The San Francisco call., 1905-02-26
Continues to Live in the
Same EXtraVagant Style
Despite Drain From War
ARMY IN HIS KITCHEN
Ruler Eats Peaches Which
Cost Twelve Dollars and
Fifty Cent Strawberries
Special Cable 70 The Call and New York
Herald Copyright. 1905. by the New York
Herald Publishing Company

Special Cable to The Call and New York
Herald. Copyright 1908. by the New York
Herald Publishing Company
LONDON, Feb. 25.-Though economy
was never so much needed in Russia.
and the country groans under the bur
den of taxation imposed to maintain
the war, the Car, it has been learned
here. has taken no steps to reduce his
household expenses. which are the
most extravagant of any European
court. The money thus squandered
would suffice to keep half dozen regi-
ments on the field. The sums spent
On feasting and drinking and MAIN
tanning a legion of servants at the pail
ace are colossal. The kitchen is run
on French lines. More than one Pa
risian "restaurateur" made a fortune
in the Cars employ before he started
in business on his own account at
home. In fact, the heads Of the various
departments, with abundant oppor-
tunities for perquisites and piclings.
rapidly become rich. A knowledge OF
cookery has in more than one instance
proved an easy path to greatness.
Nominally the household arrange
ments are in charge of the court mar
shall, Count Benckendorff, but the real
authority is the court ''forager" as
he is termed. He was formerly a chef.
but ne has been raised to the rank OF a
colonel. sports a gorgeous uniform and
wears no end of decorations and or
ders. Under his command are four
under foragers," a dozen secretaries.
two dozen uppe- lackies. thirty-four
lackies, eightee- under lackies. 254
lackies' assistants and a ho-t of cooks.
BIG COOKING STAFF.
At the head Of the Cars kitchen
are two French chefs. each of whom
receives a salary equal to that OF a
Cabinet Minister here. besides per-
auisites. Their staff includes four un-
derchefs, thirty-eight cooks. twenty
apprentices and thirty-two kitchen
boys.
Fabulous sums are spent on fruits
out of season Strawberries at so cents
each are provided in abundance. and
peaches that cost s12 so apiece fire.
quent1y appear on the court tables. In
the cellars are $4,000 dozen bottles of
wine of all sorts. Yet. withal. the
Car is personally a man Of absten-
ious habits and simple tastes In the
matter of eating and drinking. A weak
man, he can devise no method OF
checking the wasteful extravagance
OF his court. He Is as much the vic
tim Of his environment as the poorest
peasant in his domains.
PEERAGE DISPUTE SETTLED.
To his many claims to distinction
Cunninghame-G Graham, the famous
author, adventurer and socialist, has
added the unique one Of refusing to
become a belted earl unless the dignity
is forced upon him. He has had an
interview with Barclay-Allaroice, the
rival claimant to the Scotch earldon OF
Menteith, and has struck a bargain
with him which will deprive peerags
lawyers of the rich pickings they had
anticipated from a fight between tho
pair.
Barclay-Allardice. who Is the mayor
of a little Cornish town, Is exceedingly
anxious to become a peer. Otherwise
he is doomed to lifelong obscurity.
Cunnin ninghame-Graham does not care q
pins head for coronet- He infinitely
prefers the excitement Of travel and
exploration IN the wild regions OF the
earth to the repose OF the House OF
Lords.
There Is another earidom mixed up
with the dormant Menteith, one-that
of Airth. a subsequent creation
IF you will restrict your claim to the
Airth earldom," he said to Barclay
Allardice. II shall not oppose you I
don't want title. but I have enough
pride in my lineage to maintain my
right to be regarded as the male repre-
sentative of the line Of Menteith-"
To this Barclay Allardice. who does
not care much what peerage he gets
as long as it is peerage. has agreed
But il remains to be seen whether the
House of Lords win consent to deal
with the dignities separately