The Washington herald., 1913-03-11
FOREIGN GOSSIP.


lin. Sersius Nicolajewsch de- Swerbejen
by the Kaiser's master of ceremonies
who was assisted by . stan ofiicers of the
Prussian Life Guarda. The function tool
place In the georgeousiy fitted reception
rooms of the Russian Embassy, Q verita.
BILE palace, situated at No. Unter den
Linden, close to the Pariser Platz and
the historic Brandenburg Arch. The lat
ter. a veritable Arc dc Triomphe." Is sur.
rounded by Roman chariot Of victory
drawn by four prancing steeds. which
during the darkest days Of the Napoleonic
conquest was removed by the victorious
Corsican to Paris and there placed on
top Of the Arc de Triomphe at the en-
trance to the Bois de Boulogne. But II
was not to repose there long after the
taking Of Paris by the allies Their pa
triotism was not satisfied until the IA
nous memorial once more occupied Its
place on top Of the gateway to the Ber-
lin Thiergarten.
The expectation in court circles that
| the new Ambassador. NJ de Swerbejeff,
! would revive the s2lendor Of the enter
tainments which during the tenure of Of
nee OF his late predecessor were "the talk
OF the town. is not to be realised, be-
cause his wife. Anna Vassilevna. a for
mer Miss Bezobrazoff, does not care to
herself entirely to the bringing up and
education Of her sons. In fact, st, Pet
ersburg pretends to know that the lady
mas an Innate aversion to the glitter and
vanity OF society: hence the new Am
bassador has to lead the life Of q
bachelor. and Berlin high life and club
dom sadly recollects the days when
Count and Countess Schuvalofr were the
hosts at the embassy and the old-ever
Nort
h'sht' asked the young dandies to re-
main for social game of "ecarte" and
a Few more bottles of "Pommery Brut."
Former Russian Cars did not disdain
10 visit Berlin. where they shopped 'in
their own house." and many are the
stories told Of their lavish display of
luxury and entertaining. But the pres
ent ruler does not follow their example.
he seems to be Of disposition too shy
ana shrinking from publicity and no.
toriety: perhaps he prefers to give the
Nihilists as little chance as possible 10
biow up his train. At any rate, the few
tunes that he and Emperor William
met was on the broad bosom of the
Baltic Sea. Wv
In the recorders office of the city Of
berhn the Car Of Russia Is booked as
the proprietor OF the premises in which
are housed his embassy as well n, his
Ambassadors. At one time the palace
was the residence of Princess Amalie OF
Prussia. Frederick the Greats InteIlI-
gent sister. whose life he cruelty blight
ed when he imprisoned her sweetheart.
tfron Fried Won der Trenck. in a fort
ress and Kept him there many years,
and by his cruelty transformed a
charming. lovcable girl into a quarrel
some. repulsive, capricious woman who
made life a burden to every one OF her
This Baron Trenck must not he con-
founded with his cousin. Franz Won der
Trenck. who was born in Calabria. in
italy. where his father was stationed as
an Austrian general. and of whom IL is
recorded that as captain OF Hussars in
the Russian army he was placed under
arrest for knocking down his command
ing officer during an engagement with
the Turks, just as Field Marshal Won
happened TO pass. Trenck
told that commander that, IL set free he |
would return within the hour with three |
Turks heads. The daredevil was given |
he chance and sure enough ere his hour
II grace had expired. back he was with !
.our-not three-heads OF Turkish Janit- |
.aries the hercest Of Moslem fighters !
from his saddle. He and his |
crribie regiment of Pandures ought to |
70 well remembered by the Turks for |
heir merciless slaughter and unequaled |
bravery.
This same Trenck it was who. during
he seven years war, after the battle
" Sohr lin l1i5) offered to capture Fred
rick the Great and to bring him pris-
,ner into the Austrian camp. He failed
,ut secured the Kings tent and valuable
,ooty.
But to return to Frederick Won der
rrenck. the friend of the sister OF the
ireat Frederick of Prussia He saw
he light first at Koenigsberg. the an h
lent city where the Prussian Kings are
rowned. in 1925. as the son of a Prus-
ian major general. At the youthful age
4 eighteen and while he was a cornet
n the Prussian guards. Princess Amaiie
aw him at a court ball and conceived
or him then and there a violent pas
ion. His imprisonment by order Of the
ling did not follow until several years
fterward. and II was not altogether
wing to the discovery by Frederick the
treat OF his sisters affair du soeur."
he fact is that the King had detected .
is youthful officer in q correspondence ;
18th his aforementioned Austrian
ousin not long before the attempt to
apture Frederick on the field Of battle. ,
ettled at AK Chapelle Dachen). where /
e married the mayors daughter and
Established himself as a wine merchant
Ie published his memoirs in 17s6. which c
ere read with avidity by the ladies' Of {
Dciety at Paris, Vienna. and Berlin, q
no pretty soon appeared in bonnets, l
resses. rings, &c, a la Trenck. The 1
reat revolution attracted this restless c
brit TO Paris, and to his doom. He
rumors that the Prussians
ere advancing upon Paris, carrying all
efore them. The directorate heard II
it. and he was thrown into prison and Il
He was guillotined at the
arriere du Trone in 1874 Even on the
,affold this strange man. though sixty .
ne years of age. maintained the un-
,vernable passion Of his race. He con-
nued to harrangue the mob until final
the executioner by force had to hold
s head by his gray hair to the block. .,
After the death Of Princess Amalie OF .
russia, the Embassy Palace was the
sidence of the widow OF the last Duke ~
Courland. In her salon" before the :,
apoleonic era, everybody who was any ir
dy at Berlin was to be seem It was
e center OF attraction of Berlin high
e. Here Prince Ludwig Ferdinand per- tc
rmed his phantasies on the piano. little ir
that only too soon his young H
bod would be spilled on the battlefield al
Saalfeld in the service of the King d,