The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-09
SUICIDE Of 4 COUNT
Who Didn't Get at the Job
any Too Quick.
REFORMER IN CHILDHOOD
But Sinned Like Royalty When
He Got to be a Man.

through the head, one through the heart.
On hris pistol was engraved the coat Of
arms of his family. Back Of this tragedy
there was a history. The life of the poor.
unfortunate was covered with romance
as with garment. Here is the real story
of Count Noroff.
Eugene Ndroff was born in Russia fifty
six years ago. His first faltering steps
were taken midst the luxuries surround
ing a palatial mansion.
The family estate was large and sit
uated on the outskirts of st. Petersburg,
the imperial city Of Russia
The Baron Noroff, theh father OF Ed
gene, was a student, a dreamer Of
dreams. His official position at the court
of the emperor, Alexander. father of the
present car, gave him ample leisure to
investigate and experiment in the new as
Economical theories that were his fad.
He possessed an enormous fortune. Six
hundred monjiks were slaves to his
slightest command on the vast lands that
had been the property of Norofrs for
generations.
Raron Noron, linguist Of great versa
tflity himself, brought tutors from Lon
don and Paris to educate ris family Of
five sons and two daughters.
Eugene was the youngest. He was h's
mothers pet, and his extraordinary mus
ical ability caused him to be regarded
as an infant progidy.
When he was only five vars old, he
played Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata"
at the command of the emperor.
Eugee was a frail child, representative
almost to the point Of absurdity.
He was scarcely able to clamor up
and seat himself on the large leather
covered sofa that stood in the great bar
barrie hallway, where the evening prayers
were said according to the orthodox Rus
sian ritual, when he asked his father
the startling question:
why does not God the car make the
servants as rich as we are? Let us
share our wealth with them
The same query in older heads was
ever made Nihilists and Anarchists. No
one has ever pretended to explain the
unwritten law of class distinction.
An accident Of birth, a condition
inexpllcable.
Eugene spent the days Of his early
childhood, when most youngsters find
happiness in riding a pony or playing
some childish game. in contemplating the
great life question.
One day he rode, accompanied by
body servant, to distillery where vodki,
the Russian brandy, was made. The
child took a long drink Of the frey, in
toxicating liquid, and very naturally felt
the effects Immediately. s-a
He was very i'll. 1t was several days
before he had recovered sufficiently to
sit up. ur go.
He then wrote a temperance argument
in the form Of petition in doggerel
verse to the car. Fortunately the cur
ious document never reached the emper-
or. It was confiscated by Eugeae's faith
er.
'Straws show which way the wind
blows" The tendency Of his childish
mind was to think out arguments on
leading questions and to present them in
his forceful, infantile way.
He didn't want to be a soldier. There
were so many of them"
When he was a man he was going TO
write books. To teach people the hui
manitarian principles Of what they owed
each other.
At the age Of ten he cared no longer
for music.
He had decided to become diplomat.
For three years he was page at court.
While he stood silent in the great throng
OF personages, whose actions were max
ing history, he absorbed the essence Of
the environment.
The great beauty and delicacy Of his
features attracted notice wherever he
was seen.
At twenty. Eugene oroff, matured. as
life in Russia natures mere lads. was a
thorough man of the world.
He had slipped at sweets and found he
was blase.
For four years he had Travelled continu-
ously. accompanied by MS tutors. At
that period this was the customary fin
ish of the education of rich mans son.
instead of sending him to college.
He had spent a large fortune. Twice
the family had paid his debts. Once they
to a million dollars. He had
only succeeded in acquiring an ennui for
all the guided vices many men Of fash
ion pursue with such avidity.
He had seen all Paris under the glow
OF the gaslight.
He had promenaded the prater in Wen
ma. and decided French women had more
cmhick after all.
He had fought two duels in Berlin. re-
turning from the suburbs OF the city in
the early morning to find the dew-sprinkl-
ed foliage of Inter den Linden at its best.
He had bathed in the scarlet glow OF
sin. and It bored him.
A great court beauty had Toasted her
eyes on his Apollo-like face and had fall
en- madly In love with him.
He had passed through all these ex-
periences without having felt the grand
agony OF joyous pain-the heart throbs
Of a great love.
When he returned to St Petersburg
the Empress was interested In seeing the
young ''galanto.'' whom she recalled as
an infant musician. He was summoned
TO the imperial palace
There his charming manner and haiad-
some face made him a favorite with the
women.
No courtier danced so gracefully
He was without a rival as a winner OF
women's hearts.
They adored him.
The empress had him made judge ad-
yocate.
To indolent and pleasure loving to de-
vote the best Of his intellectual effort to
this Official work. he became a singer OF
songs chanter OF verse-and a connsGs-
seur OF the art Of making love
At this period his glance t-il BY acci-
cent upor A slender Girl vsa,oy,, he rar.1ta,