The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06

Gardes OF the Empress of Russia. The
Princess Engaletchen was Miss Evelyn
Partridge. OF Chicago. and was famous as
a belle and beauty in that city. She was
married to the titled Russian in 1888. He
was formerly one of the Imperial Guards at
st. Petersburg.
A particularly brilliant Russian-American
marriage was that which united Prince
Segge Belosselsky-B elozersky and Miss
Susie Whittier, of Boston, daughter of Gen.
Charles a. Whittier The marriage took
place in 1894 and the princess has never re-
visited her native land, dividing her time
between st. Petersburg and Paris. This
marriage has been characterized by the
happiness which seems TO result in the
case of all unions of American girls with
prominent Russians. In this case. as in a
number of those above mentioned, there
dash OF romance in the drama OF
hearts. The young people first met at
Newport and it was case of love at first
sight both sides. The prince, who is
both wealthy and handsome, belongs to one
OF the oldest and greatest families of
Russia. He is aid-de-camp and master of
the horse to the Grand Duke Vladimir, who
has had command of the army in and about
St Petersburg. The prince and princess
have superb palace island belong
lllS 10 the BelOSSelShy family ABOUT TWO
miles from the center of St. Petersburg.
A Russian-American wedding that bade
fa1r TO suffer pOStpOnement because OF the
observation-disclosures dover question, was the
recent marriage of Miss Martha Hoy to
Pierre Rogestvensky, now secretary of the
Russian legation at Picking and conse-
quently in the storm center of the troubles
in the Orient Miss Boy's father
able TO give his daughter dot such as
the officials of the Russian government de-
manded for the bride of one Of its most
IL la.a1 hut
through the good offices Of Count CaSSini,
the tactful Russian ambassador at Wash
ington. the troubles We're smoothed away
and Cupid trlumphed. Another Russian
diplomat who has an American wife is NJ.
De Wollant, who was for years first secre-
tary of the Russian embassy at Washing
ton.
Most of the Russian-American marriages
have been solemnized by the interesting
and picturesque ceremony of the Greek
Church. The bride and groom, both of
whom wear heavy gold crowns thickly set
with precious stones, kneel at a priedieux
prepared for the occasion before bower
of palms and white roses. Lighted candles
are held by the couple during the ceremony.
They exchange rings of silver and gold and
the bridegroom, after eating OF the bread
and drinking the wine given him by the
priest, offers them to his bride. A wedding
breakfast follows the ceremony.
In connection with this mention of the
marriage of American girls to titled Rus
SLAMS, ii may be of interest TO explain that
there is really no aristocracy in Russia.
| There is, to be sure, Il certain group of
families which clusters around the court
and forms social aristocracy, but this
circle although it contains many old fam
lilies, has it's real basis in official rank.
Moreover, the custom of dividing all landed
property in equal shares among the chill
dren at the death of their parents tends
to operate against the formation of any
such class of landed gentry as exists in
other countries
Titles possess even less value in the Car s
domain than elsewhere in Europe. They
are exceptionally common because the titled
families are numerous and all the chill
dren bear the titles of their parents, even
during the life of I e latter There are
thousands of so-called princes and princess
es in Russia who have not the right to ap-
pear at court and who are not admitted to
the inner circles of society at st. Peters
burg any other capital in Europe. The
Russian title OF prince, too, is a delusion
and a share. In Russia the titles OF count
and even baron enjoy far higher considera-
ton than that of prince. which latter has
been used pTOmiscuOusly. and i'm reality ind-
Gates merely the possession of position
equivalent to that of the English country
| squire. WALDON FAWCETT.