New-York tribune., 1908-11-16
SAFE FROM NIHlLISTS
Only Member Of ReigniHg House
Hhom None Vii Harm.


the steps which the grand duchess has taken TO
organize institution of nursing sisters similar to
those bodies of Protestant Sisters of Mercy in Ger
many who are knewn by the name Of deaconesses
whose special work II ia TO nurse, and whose ser
vices, although occasionally invoked by the rich
and even by the members OF the various reignins
families. devoted especially to the care OF
the sick among the poor who have no money
pay for skilled attention of this kind
The grand duchess has purchased fer the head
quarters Of this institution several houses IN the
immediate vicinity Of her palace at Moscow, and
looking on its large garden OF rather park
of which both the nursing sisters and their patients
10 have the free use The houses thus acquired
sHe to serve as the OF the sisters. and ike
wise for the Of such medical eases as II
may be considered desirable TO treat neither al
home in the ordinary city hospitals But the
particular work al the sisters is to nurse the poor
and sick in their own homes. entire city of
Moscow has been divided up iato districts for the
purpose by the grand duchess, She is particularly
keen about the affair and dsrotes all her time and
g great deal OF money to the work.
No member OF the imperial family of Russia is
more popular than this widowed grand duchess
Indeed. 1t is exagseratieR to assert thst she is
ideiized by the people ef Moscow II may he re
raembe7ed that during the lifetime eff her hus-
band who was execrated he immune from
every Nihst attempt upon his life while she was
by his side II only when ere day the Nihists
at length ca ught him alone without her that they
assassinated him Since then the affection in which
further increased te extraordinary degree.
The Inhabitants Of ali classes appreciate her re-
fusal both of the Enperors pressing offers to trans
fer her residence ST. Petersburg and Of the in
vitatfons extended her by her kiRsfolk abroad
her home either in her brothers grand ducily
Of Hesse-that is say. the land of her birth-or
IN England, where she passed most of her child
heed with her grandmother, Queen Victoria She
Insisted upon remaining at Moscow. declaring that
she had too MANY interests among the people there
too many friends from whom she did not wish to
part. tee many poor dependent upon her care. TO
ena bic her te leave. Moreover. she expressed the
opinion that she could lead more usefu existence
st Moscow, where she vas needed. and where her
entire married life had been spent. than either at
St Petersburg abroad
Flizabetb is the only memher Of the reigning
house Of Russia who maSes her home in the ancient
capital Of the empire. and Whs holds court there
forming centre around which the society of the
place can reyolve. benefited by her wholesome in
fueDce. which acts salUtary restraint. To be
barred from her visiting list means in MOSCOW
something akin to a social boycott. and there
feE who care under the circumstances TO incur her
dispieasure. even among those members of the old
Russian aristecracy whe have always continued 70
regard Moscow rather than St. Petersburg the
real metropolis Of the empire. and who have
tained their teHn residences. rather palaces. in
ancient capital rather than transfer them
mouth Of the Neva-
How beloved the widowed grand duchess is may
be gathered froTs the fact that she is the only
unattended every quarter of the great city Of Mos
COW 10y day or by night, without any harm befall-
ing ner and without being exposed the slight
est danger Of injur- or indgnity. There is hardly
nan. wcnlan child MOSCOW who is
familiar with her appearance and who does not
knew Of her kindness and Of her boundisss charity
O. heart. head and purse. and Of her devotion
the people of The city where she has made her
home for quarter OF century and where she
arrounces hzr intention Of spending the remainder
Of ter days.
LEOPOLD MEETS HIS GRANDDAUGHFER.
Duke Ernest Gunther Of schleswg- -Holstein and
his duchess have Just been paying a state visit
Brussels. and it has attracted 4 good deal OF at
tenton for the that Is the first state visit
paid 10 the court of Belgium by any but Oriental
royalties in many long the first indeed since
the Inauguration OF the severe boycott TO which
King Leopold has been subjected for years by the
various regniRg houses Of Europe Another reason
which has served TO erdow this visit of the duke
and his wife with interest is the fact that the
duchess is the grandchild OF King Leopold But
he has never set eyes upon her since her infancy
has not met her since her marriage. and has until
now been perfect stranger tc her The duke &c
the cEly brother Of the German Empress and
owing to This relationship has sometimes been dele
gated by the Kaiser 10 represent him in connection
ith the courtesies due foreign rulers The
duchess. norothes by name is the onf- dsuzh+ar Of
that Prince Philip Of Ccburg whose marriage "a
Princess Louise of Belgium th- eldest child o4
King Leopold. was sunfered hv divorce at czotbs
under such sensational circumstances few vears
ago.
The young duchess's life at any rate r-or to 5e,
marriage. has been a rather agitated one In bar
ehidheod she was witness Of the unhappiness
neglect and i'll treatment Of her mother who when
she found her husbands behavior iEtolerahle at
hrst sought refuge with her father at Brussels
mploring his protection and begging +o ha allowed
to remain with him until q legal separation had
been arranged Leopold. however. denied her re-
quest would not hear Of separation. declared
that she would have bear with her husband
Ike every other woman. especially those belonging
- the reigning houses and ended by virtually Or
dering her 70 leave his dOmlnions Denied parental
sympathy Louise sought il elsewh here. ard found
II IN the Austrian cavalry captain. Mattatich
ultimately leaving Vienna with him for the Ri
Viera. after particularly violent scene with her
husband. To make matters worse she took he,
daughter. Dorothea with her. and this afforded an
opportunity for Prince Philip to invoke the inter
vention of the French police in secure the
removal Of his child from its mothers COMPANY
on the ground that it was likely be contami-
mated thereby
It Is unnecessary 80 recapitulate here the sad
and snrdid story ef Princess Louise of Mattatich's
duel At Vienna with Prince Philip of the seizure
and sale Of the princess-s effects while in the
Riviera al the instance OF her creditors Of the
charges OF forgery and fraud brought against the
captain and herself, Of her incarceration in ii
rradhouse. Of his condemnation to penal servitude
BY court martial at Vienna. Of the remission Of
his sentence by Francis Joseph. bis dramatic res
cue Of the princess from the Ihouse. their
fight TO Paris. where Austrian alieEists united
with the most eminent French specialists in de
ciarinc not oniy that the princess right
minded but that she had never been insane Leo
pold refused To nave anything to do with her at
nrst would not even permit her to visit her
1,otber on the lafter's death5ed But lately there
has been a partial reconciliation, and at his in
stance Louise has taken up her residence IN a