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

: respondence. But tho actual expressions are
often far less modest.
1t Ia doubtless true. ms our author says, that
the Cupid that habitually presided over tho In
tcrcourse OF these two lovers had no wings.
Commonplace, however, and oven debased as
their relation occasionally appears, there was
still. now and then, an exhibition OF sympathetic
and winning qualities. 1t was replete. indeed,
with urtlcss good nature. After the peace OF
Nystadt Peter rallied his wife about her LII
vonian origin, saying, According to the terms
OF this troaty i nm to return oil prisoners to the
King OF Sweden; l don't know what Is TO DO
como Of thee" She kisssd his hand and an
swered: II am your servant, Do with mo as
you will; yet l don't think you are inclined to
send no back" II will try" he replied, ITO
settle 1t with tho King" True or not, this anec-
doto typihes tho nature of their rein
lions. There seems. however. to have been
q certain amount of feminine cunning. not
to say slynoss. In Catherine. We arc told that
when she was staying at Riga with the Gar,
sho contrived to show him an old parchment,
drawn from the archives OF tho town, containing
q prophecy that tho Russians would never have
possession OF that country until q most improb-
nblo event, to wit, a marriage between a Car
and q Livonian, had taken place. Often, too.
would she draw his attention to the fact that
success had never como to him until he knew
"hVICubt tAlh ONChI. hC hthh kOhO "
victory to victory. This was firm historical
ground. and the fact was moro likely to impress
the Cars sturdy mind than tho prophecy above
referred to. He had, in truth, no des ire to sond
back the prisoner whom his General had taken
at Marienburg. In Il thousand ways she made
herself agreeable. useful, Indispensable. She
watched her lords amorous ~caprices with o
vigilant. though far from Jealous eye.
DESTROYS solely Of staving of too serious
49, "a A.
right moment. Nartof tells q story of a fellow
| countrywoman Of GATHERINGS, q lnundress be-
longing to Narva. whose attraction for the SOW
erciRn took on Alarming proportions. Peter, to
his astonishment, bcheld tho girl one day in the
Czarina's room. He pretended not to recognize
her, and inquired whence she came. Catherine
calmly replied. II heard so much Of her beauty
and Of her wit that I made up my mind to take
her into my service without consulting you"
The Gar was dumb, and turned his attention to
quito a different quarter. On tho other hand.
Catherine never aspired to interfering in State
affairs; she had no taste for political intrigue.
"As for the Czarina," writes Campredon in
1871, although the Car is most attentive TO
her and Is full Of tenderness for the Processes,
her daughters, she has no power as rezards pub
lie business. in which she never interfercs. She
applies herself solely to keeping in the Cars
good cruces, to restraining him to the
best Of her ability from those drink
ing and other excuses which have greatly
weakened his health, and to calming his anger
when It seems ready to break forth against any
particular person." Her personal Intervention,
when catastrophe was threatened on the Pruth.
was an isolated case unless we are to reckon
also her countermandins OF her husbands order
during the Persian campaign. Her correspond
ence with her husband proves that, although
she was made aware OF his anxieties. her infor-
nation was Of a very general nature. He writes
to her about trihing commission 4, such as buy
ing wine or cheese. which he desires to give
away, or the engagement of foreign artists or
artisans. His tone is frequently very confden-
tial. but he keeps to generalities and very sell
dom enters into detail. In q word, she took a
line and assumed a function, the choice OF which
proves that this peasant-torn woman had, by
instinct, Q wonderful comprehension OF her true
position. She realized that. by the side OF
the great reformcr. playing his part Of a merci-
less Judge TO the bitter end. there was an aces
sorry and necessary role, the role of pits and of
mercy, to which she, the humble serf, who had
sounded the depths OF human misery. was mani
testify called. She saw that. II she did this work.
II she strove to win pardon for others. her own
sudden elevation would be moro willingly for.
given: and that II, amidst the spite and hatred
aroused against the Car by the violent nature
of his reforms, she could draw around her own
person a circle of grateful sympathy, she might
one day. should a change OF fortune over
take her. find in it protection and a welcome
shelter. She came to need 1t. and did thus find
u shelter. and moro than shelter, after Peters
death. Like the Frenchm IN Letort in
earlier days. but with infinitely moro con-
sistency and tact, Catherine continually in
terposed In the sanguinary conflict which tho
Cars chosen work had provoked between him
self and his subjects, a conflict marked by the
daily use of tho axe, the sallows, and the knout-
Peter was occasionally reduced to concealing
the punishments. which he had decreed. from
his wife's knowledge. Unfortunately, she did
not remain satisfied with the distant and ulti.
mate reward which her compassionate line of
conduct promised. She began, after a time. to
seek for more immediate profit. She grew TO
imagine. or was made to believe, that she must
settle her fortunes on a firm financial basis.
She allowed herself to be persuaded that the day
might como when she would need money, and a
great deal Of money, to pay for necessary CO.
operation or to forestall probable failure. Then
she began to fleece all those who sought her
protection. Every ono who sought to escape
exile or death through her interposition
was forced to open his purse. In this
way she amassed largo sums, which,
afto- Monshlkots example. and probably
under his advice, she invested under as.
sumed names at Amsterdam and Hamburg.
These proceedings soon attracted Peters atten-
ton. and his discovery Of them was probably
not unconnected with the clouds that darkenod
the close OF their c~onjugal existence. In l7Is
Catherine undertook to savo from the gallows
Prince Gagarin, the Governor-General Of ST.
IBERIA. who had been found guilty Of enormous
POPULATIONS Ho paid her considerable sums
part Of which were employed In corruptins
Prince volkonski, to whom tho inquiry had
been intrusted. q SCARED old soldier. who. In
spite Of his glorious career. wal not proof
against such temptations. When VolkonskI
was arrested no defended himself by alleging
that no had not dared to repulse tho Czarina's
advances for fear OF causing u quarrel between
her and the Car. To this Peter is said to have
made the characteristic reply: Idiot You
would have made no quarrel between us. ]
should only have given my wife n sound con
jugal punishment. She will get 1t now, and you
will be hanged"
u-nE m 70 ba upnoaad tlnt