The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-05
Poor "Duchc..v w,ds ! Prince.

| Il r q
Poor "Duchcss', WEEDS n Prince.
! ST. PETERSBURG, July An as
tonishings story is told Of Nine Vera
/ Duchess OF BirmIngha Il, who, within
the space OF seven days. has from COM
parative poverty become one OF the
Wealthiest women in the world and
by marrying last week the scion OF one
or the Oldest and noblest families In
Russia has changed her fictitious title
Of the Duchess OF Birmingham for
the genuine one OF Princess Goluklne.
This upheaval of the fortunes OF one
OF the most remarkable women OF
modern times was due to the death OF
NJ. Lazarii Brodsky, an elderly MIL
lionaire beet sugar manufacturers. who
bequeathed 5ooooooo roubles to the
Duchess OF Birmingham"
Born himself OF poor parents, Brod-
sky earned his first kopeck by stand
Ing on his head for the amusement OF
some rich children, and for forty years
he celebrated the anniversary OF this
lucky day by giving dinner party.
after which he, solemnly stood upon
his head In the presence OF his guests.
BY repute intensely mean. M. Brodsky.
fifteen years ago. when he first met
the Duchess OF Birmingham then a
pretty beggar girl. remarked: your
face Is your fortune" and gave her a
1000 rouble note for herself. The girl
soon became one Of the most worshiped
and extravagant women in Russia. but
her career was meteorlc. Falling out
with M. Brodsky. she suddenly disap-
peared from Moscow and st. Peters,
where. styling herself the rlghtful
~ pirpot I'm y, p,,ranJ
the scare broadcast among many hum
BILE families.
While her stories We're believed. she
borrowed large sums of money from
persons In comparatively humble cir
cumstances. The girls pretty face and
fascinating manner unloosened the
purse strings OF every one whom she
approached. Vera declared that she
had just arrived from England. where
the wealthy Duke Of Birmingham"
had married her in London. and .or
three months had repudiated the mar
riage on the ground that she was not
a British subject. After fllnging 600
note in her face. he had turned her out
of his palace" In Piccadilly. and for
hidden her to enter 1t again.
The pretty .'duchess's" pathetic tale
moved all hearts. and loud sdenuncia-
-
lords ways. "A subscription was
raised in order to; contest the validity
Of the marriage In the English courts.
and altogether 10000 roubles found
their way into the pockets OF the al
legged victim OF British barbarism.
Finally. suspicious police official re-
ferred to the Almanach dc Gotha. from
which he learned that Birmingham
had no duke" The Duchess of Bir-
mingham" was cast into prison, whence
by the opportune death OF her former
millionaire admirer she has emerged
one Of the most envied women in all
Russia.
Nervous Diseases Caused by Talking.
LONDON, July 4.-Excessive talk
ing is held responsible by the Rev.
B. S. Lombard. Vicar OF All Hollows.
Gospel Oak. N. w, for the many ner-
vous diseases and the increasing
amount of insanity which affects the
| modern society. This novel fairy of
disease was advanced in lecture on
Silence As Factor in Healing"
1t was possible. he said. to waste an
enormous amount OF vital energy by
excessive talking. and the excessive
| taker is human vampire. sapping
the vital energy OF thoseEaround them.
|"People who are silent by nature
are seldom ILL.," explained the speaker.
VERY often those whom the specialists
receive in their consulting rooms ARE
great takers. People induce illness
| by talking about their health symp-
toms. To talk about symptoms is a
fatal habit"
Another Dreyf,,. Affair.
PARIS. July "a terribly painful
and dramatic scene has Just been wit
mo- a ~ n tho pa 1aco 81