The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-23
SWORD OF FREDERICK
WAS NOT AT HIS TOMB

reached the ears OF the police, who.
amer the deposition of the Sultan, be-
gan an investigation and questioned
iahir The latter answered, with an
parent candor. that the sword had
been. by order of Abdul Hand. buried
IN subterranean passage of the Yil-
dig kiosque, but that he had entirely
forgotten the place in that labyrinth
where IL had been hidden. Alter d.
long search had been made by the
constitutional government which hao
supplanted Abdul Hamid. to lind the
missing sword In the underground re-
sions OF the palace. the attempt to
trace 1t was abandoned Recently,
however. the Minister of War receiv-
ed all anonymous letter. declaring that
the famous sword was undoubtedly
III the possession of Tahir Pasha, ana
that ne had tried TO dispose of 1t to
curio dealers in Paris. London and
other capitals.
These TWO vanished swords recall
TO my mind the curious case of the
mysterious disappearance of the dag
ger OF Catherine the Great OF Russia.
Countess Moritz poteska valued above
all her other wonderful POSSESS ons q
sapphire, which had once belonged
TO the great Russian ruler. The count
ess. who at the age or seventy five
sun retained marvellous beauty that
was so un'mpalrcd by years that young
men as well as thclf elders fell in
love with her at Il gl;Lioe. to her great
inGrriment and amusement was Il rus
Sian by birth and II Pole by marriage.
Tier husband was one of the greatest
hportsmen that that country has ever
produced. They lived most Of the year
In their castle IN Austrian Poland, not
lar from Wadowitz. which is close TO
the Rus sian frontier There they en-
tertaIncd lav,shly during seven months
cut OF every twelve, receiving their
Austrian and Russian friends. as we'll
as the Polish connections ana ac-
puiSntances Of the count.
IN 1876 or ISL forget at the mo-
fnent exactly which, though 1 remem-
Der that II was during the hunting
.dson-they save d fancy dress dIn-
oil the guests being old and valued
friends OF botn the count and countess
She herself was magnincently attireo
Ia the style or Catherine the Great,
ana thrust .ougn ner belt OF uia-
inonds little curved dagger. Sur
mounted by the priceless sapphire
above mentioned. and which had be-
ioHged TO the Russian Empress. whom
she was personntinS Tor the evening.
Alter rislHs from the table the whole
company passed into the central hall,
where coffee and liqueurs were await
ing them Standing in front OF ono
OF the huge irepIaces. where whole
iosS were blazing, as Is the custom In
great forest lanuE. the countess, who
was very. tall, made SO glorious a pic
seous costume. By the brilliant light
OF the fire. that one of the gentlemen
approached. and bending the knee.
Kissed her hand, shutting her the
most imperial inquire he mad ever seen.
adding that for her to assume any
other character than her own to rem
resent imperial dignity ana grandeur
was entirely superiluous. In playful
f.NnI TaA
her belt the famous dagger and
brandlshing II over her head cxclaim-
cd In mock heroic tone, Now. 1 Will
slay you for your lack of respect for
one OF the greatest rulers OF my own
beloved country
At that lnsAnt. as she fourished
the exquisite little weapon, 1t flew
from her hand and sno, clear acruss
against the arras with which the
walls We're covered. Instantly the
guests, half laughing ana half serious
rushed TO pick up the precious orna-
ment for their hostess, each man hop
ing to be the tTst TO reach II and &C
have the privilege Of restoring IL TO
| her. But not one OF them could find
IL. although most diligent search
WAS made. Disappointed and convinced
mat they could do no more, the major
domo and the custodians OF the extra
ordinary arr collcctiOns-the count was
KNOWN throughout Europe as possess
Ivory enamels. antiques. etc.--were
called IN TO supplement the efforts OF
the guests in their hunt. They. too.
failed to discover where the missing
object HAD fallen. Even when rein
forced by the local military police,
when the tapestries. the pictures and
all the furniture of that hall We're re.
moved. the dagger could not be found.
and to this day II has not been seen
again. Strangely. enough series of
mlsfortunes overlook the until then SO
perfectly happy and serene couple.
Their eldest son. who was an officer
of Austrian Chasseurs, nearly died
from the smallpox. caught from mis-
men, and was disfigured Tor iite while
mis- young wife. alter the birth OF her
baby--t was her first and only one
Went violently insane and had to be
put under close restraint for the rest
OF her life. The count ard countess
themselves. suddenly losing their arnaZ-
Ing appearance OF youth. became a
broken and despairinG couple.
copyright, 1912, by the Brentwood
Company
Snr