The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-16
COUNTESS CASSINI RULES S. c Diplomatic Circle

| Chicago Chronicle.
Every embassy and legation in Wash.
: IL gton holds fer the average American
! an interest and charm and the same
! glamour which surrounded new and GU
rious things in farrell childish days. Inc
homes Of the foreign diplomats mere ar.
| famous each in its particular way, but IL
| Is about the Russian embassy thar prop
ably the most sentimental curiosity ana
| Interest are centered. for here IN thls Sc
| verely old mansion. like jewel In an IN
| pretentiouS setting, is housed the young
, est and handsomest feminine member OF
the Washington diplomatic corps. like a
jewel. too. she byightens up the Dig rich
| rooms of this aristocratic ofnciai house
hold and gives that FEMININE touch winch
| makes the place home,
| If the Countess De Cassini's head were
little turned by the flood OF admiration
| aid a1ul ition which has been poured out
! 80 Fl eely upon her during the Tour years
| of her residence hcre one could readily
forgive her much. But there is nothing to
! forgive. This young Countess, VINO since
her sixteenth year has had part In ev.
| erything taking place in this great
natiinal capital. is as simple and unaf-
fected as a child. One is a child at 20. to
be sure but alas. there are so many
/ world-weary children o. 20 in these excit-
| ing days. Not SO with ner. however. ne
| social duties devolving upon her as the
feminine head of this great embassy are
| exacting and varied. but she performs
them all gracefully. and graciousiy ana
| still finds time for enjoyment along more
| unofficial and per- onal lines. sac Is IN love
with life, and life and most of the LIVING
return the compliment and are thorough
| ly in love with her.
| The interior of the big embassy Is IN
! striking contrast to its severely plaln anu
simple exterior. Paintings and statuary
| are artistical,v arranged while many
rare vases and articles Of quaint beauty
Nd To ~
proclaim at once their Chinese ana Jap
| anese origin The big library on the sec
ond floor is perhaps the most Interesting
| apartment in this respect in the embassy
the entire western wall being covered
with rarest firearms gathered oy tn'
| Countesss father during his long years
of service in China, Manchuria and the
| far East. There are battle axes and war
like implements of the most exquisite
workmanship Imaginable ana wonaer
| fully beautiful helmet with headpiece
| and shoulder capes of elaborately wrought
gold upon background OF brilliant scar.
let cloth. This was once the property OF
| a King of Korea and is most cherished
| treasure of the Ambassador.
The great lounging chairs and divans
| are covered with immense rugs or the
finest sable. white Siberian fox and other
rare furs from China. soft and downy 10
| the touch and the Countess explains tnat
| many MANY still more beautiful things
| were lost at sea" Her father had for
| years expended much money in collecting
| curios and articles or value. inciudlng
| paintings. hangings, laces and embroider-
| les from all parts of the world. When he
| came to this country these were shipped
by an Inflated steamer, which sunk OH
| the Azores. and this priceless collecticn
| together with hundreds of pieces OF Fam
| iIy silver which had come down from
| generation to generation. were lost with
| but few exceptions.
In this day of fads 1t is a, little remark
able that this young lady cannot be truly
| dacnrihnd q a trtn She
confesses to a love Of the things most
young girls eujoy-society. balls. good
| clothes. but nothing abnormal. She loves
her music and expresses regret that so
| little time is left her for serious study.
Member of Fencing Club.
She enjoys the select and exclusive
| fencing clue of the city. but disclaims
any special skill with the foils. great
| Russian artist has recently completed an
| excellent portrait of her and. referring
to this experience. she archly explained
| that it Is not so bad as that machine, :
| meaning the camera. That, truly has
| terrors for Drawer people than the little
| Countess, but she is most obliging and
| quick to act upon any suggestion. The
| look of sadness so pronounced In one
picture was brought unwittingly by a
| reference to her little French spaniels,
| who resented their exclusion from the
| wonderful little creatures. white and soft
and silky. and SO tiny that they would
slip easily into a pocket or mutt. and 1t
| Is little wonder that the Countess Is their
abject slave. Every dog has his day"
however. and the best beloved of the
quartet recently sickened and died in
spite OF all that care and skill could do
for him.
1t has been rumored that the last hon
| ors paid the tiny little creature were
| much the same as those bestowed upon
members of the human family and that
| his grief-stricken mistress absented her
| self a IA G function that ha
| might watch beside him. 1t was decided
| " not subject for discussion while pic
| lures were being made and so the Count
| ess's version cannot be given. but the
| writer has lost a pet dog mot p silky
| French spaniel. of course. but just plain
dog and knows that It is an experience
calculated to make one do somewhat ex-
| travagant things. The remaining trio arc
| housed and batbed and fed and tended In
| truly regal style and their special physi-
clan looks after them daily lest they fol-
| low after their departed brother.
Title Conferred by Gear.
Countess Cassinrs title is OF recent date
the honor and patent of nobility having
| been conferred upon her by the Car last
| fall. :
From the very infancy Of the youne
| girl the Russian Ambassador has had EN-
tire charge of his lovely young niece.
| When at his countrv's command he went
to China the little Russian girl. then
| about IL wears old, assumed the social
responsibilities incumbent upon the en-
| baSsy Her beauty and accomplishments
in addition to the romance OF so young
| a hostess. easily made her a leader in
| social diplomatic circles.
The wives of other diplomats some of
| whom bore ancient titles. resented this
| high position accord d to this child Am
| bassadress-an unmarried. untitled girl
| possessed of no fortune save the bounty
or charity; as they were so fond of call
ing it. OF her wealthy uncle.
PprhapS had not the Young Russian
| been so beautiful such unkind remarks
| would not have been made.
1t was during the administration Of
Count Cassini as Ambassador to China
that the wives Of some of the diplomats
at their gossipng teas made vague re-
marks which formed the incipiency of the
unfounded stories which finally resulted
In the fair Russian pleading with her
uncle to he allowed to abstain from So
Cial duties and social honors and seek
secluson in her home circle. 1t was said
tn 1t this unpleasant attitude assumed
| by tn, ladies o. the diplomatic corps
was the chief reason Count ClSSni gave
in begging to he removed from his ORR
| entail post. Later, when the Car for
| State or international reasons desired the
| presence Of SO able diplomat as Count
| Cassin in the French capital. the Am
| bassador believing that Partisan society
would deal more graPiously with his
! charming young niece. opened wide the
! doors of the cmh issy and with lavish
hospitality entertained at some of the
most brilliant festivities Of the year.
Years old. Embtterrd by tho harsh ru-
bat al 1pt Lpr oh.