greeting on the occa-
sion of this happy day. on which Rus
STA first SGT foot on your native soil"
Our author, however. is of the opinion that
Catherine came of a family originally Polish.
for her brothers and sisters. who appeared on
the scene in later years. were called Skovon-
oshtchcnko or Skovorotski. which. for the sake
OF euphony. was turned into Skovronski. The
hypothesis Is that these emigrants. mere peas
ants in any case, fed from tho yoke of serfdom,
grown intoleruble In Poland. to seek some less
oppressive scrvitude else " It'll certain that
In 1902 Catherine was seventeen years old and
All orphan. Her mother is believed to have been
tho serf and the mistress OF a high-born 1.-Two
MAN named Alvcndhal. or this connection
Catherine was the fruit. Her mother and her
legal father died. Her real father disowned her.
and. when still a mere child. she was received
and sheltered by Pastor CLICK. He taught her
the catechisnl, but she did not learn tho alphabet.
She never could do more in later years than just
sign her name. She grew up in her
protectors house. making herself useful
by performing much OF the house.
hold work and taking care Of the children.
Glnck received foreign pupils, and sho helped
to wait on them; two OF thee pupils do.
clared in later years that she always stintcd
them in their bread and butter. This in.
stinct of economy never deserted her. In
certain other matters. and from q very early
age, she was. according to some historians. more
than liberal. A Lithuanian gentleman OF the
name OF Ticsenhausen and other dodgers In the
pastors house are reported TO have enjoyed her
favors. She 10 evOn said to have brought into
the world a girl who dIoi when only u few
months old. Not long before the siege her mas,
ter thought 1t best to put II stop to these irregu'
larities by finding her a husband. The husband
or the betrothed there is some uncertainty OF
this point, u Swedish lifo guardsman named
Kruse, escaped tho catastrophe in which the
commandsnt involved Marienburg, having beer