The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-24

Princess Of Saarbruck-Nassau. She was
also an acceptable guest at the court OF
Wurtemh Irg. Wherever she went she did
not hesitate 20 ask fayOrs from her infu.
entail friends. generally in the name Of
her children, and she rarely failed to Sc.
cure what she asked for. Il go on. she
writes in 2 letter home, ito have nu-
merous family" and she allowed no
scrUples 90 stand In the way OF advanc-
ing the interests Of that numerous fam
fly" One Of her bits Of diplomacy was
to name her children after rich and noted
people. and their godparents were selected
from the royal families and highest nobil-
ity in Europe. who would have both the
power and disposition 10 befriend them IN
future years.
In a letter 10 her family in England she
says. The Duchess Of Cumberland was
godmother 70 my last poor little boy
with the Prince Regnant OF Nassau FOR
godfather. and the sponsors for the little
creature that is coming will be the Duke
Of DeuX-Ponts. the Prince Hereditaire OF
Nassau. the Countess Won Daun, widow
Of the field marshal the opponent OF
Frederick the Great and the Countess o;
Ferrers." The gOdparents OF her daugh-
ter. Frederick Louisa, were the Queen OF
Prussia and the Landgrave Of Hesse-
Homburs.
Eye to the Main Chance.
But II was not only I'm selecting the
names and sponsors for her children that
Baroness Bode showed her eIeverness and
far-sightedness. She had always an eve
out for the main chance, rs is constantly
shown IN her letters. Her family in Eng
land had been instrumental in securing
for the Duke OF Deux- Ponte some horses
and pack OF hounds, who dispatched a
piQuer and valet de chiens 10 bring
them 90 Germany. The baroness asks
her sister 20 put these servants up while
they are In England. and adds:
You must know that I am sure the duke VIII b
vastly inquisitve when they come back tn hear how
and where they have been and what sort q relation,
/ have, whether tr1mpeTy smart. and Il may b.
81 great Consequence 20 me In the future
Let the Piquer therefor see Loxley. the house
park. and gardens there. tell him that Il IS my
brothers. let him also 20 % Sir Edward Little
tons-tell him he Is cousin o OUrs. Let him as
20 70 Lord Pagets. tel him he Is cousin q ours
&c We are Tery glad to be able 70 assis,
the duke. as perhaps the time may come when he
may assist our children
She writes again.
While I was with the Duke Of Deg1x-Ponts I 50
hcited from him a ief. which be has been gracious
enough 70 premise 70 give me-the hrsc that he-
comes vacant in his gift that shall be worthy my
acceptance.
This promise was fulfilled a few years
later and the Bodies were granted the Fief
Of Soultz, the most important one in
Alsace. and It seemed with this gift as
though their future fortune and well
being were assured. The letters OF the
baroness at this period were filled with
rejOicings, and she gave detailed ac-
counts of the property, which contained
six villages and several hundred subjects.
but from the time they took possession
Of their fief the fortunes of the Bodies
began TO decline.
Forced to Leave France.
The French revolution had already be-
gun, one disastrous event followed fast
a few years before Baron Bode and his
family were fleeing from their little king
dom TO seek refuge where they might.
They finally reached the Convent of Al
tenburg. of which the baron's sister.
Louise. was abbess. the Merry Abbess
Of Altenburg," as she was known far
and wide. Here they rested until the
clever head of the Baroness Bode should
evolve some plan for the future. She
finally decided on a journey TO Russia,
where she hoped 20 gain the sympathy
and protection Of the Empress for her
self and her family, and with this Jour
ney began the most remarkable period
Of this remarkable wOman's career. She
started the 18th of May. 1904, with very
little money" according to her husband.
but friends helped out in bringing her
70 Berlin, where l gave her letter TO the
Queen. OF whom 1 am a favorite." Her
only companions were her eldest son, still
lad, and faithful servant; their con-
veyance was "a little nice blue phaeton.
and two little white horses" surely a
bizarre rig In which to start out or a
journey of 1000 miles. En- route Baroness
Bode collected from all OF her influential
friends of every rank and station letters
of introduction that would serve as open
sesames" TO GATHERINGS court. where she
arrived two months after setting out from
Altenburg. The British Ambassador, Sir
Charles Whitworth, called upon her i'm
mediately and, 10 use her own words.
undertakes TO do everything I'm his
power to assist me, and, in order 70 for
ward my succeeding here, insisted on my
accepting a carriage and a pair Of horses
during my stay, as ne said twas not
possible for a woman of fashion to go
about without a carriage
Wins GATHERINGS Favor.
Thus the mission Of Baroness Bode in
Russia began. II ended successfully,
and the family Bode was established in
that great kingdom, to be forever after
ward associated with It's history The