New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-21
PRINCESS A BROKER
She Conducts a Matrimonial
Bureau at Berlin.

CCopvrisht. 1911 by the Brentwood Company
Lieven is so historic and illusrious
name in Europe, being borne by one OF the
few families OF the Muscovite aristocracy
that figure in the Almansch de Gotha- the
only one. indeed. Of these families to en-
JOY the predicate Of serene highness. that
II is somewhat Of a shock 10 find a tuli-
nedged Princess Leven earning preca-
rious livelihood as an avowed marriage
broker In Berlin. Naturally this style OF
business abroad brought her into contact
with adventurers and swindlers, who seem
to have used her name for all 1t IL worth
To such a degree was this the case that
she was incriminated in the recent trial at
Glogsu OF Count Gunther Won KonigsmarcK
for fraud as one Of his confederates
The trial has ended in the conviction OF
the count and in his sentence 10 term OF
Imprisonment. with hard labor along with
several Of his male associates. Princess
Leven escaped any other punishment than
that OF the exposure Of her means OF I'VE
iihood and OF her career II is perfectly
true that she got large quantity OF goods
on credit from credulous tradespeople III
Berlin. and especially al Nauheim. TO the
extent Of many thousands Of dollars But
she insisted so much that she expected 10
be able 20 pay in the long run for all she
bought by means Of commissions 70 De oD-
tanned through her marriage brokerage
business through bringing about matrlino-
NAL alliances between European mobiles and
American heiresses or millionaires widows
that the benefit Of the doubt was given her
as 70 her intention 10 defraud.
The princess is OF Russian birth, thirty
FIVE years old, and her maiden name was
Kowalski Her first husband was Baron
Wolf. Of Posen. and after his death she
became the wife OF the late Prince AleXan-
der Iieven. who died about three years
ago. She Acknowledged during the course
of the trial that she had no fixed place or
residence and that she divided her time
between Nauheim. where she made her
headquarters during the summer for the
purpose Of getting into contact with rich
Americans. and Berlin. where she had her
brokerage bureau, the manager Of Whch
was a certain LAonhardt. who was wont 10
describe himself on his visiting CARDS as
the private secretary Of her serene high-
moss the Princess Lieven." Leonhardt was
one Of the associates OF Count Gunther Won
Kontgsma-ck and. ike him. has received a
long Jail sentence.
one OF the persons who has had to su1er
q good deal through the swindles in which
the widowed Princess Lieven became in
volved has been her cousin. Prince Andrew
rJaven who Is the representative Of one
Of the leading banking and brokerage con-
Germs al Berlin. with a seat as such on the
Berlin Stock Exchange. He is grandson
Of that old Prince Andrew Alexandrovitch
Iieven. who was for so many years min
lister OF the imperial domain AZ ST Peters
burg. and whose wife was Princess Bar
hara Gsltzin.
The Idevens are Livonians and trace
their ancestry hack in an unbroken Inc
10 a certain Henry Leve. VINO was a
fAudal baron. vassal 70 the Archbishop or
Riga. in the thirteenth century. They owe
their title Of prince and their prefix OF
serene highness 70 the fact that the widow
Of Count Otto LIeven was governess 10 the
children Of Gar Paul and that Enperors
Alexander 7 and Nicholas l.. as well as
the Czarovitch Constantine Paulov'tch CWno
waived his right Of succession 70 the throne
IN favor Of MS younger brother because ne
had been privy 20 the killing Of his crazy
father. regarded her as their second
mother.
Still more famous however. was her
dauzhter-in-law. that Princess Lieven, nee
Benckendorr. who played so important a
role in the political history OF Europe IN
the early part OF the nineteenth century as
Russian aubassadress. first az Berlin then
for twenty wears IN London. where she
was in many matters the confidential ad-
wiser OF George ~. and at Vienna. where
she was the truest friend" Of the great
chancellor. Prince Clement Metternich.
Even still more extraordinary was the in
fuence which this by no means beautiful
woman welded al Paris throughout the
reign Of King Louis Philippe as the Egeria
Of his all powerful minister and premier
the historian Guizot, who entertained the
most romantic devotion for her.