New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-01
ENIGMA IN RHODES'S LIFE
HIS RELATIONS WITH PRINCESS CATTLE
RINE RADZIWILL. NOW CHARGED
WITH FORGING HIS NAME.
Paris, April 10.

page from Gaboriau or Dumas and having for
its scene of action Russia, Paris. London and
South Africa NJ. de Blowitz has communicated
over his signature to the Paris ''Matin" what he
describes as The Living Enigma" that FASTENED
he death of Cecil Rhodes. The statements made
by NJ de Blowitz attract widespread attention.
1t is known that the prince of foreign CORE
spondents was at various periods of his life on
terms of close acquaintance, if not of friend
ship, with the leading persOnages that figure in
the tragedy. which, with due apology TO NJ. de
Blowitz l summarize and transcribe, retaining
as far as may be TIL glowing phraseoogy of the
French original:
shortly after these lines shall have appeared"
writes NJ. de Blowitz. the body of Cecil Rhodes
the Colossus of Rhodes-will lie buried in the
heart Of the land of Rhodesia on the hill Of
Matoppo, which he wished to make the Walhalla
Of the future South African Federation. .
Something besides fame immense fortune and
an imperial legacy rivalling that of Cesars
have been left to humanity by Cecil Rhodes, for
at the threshold of his tomb stands a living
enigma, persOnified by woman of exalted
birth. This woman assumed a place beside
Cecil Rhodes during the later years of his life,
and has sunk into the lowest depths of
judicial abyss.
The scales in which the law courts will soon
weigh the action of this woman will also serve
TO weigh the reputation of Cecil Rhodes, for if
this woman comes forth innocent from the ordeal
OF the South African tribunal. the scourge
raised or lowered for against her must strike
and tarntsh the renown of her dead accuser. 1t
Is for this reason. before the clamor now
sounding about the conqueror becomes silent.
that wish to make known the salient features
OF the life. the hopeG and receptions Of Princess
Catherine Radziwill, whose name clashes in
such bitter irony with the bleating trumpets
that proclaim the fame of Cecil Rhodes.
Princess Catherine Radzwill is of Polish orr
gin She was born Countess Rzewusl1a, and
she is a daughter of that Countess Rzewuska
whose maiden name was Darhlooff. Her mother
when little over fifteen years old fell in love with
Count Rzewusk who was in his fifteth year,
and, Notwithstanding the opposition of her
parents, she married him. Princess Catherine
Radzwill horn of this marriage, When
very young she married Prince William Radzi-
Will. OF the Prussan branch of that family. By
this marriage she had three children. One of
her daughters is Princess Bldcher. Her hus-
band, for whom Princess Catherine never enter
tanned any affection, lives in obscurity. which
was not removed even after their separation and
il is only the stroke of lightning that has now
fallen upon the princess that shed light upon
the gray shadow in which Prince William is en-
veloDed.
In the district of Poltava, at the time when
Mile. Dachkoff married Count Rzewuski, there
lived boyard whose ancestors dated from the
earliest period of the Russian empire. This
boyard's name Pachkoff. He led a royal
and extravagant life on his magnificent estates.
He had his own regiment OF cavalry, his own
musicians, his private company of actors,
actresses and dancers. and the nobility for
hundred miles around fiocked to his castle to
participate in the magnificent festivities Pach-
kof had a serf, who, like all serfs. had no proper
name and to whom he intrusted the manage
ment OF his estates. This serf was married and
had son, who was just the same age as Mile.
Pachkoff the boyard's daughter The children
used TO play together, and Pachkoff caused his
serrs son to be educated with the same care
as his own daughter. The serf's son passed his
examinations with great brilliancy, and TO in
sure his admission into the Imperial Cadet Col
Iege Pachkon gave civil freedom to the father
and named him Poltavtzeff, that is to say, the
from Potava' Young Poltavtzeff entered
the Cadet College. and soon after his gradua-
ton selected his regiment and became captain.
He returned on leave of absence to Poltava to
see his father. He also Mile. Pachkon.
Shortly after his arrival PachkoT gave grand
fete, TO which 100 families of the district were
invited.
1T is necessary to explain at this point of the
that the steward brought to Pachkoff the &C
counts of the estate, the old boyard invariably
replied. No! No. I don't want to be bothered
with accounts. Supply me with the money I
require, and never mind the accounts"
The day before the grand fete Captain Pol
tavtzef said TO his father am going away to-
morrow
why asked his father are you not going
10 the fete?
NO
You make a mistake You are a captain. you
are handsome. you are free and I am sure that
some attractive heiress will be glad to marry
you
That is exactly what I must avoid. I love
Mile. Pachkoff. can never love any one else.
can never hope to wed her, so 1 prefer to go
away
Wait a day longer. will speak in your be-
half and then you may go off if you like
The steward put or his festival clothes and
went to ind his boyard.
Listen TO me, Pachkon' he said. For TWEEN
ty-five years you never would permit TO go
over the accounts with you. Nevertheless, 1
have kept them with great care. You have an
income of 100000 -ubles. You have always
spent twice as much. began by advancing you
small sums. Then with your consent 1 sold
small lots Of and and duly gave you the pur-
chase money. Afterward also with your con-
sent 1 sold larger lots and then whole farms |
and domains These I bought myself I made
fortunate investments and the result is that |
to-day am the owner Of everything here. and |
II you had only what remains to YOU you would |
not be able TO pay for the fete you are TO give |
Tomorrow
The boyard burst into furious passion, and |
the steward, after calmly listening IN him re-