The Washington herald., 1912-12-29
Court Gossip on Subjects
of International Interest

they were able 10 satisfy the uuderwrit-
| ers that the pearls had been actually
stolen, and the insurance claim had to-
be paid them.
Apropos OF the celebrations which have
taken place in Moscow Of the centenaries
Of the annexation Of Bessaeabla and the
French invasion of 1872, NJ. de Tchitchs-
gon, a Russian OF high birth. who. ow-
ing to family mIsfortunes. has been Nv
ing in London for some years in re-
duced circumstances, recalls a hitherto
unpublished chapter Of Russian history:
When Admiral Paul TchitchaSor was a
captain in the Russian navy he had to.
put his ship, the Retoisan. into port ae
Chatham for repairs. Here he made the
acquaintance Of the commander of the
port, Capt. Charles PROXY, and his fam
ily. Owing to his genial disposition.
Capt Tchitchagof became an intimate
friend OF the Probys Gradually an af-
fection sprang up between him and
Elizabeth. the daughter Of Capt. Proby.
and the young people got engaged.
In those days a Russian officer could
not be married without the pernIssionl
OF his sovereign. especially 10 a foreign
er. AS soon. therefore. as his ship was
repaired. Paul Tchitchagoff sailed for-
st. Petersburg. On his arrival he sought
and obtained an audience OF Car Paul
l. Unfortunately for TchitchagoH. he
came at a very inopportune moment.
The Gar was in a temper and, the cap
tain begging for permission to marry
Miss PROXY, his majesty few into a
towering rage; he accused Tchitchagor
OF being an Anglophile and in the pay,
OF England. traitor to his country. In
his passion the Emperor struck the cap
tain, tore of his orders. medals, and
epaulettes. forbade the marriage, and
had poor TchitchagoI marched OF to-
the dark dungeons of the fortress OF SITS.
Peter and Paul
There the unfortunate captain remain
ed several months. However. he found a
powerful friend and protector in Count
Worontzoff. Russian Ambassador to the
Court OF 81. James and a great fayorite
OF the Emperor Paul War was also on
the point of being declared between
France and Holland. and the Gar re-
Quired experienced officers. 50 he ordered
Tchitchagoff TO be released and brought
TO his presence.
The Emperor was quite amIable this
time; he returned TO Echitchagon his
eqauIettes and medals, granted permis-
sion for him TO marry. raised him to the
rank Of rear admiral. and ordered him to-
Dutch waters with a squadron OF ships
to protect Russia's interests.
Paul TchitchagoE rose high in honor
during the reign OF Paurs successor.
Alexander the First, who held him in
great esteem, and made him his personal
aide-de-camp. a dignity which in those
days was rare and important He was
also minister OF the Russian navy. But
during the reign Of Nicholas Tchitcha-
Goff again fell into disgrace. He was ex-
lied from Russia. He died IN Paris
The son born TO the Archduke Karl
Franz Josef and the Archduchess Zita IL
the ultimate heir to the Austro-Hungar-
an throne. in consequence Of the Arch
duke Franz Ferdinand, the next heir to
the throne and uncle OF the Archduke
Karl Franz Josef, having renowned the
succession for his children when he con-
tracted a morganatic marriage with the
Duchess Won Hohenberg. II is expected.
however that there will be a vigorous
fight over the Hungarian succession after
the death of the venerable Emperor
Franz Josef and that the eldest son OF
the Archduke Franz Ferdinand will be
the future King OF Hungary Indeed. II
is quite possible that he may also be-
come Emperor of Austria The Archdukei
Karl Franz Josef is of q retiring disposi-,
ton and seeks no popularity, and his
marriage with Princess Zita OF Parma
excited disapprovsI in influential quar-
ters. FLANEUR.
tCopyriEht 1872 by Court Gosip sJndicatsJ