The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
RUSSIAN CONSULS FAD IS DOLLS

as he would like 10 see more OF them. He
/ has long been a lion IN Chicago society.
| He Is as much a home at a pink tea as al
a charity ball or living picture" enter
tainment. In fact. at all society enter
tainments IN behalf OF charity he is a
prominent figure. It is on such occasions
that the public catches q glimpse OF his
galaxy OF dolls.
II 1t had not been for the Russo-Japa-
nese war the public might never have
known OF this fad Of the Cars trusted
official During that war. however. the
Red Cross needed funds TO enable It to
succor the wounded on both sides. Chi
cago society people got UP a big enter
ta.nment to help raise the money. Baron
Schlppenbach was asked what he could
do. Then he said he could sell dolls.
Il was given out that the consul had the
greatest private collection OF dolls in the
world, that he would exhibit them In
booth and sell all he could for charitys
sake Before the day arrived for the en-
tertainment 10 open the baron had one
hundred times as many dolls as his origi-
nal collection had contained. Originally
there were dolls from Japan. Russia. and
other countries: some dressed by prln-
cesses and duchesses who knew his fad.
The additions 20 the collection were
made by Chicago misses and matrons.
They arrived at the consulate by bicrcle
ana pony express and in automobiles. not
by ones and twos and dozens. but by hun
dreds. almost daiIy-rag dolls. rubber
dolls with dainty lace gowns wax dolls
and china dolls Of every conceivable size.
II reminded Chicago clubman Of the
Pied Piper Of Hamlin." with his army Of
tathers, mothers, uncleS, cousins, fami-
lies by tens and DOZENS and his other
army OF AL the little boys and girls. I
with rosy cheeks and haxen curls and
sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls"
Borrowed by Seventy Women.
The doll market was good. but in all
the throng Of thousands who attended
the Red Cross entertainment there were
not enough buyers Of dolls TO exhaust the
baron's supply. After the fair he restor-
ed 10 his apartments as many as they
could hold for his own amusement az !
odd times, and the rest he put in a stor-
age house. where they still remain. Oc-
casionally when the society women want /
a unique booth at some charity AFFAIR /
they borrow Baron Schlippenbach's col |
'lection, merely for show purposes. for /
the baron thinks so much Of his gifts /
that he refuses 70 sell more, unless the /
Red Cross Of Russia gets into straits and 4
needs the money.
Baron Schlippenbach can talk business /
with just as much force as he used to ex-
pend while an officer in the Cars navy. /
He VIII tell you that the door 70 Russia /
is open; that Russia wants TO trade with /
the United States, whether It be by way 4
OF NladivostOk or ST. Petersburg. Asked /
how New York merchants might obtain /
greater volume of trade with Russians. \
this was his reply:
1T is broad question. Generally !
speaking, they could accomplish much \
more by effecting a closer communication /
with the Russian people Specifically, |
they could do more 0y sending represent
atives 10 Russia 20 study the people, /
learn their wants and what they have TO
offer In return. and suit their business to
what they discover"
Despite his ability to read character,
however, a woman, young and handsome.
was his private secretary for thirteen
years. and ali that time the baron
thought she was q man. Not until death
disclosed her sex In a far-away town did
Baron Schlippenbach discover that she
was woman.
woman Was n Man.
This extraordinary woman was ''NSicolai
de Raglan" She wore a mans clothing
when she applied for an obtained a place
as the consurs private secretary. She
wore the same kind OF garb during her
long term OF employment. In this time
she married a Chicago woman. was d.
and later married another Chi
cago woman. After about thirteen years
OF service in the consulate the woman,
who had a masculine first ma ne. became
i'll, and went 20 Arizona for her health.
She died there suddenly, and the autopsy
revealed her sex. She was buried there
but Baron Schlippenbach would not be-
lieve the report that she was a woman.
Not until a commission of doctors from
Chicago had eXhumed the body was the
consul convinced OF the truth.
de Raylan's' second wife then admit
ted the truth. Subsequent events showed
that the young womans right name was
Anna Terlessky, and that her mother
lived in Odessa, but had always written
to the girl as my dear son." The girls
estate of 5000 went to the mother, but I
the secret OF Annals reason for living
In the disguise of a man has not been re-
vealed. Some said she was ? spy OF the
Russian revolutionary party.
Baron Schlippenbach began his diplo-
matte service in 1855. For a long time he
was attached 10 the Russian embassy
In Tokyo. From there ne was transfer
red to New York City. where he was vice
consul. Afterward he was sent to Chi
I Il L. -. /