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

diamonds. she had . dozen orders and
a. many portraits Of saints and roles fac
tened all along the facings OF her dress.
20 that when abe walked she jinRlod like
q mule" Tho French Envoy. Camprcdon, who
was by no means disposed TO ovcrindulgence,
bears witness to tho Czarina's political instinct
and insight. Whether or not she saved tho
Russian army in the campaign OF the Pruth-
she is said TO have bribed the Grand Vizier
with her jewels to let tho Cznr and his soldiers
escape-sho certainly rendered n great service
during the Persian expedition. 1t seems that,
during tho intense summer heats. the Gar
gave his troops orders TO march. and then went
TO sleep himself. When he woke, he found that
not a man had moved, and when he asked what
General had dared to countermand his orders.
81 did IT., !" said Catherine, coming forward DO
cause your mon would otherwise have died Of
heat and thirst"
We learn from our author that the portraits
of Catherine, preserved In the Romnnof Gallery
in tho Winter Palace, give no indication of the
physical charms which made her fortune. They
betray no sign OF either beauty or distinction.
Tho face 10 large, and round, and plump; the
nose hideously turned mp. Tho Catherine Of
these pictures has gogRlo eyes, an opulent bust,
and the general appearance OF a servant girl in
a German inn. Tho sight Of her shoes. which
u piOubiy PIObCENOu ~ U OtOIuui, VINO ohO oey
TO inspire the Comtesso do Choiseul-G Coulter
with tho reflection that the Czarina's earthly life
had been spent on q good footing" Where.
then. must WI seek the secret Of her success
The truth is that this coarse-looking and, to us,
unattractive woman possessed q physical or
Rsnization as robust, as intensely vitalized
and as stecled against fatigue as Peters
own. together with q moral temperament
far better balanced than tho Cars. Be-
tween 1904 and 1928 she bore the lover. who
in course of time became her husband. eleven
children, most of whom died in infancy. Tho
physical condition. however, in which che 30
often found herself scarcely affected her mode
Of life. and never prevented her from following
the sovereign whithereocver he went. She was
a typical soldiers wife, we'll able to 60 on active
service. to lie on the hard ground. to live in a
toni, and to make double or treble stages on
horseback. During tho Persian campaign she
shaved hor head and wore q grenadiers cap.
She would review tho troops; would pass down
the ranks before n battle. dropping cheering
words and bostowing bumpers Of brandy. A
bullet struck one of the men In close attendance
on her. but she never blenched. When, after
Peters death. the town OF Revel was threatened
by the allied squadrons of England and Dem
mark. she would herself have embarked on
orc Of her warships to drive them back.
Yet. although an Amazon IL ever thore
were ono. she was not devoid OF vanity.
Shc dyed hor fair hair black, to increase
the brilliancy Of her high-colored complexion.
She forbade the ladies of the court to COPY her
dresses. In spite of her ungainly feet she was u
beautiful dancer. q fret-rate performer of the
most complicated piroucttes, especially when
the Gar himself was her partner. With others
she generally contentcd herself with walking
through a dance. She was. In truth. q mixture
- -,l 1 liz IL f.z.A
activities. She could make herself most amiable
to those who approached her. and she knew how
to control Peters savage outbreaks. Her low
extraction caused her no embarrassment. She
never forgot 1t. and frequently spoke of 1t to
those who had known her before her elevation;
to z German tutor, for example. who had been
employed by Chick when she had been n servant
in the pastors house. and to Whitworth. the
British Envoy, who insinuates that he had once
been on terms OF the closest intimacy with
her. and whom she certainly invited one
day to dance with her. inquiring whether he
han forgotten the Katierinoushks of former
days" The very considerable influence which
she exercised over her husband was ascribed
by contemporary observers to her singular
and almost hypnotic power Of calming his dts
OF nervous irritation. which were always at
tended by ext -uciating headaches. At such
moments the Gar would pass from q state
, of prostration to ono of fury not far re-
moved from downright madness. and every
ono would fee his presence. Catherine alone
would approach him fearlessly. address him in a
language OF her own. half tender and half com.
handing. and her very voice seemed to calm
him. Then she would take his head and caress
It. passing her fingers through his hair. Soon.
he would grow drowsy and sleep, leaning his
head against her breast. For two or three hours
sho would sit motionless. waiting for tho cure
slumber always brought him. He always woke
cheerful and refreshed. 1t Is also to be noted
that she cndeavored to curtail the excuses OF
all sorts, the night orgies and drinking bouts TO
which the Gar was addicted. In September,
1874. the launch OF u new ship was made, as
usual. the pretext for an endless banquet. She
went to the door of the cabin In which Peter had
shut himself up to drink undisturbed with his
boon companions, and called out, "Pora domoi,
batioushka! Ut is time 10 como homo Little
father; he obeyed and departed with her.
One would say that Catherine was full Of real
affection and devotion TO her husband did not
the somewhat theatrical manifestation of her
grief after the great mans death cast some
doubt on her sincerity. A French contempora
ry, Villevois. relates that two Englishmen used
to go every day for six weeks to watch the Czari
ma in the chapel whore tho corpse Of tho Car
lay in state. and no declares that the sight