The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-27
.GLADST0NE's RARE
ROMANCE IS TOLD
DISTINCTLY
POLITICS DOMINATED IN STATES.
MANS CLOSE FRIENDSHIP
WITH NINE. NovIkoFF AND
LOVE HAD NO PART.

LONDON. March 26.-By the publ
cation OF the long-expected 'reminis-
cences" of Nine. Olga Novikoff- 10
which | referred In advance In pre-
vlous dispatch. and which has just
come completely into my hands-the
true story OF MIR. Gladstone's roman
tic attachment for this wonderful Rus
sian propaganda Is at last fairly and
sQuarely revealed.
Nine Novikoff has long been one OF
the most remarkable feminine forces
In Europe. Unlike other women VINO
have become famous In history, her
reputation has never been besmirch-
ed by a scandal, nor has she ever
used her power save In the interests
OF international peace. Thirty years
ago Tories OF the baser sort used TO
leer, with the tongue In their cneek.
when her name was mentioned. Nine.
Novikoff was. in their eyes, the Mus
covite enchantress, who. by her wiles,
had demented Mr.. Gladstone In order
TO achieve the destruction OF the TURK.
Others In more courteous fashion
spoke of the fair Egeria who inspired
the Liberal leader with an enthusiasm
which impelled him to lead the attack
upon the traditional policy OF Great
Britain in the east. But just exactly
how much Nine Novikoff Influenced
Mr.. Gladstone, and how close was
their intimacy, has never before been
quite clearly understood, even by
those who were behind the scenes OF
English contemporary pelitics---
Everything Now Revealed.
Now, at last, everything is In the
light OF day and all the world Is in
vited to hear and see the truth con-
corning one Of the most Interesting
and most useful political alliances be-
tween a man and a woman In our
l time.
In the two large volumes OF over 500
pages each, with 50-page index and
60 portraits thrown in, there are more
than a hundred letters of Mr.. Glad
stone, covering a period OF 80 years.
They show beyond all controversy
that the relation between the English
statesman and the Russian lady was
that OF a close friendship in which pol
tiles dominated and passionate love
had no part.
Passionate politics, no doubt, with
an ideal platonic affection--that In a
phrase is what the famous Gladstone
Novikoff connection amounted TO.
Mr. Gladstone was man OF gallant
courtesy toward all women, and Mad
anne Novikoff appealed to all that was
chivalrous In his nature alike as
churchman and statesman. She IN
carnated the two movements OF the
last quarter OF the nineteenth century
In which he was most interested-the
Of at IN
OF infallibility OF the Roman church
and the protest of humanity against
the despotism OF the Turk in the Bal
kan peninsula
How She Won Gladstone.
At the time when they first met.
Madame NovikofY was only SO. Three
years later the romantic death OF her
brother In the Servian war brought
her as suppliant to the feet OF Mr..
Gladstone. From that moment Mr..
Gladstone made her cause his own.
and fought the battle OF the Slavs with
incorporating courage.
Apart from the sidelights which
these "reminiscences throw upon the
subtle relationships that exist between
fascinating woman and the men who
fell one after another willing victims
to her charm the chief interest of the
book lies In the evidence which 1t
affords as TO the astonishing intre-
pidity OF Mr.. Gladstone. When he
formed his firm fighting alliance with
Madame Novikoff for the purpose OF
counter-working the policy of Lord
Beaconsfield. Russia was regarded by
the queen, the prime minister and the
majority OF the London papers as the
traditional enemy OF the British EN-
pire.
Lord Beaconsfield was menacing
Russia with war, when Mr.. Gladstone.
with an amazing disregard OF conse-
quences, publicly and defiantly made
common cause with the lady whom
west end society declared was the
spy OF Prince Gortschakoff. the most
skillful and INSCRIPTIONS OF Russian
agents. The rancor OF party and pa
\ triotic feeling never ran higher
against Russia than In the years when
Mr.. Gladstone Haunted before the eyes
OF all men his admiration and respect
for Madame Novikoff.
Mr.. Gladstone never broke with
Madame Novikoff till the last year OF
his life. The difference was purely
political, and friendship OF 30 years
closed with the interchange of letters
Ia which each maintained their own
position uncompromising to the end.
II Mr.. Gladstone had not been on the
verge Of the grave his political in
stinct would have averted the sever
ing of an intimacy To which ne had
always attached the highest value
Madame Novikoff, as her CORE
spondence shows, had many close
friendships with many distinguished
men. Mr.. Carlyle was much attached
TO the "Rooshean Leddy." and one OF
the much-prized memories OF my early
years in London is a long drive round
Regents park. In which | was privil-
eyed to accompany Carlyle and Mad
anne Novikoff.