The Irish standard., 1899-03-18
IN THE CARS PALACE.

bcamed upon visitors with the large,
luminous, blue baby eyes, whose droop-
ing lashcs pictured her innocence
personitied, Indeed, it was said even
by some of the ladies that Nine Cata-
Gays presence made that of Catacazy
endurable.
In those days gambling was rife, not
only in the gaming houses, butin social
circles, During one winter season
nearly every member of the diplomatic
corps lost large sums of money at Cata-
Gays. 1t soon became apparent in that
limited circle that Catacazy and his
wife were eXpcr, gamblers. Catacazy
would make small bets, and seldom lost
them. His wife made large bets, and
she never lost. The Young diplomats
began talking about it, and soon it be-
came known to all the members of the
diplomatic corps, and TO their hosts Of
friends, that the Catacazy mansion
was veri1ablc gambling hell The
prevailing impression was that Cata-
cay was real gambler, and his wife
an unwilling accomplish. Consequently
the Russian minister and his wife were
unable to induce their social callers to
play amy game with them, and their So
cial circles became very much abridged
because of their wcil-rnrned reputation
as crooks.
just at this time Catacazy took upan
old claim Of this government against
Russia for arms furnished to Russia
during the Crincan war. The depart
mcnt of state did not want. TO press the
claim. but Catacazy insisted upon hav-
ing it settled, as he wanted the credit of
accomplishing Il settlement Ii would
please his royal master. The secretary
of state would not press the claim, and
Cu,acazy caused several newspapers TO
attack the departments of state as we'll
as the families OF the secretary OF state
and Of President Grant. These nrwspa-
per attacks were traced by sworn tes-
timony to the hand and pen of Cata-
cnzy.
This having been demonstrated. a
message was sent to the American min
lister, Andrew G. Curtin, at ST. Peters
burg, requesting the Russian govern
mcnt to recall Ci,acazy. as his presence
in this capital WAS distnsteful and disa-
grecablc TO our government. This re-
quest was not complied WITH Prime
Minister t;ortchnknil sending back
word that .Archdukc Alexis, son of the
ear, wis about to visit the United
States, and the prime minister solicited
HAT there should be no Diplomatic
breach at this time.
President Grant fully realized that
the car Is the uutucrHt of his vast do
mains, and that to him personally we
were indebted for his support during
our civil war. Therefore Grant decided
that the cars son should be received in
fitting manner, and that the diplomat
ic breach should be concealed for the
time being. Hence fatacnzy was per-
mittcd to remain. But, under dircc-
tons of the secretary of state, he mere
ly presented the urchdulic, and was not
permitted to make any remarks what
ever
President Grant received Archduke
Alexis at the white house, and he was
presented by Catacazy, who merely ut
tered the formal words prescribed for
him. Word was then sent to Alexis
tHaV VIZ pIeSIucnG "Oulu ne pIcaScQ 10
entertain him at dinner, but that Cata-
cazy could not be included i'm the invi-
tation. Answer came back that the
archdukc must decline the invitation,
because of the iuitation put upon 1t.
Alexis personally said to our secretary
of state that lie fully appreciated the
situation, knew that our president and
our nation were friendly, but that he
could not officially ignore the minister
Of his own country. Thus it happened
that the favoritc son of our good friend,
the ear, left Washington without din
ing with President Grant.
Subsequently, when Grant was tour
ing around the world, he was invited to
st. Petersburg, to visit the czar, who
received him with royal courtesy and
genuine welcome, sitting beside him on
u sofa for almost an hour convcrsing
upon international topics. Grant was
given the freedom of the city and every
courtesy extended to royalty was ex-
tended to him, except one. Grant was
not invited TO dine with the czar.
Catacnzy was recalled from this
country. He was eXiled from Russia,
and ordered TO remain in Paris, with
orders not to write for newspapers.
Tie violated that order, and published
an insocnt open letter in American
newspapers. For this he was deprived
M i.