The Washington herald., 1912-04-05
MEDIEVAL ENGLISH CUSTOMS
THAT ARE STILL FOLLOWED

| have come down to our day, such as
| the quit-rent from the city OF Lon
! don for certain properties In St Clement,
Danes. and in Shropshire, which con-
| sists OF six horseshoes and sixty-one
nails for the former and a sharp and
blunt hatchet and bill-hook for the lat
| ter.
The Dukes OF Wellington and MarI-
borough still hold lands from the Crown
! by the presentation each year OF flags
| to the King.
More ancient and more curious still
are the old tenures of "borough-english
and gavelkind.'' by which many a manor
and estate are still held in various parts
of England. In the former the lands
descend. not to the eldest, but to the
youngest son: while in some manors, In
Sussex. it is the youngest daughter who
succeeds to the heritage. In gaveIkind.
which prevails chiefly in Kent, and
which is older than the Norman Con-
quest, the lands descend not to the eld-
est or youngest son. but to all the sons
together.
Nor must be forgotten among curiosi-
ties OF tenure leases which run, not for
a paltry ninety-nine years. but for thou
sands Of years; such as the lease OF
plot of land at Ancoats, granted by the
lord of the manor OF Manchester. in
ISL, which will only expire when its last
tenant heads his letters July 25. n.sio
The famous Russian historian Bitbas-
son, who recently died, it is claimed of
a broken heart, because Gar Nicholas
ordered his great work on Empress Cath
crime the Great burned. has maintained
that the greatest OF all Muscovite rulers
was a natural daughter OF Frederick the
Great OF Prussia, to whom her contem-
poraries do not hesitate to record she
bore a marked resemblance in her youth.
Some will discover this extraordinary
likeness even in the miniatures Of both
in their prime.
It is known that the King of Prussia
was instrumental in securing for her the
hand Of the ruler Of the greatest empire
of that day. Peter III Of Russia. Incl
dentslly. both had the same pronounced
taste for the arts and sciences and for
the companionship of foreign men of
letters. Frederick the Great according
to Ezekiel in his Friedrich der Crosse"
during his stay at the court Of the
Saxon king. Augustus the Strong. be-
came infatuated with the Princess Jo-
hanna of Annhalt Zerbst, daughter Of the
Duke OF Holstein Gothorp. one Of the
most fascinating members OF that court.
and that some time afterward the lovely
princess gave birth to a daughter, who
died as Catherine the Great OF Russia.
Russia's greatest empress was a Hohen-
zollern. which hardly will be relishel by
Russians. who have been taught to hate
everything Prussian.
Historians are aggrieved over the burn
ing, by order OF Czar Nicholas, Of this
monumental work OF the famous Bill
bassoff. But after all, the head of the |
House OF Romanoff can scarcely be |
blamed for his extraordinary precaution. !
allowed the compiler access to the ar
chives OF his dynasty and that. from a |
political point Of view. these disclosures, !
once they became public property. could 1
not but hurt the good name of his house. !
because Catherine, though a famous en- !
lightened. progressive ruler-the most /,
notable person in the history Of Russia, /!
who in reality made the Muscovite empire |
a great nation-was absolutely devoid OF /
morals.
This, in conjunction with the nature Of |
her marriage to Peter III. always left |
grave doubts as to the paternity Of her /
son and successor, Emperor Paul. many 7
of her contemporaries ascribing II to her /
favorite, Soltikoff. 1t is believed that in /
his efforts to give an exact portrayal OF
Catherine and in his endeavor to show 1
that her immoralities were in keeping 4
with the spirit OF the age. BiIbasson was |
obliged to emphasize the idiocy Of her
consort TO such an extent as virtually TO /
prove that Paul was net a Romanoff.
FLANEUR.
tcoprisht. lsl-. b. Court Gossip sgndiotsl