Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17
GRAND DUKE MICHAEL
TYPEWRITES OWN NOVEL
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

n ROBABLY the ear is awaiting
eagerly an advance copy of novel
that will be published in England
this week for the author is his cousin, the
exiled Grand Duke Michael. the first of
the mighty Romanoff family to venture
| into fiction. and it is limited that the book
will contain more than little autobio-
graphical matter. It's title is Never Say
Die"
| Of course it will be said that his royal
highness got secretary to write the
novel for him-but. as a matter of fact.
he didn't. l have it on the best authority
that the grand duke wrote every word
of that novel himself tipping it all with
his own hand, and that until it was ready
| for publication no one saw 1t except his
wife, the beautiful and brilliant Countess
Torby. He wrote most of il at his English
country seat. keele Hall. and then went
to his villa in Cannes on the Riviera to
read the proofs.
Peculiar Introduction for Novel.
| Great care has been taken that none of
| the contents of the book should leak out
in advance. but the publishers have now
permitted the publication of the rather
| remarkable Introduction to the book,
which. like the rest of the story, was
| written originally in English and has not
| yet been translated into Russian. This
| introduction is such an unusual sort of
| thing for d royal hghness to write that
! it is worth quoting III full, and is as fol-
| lows:
| Belonging as i do to the imperial blood
| and being member of one of the reigning
houses. I should like to prove to the world
/ how wrong it is in thinking-as the ma
/ jority of mankind are apt to do--that we
are the hapDiest beings on this earth.
4 lf,rtk
| we'll situated. but is wealth the only hap
piness in this world? Take also into con-
sideration the many official duties belong
| ing to our position. and how much more
we are exposed to public opinion than
! simpler mortals. Which is the greatest
! happiness in this world? Surely. love for
a woman--the choice of our future wife
and family life. And even in this We have
not the facilities of private individuals.
/ We have less choice and there is often
the question of religion So it will be
easily understood What a terrible lottery
marriage in our position is. and why. con-
sequently, there are so few happy
| unions.
Very Popular in England.
| Unlike most of the Russian grand dukes,
| this latest accession to the ranks of the
| novellsts is one of the most popular men
! In England, where he has lived most of
/ the time since his exile from Russia some
seventeen years ago because of his mar
riaSe. his wife being the daughter of
Prince Nicholas of Nassau by morganatic
| marriage with the Countess Nuremberg.
daughter of the famous Russian poet,
| Pushkin- The Countess Nuremberg was.
therefore. not of Simon pure royal
! blood. although she was niece of a
/ hlns OF Sweden and related to a good
many other other European royalties.
II was for this reason that the Car Al,
exander. who controlled the matrimonial
affairs of the grand dukes, forbade the
/ banns. The Grand Duke Michael in
| sisted, however. and was at once deprived
OF ms grand estates and his rank In the
army. and sentenced to Punishment. He
has goodly private fortune. however.
and probably the lovely Countess Sophie
was we'll provided with funds also. Queen
| Victoria interested herself in the pair
and tried to get the car to forgive them,
but he would not listen.
Edward VII Interests Himself.
| When King Edward assembled the
| throne he and Queen Alexandra took the
| eXlled grand duke and Countess Torby
tas she was known after her marriage).
| into their intimate circle, and, owing to
their influence, the present car not only
restored to the grand duke his title In
the army but gave him promotion in rank
| and rescinded the sentence of exile. He
was not fully pardoned. apparently. Tor
| he never returned to Russia. Probably
the Countess Torby does not wish to go
/ until she can have the rank and position
suitable 10 her station.
The Grand Duke Michael Machaelolitch,
! by the way. is not to be confused with
| the much dsliked Grand Duke Michael
/. Nicholovitch. who is often credited with
being the grim power behind the throne
! IN Russia The new novelist, though u
| royal highness. puts far less side
| than the average rich private citizen. and
| the Countess Torby. unlike a good many
royalties who are called beautiful ex Of
ticio. as it were. is genuinely lovely.
| The story goes that the grand duke
| first saw her at Cannes on a runaway
! horse, and spurred after her and rescued
/ her. lifting her from her saddle In faint
| ing condition and falling desperately IN
| love with her there and then. They have
three charming children and are at pres
ent staying at their villa in Cannes and
| spending a good deal of their time play
| ing golf
The London street merchants are put
|