The Washington herald., 1913-09-28
tcowrivht 1918. by A. D. Jacobsnnl


Hatred haunts the royalty and nobility
of Russia. Centuries of oppression have
bred revolution, and the bomb is ever
threatening those in high places. But
there is at least on member of the Ro-
manofTs immune from the fanatic and'
strangely enough, her safety IS the out
come of an assassination Eight years
ago Grand Duke Sergius, uncle OF the
Gar, was driving near the kremlin
Palace, Moscow, when a bomb was
thrown under his carriage and he was
blown to piecea His despotic methods
as Governor of Moscow had created
thousands of enemies. He was formally
condemned to death by the Nlhlllsts ana
paid the penalty.
Whatever the grand dukes faults may
have been, there was one who loved MN
with a whole-hearted devotion. his wife
Elizabeth, whose mother W Prlncess
Alice sister of the late King Edward OF
England and wife of the late Grand
Duke Of Hesse have il from one Yho
was present at the funeral Of the grand
duke and who said that he can never
forget the anguish of the grand duchess
as she stood by her husbands grave.
From that moment the grand duchess,
VII, has been in England during the
past summer with her sister, Princess
Louise of Battenber1. has consecrated
herself to the poor and suffering. During
the Russo-Japanese war, she founded
home 70 wounded soldiers in Moscow
and helped TO nurse them herself ana
ultimately founded a community, Nhlch
she called The Sisterhood OF Martha
and Mary" in that city. This society Is
composed of many ladies Of noble birth.
A GkpntlCal to the
interior Of the grand duchess. but they
changed their minds when the grand
duchess left her palace to live with the
Sisters OF Martha and Mary. keeping the
rules Of the community like the other
inmates. Among the latter are the young
Princess Abolensky and Princess Galit-
Yin. who share the tasks Of the other
sister.
Each member Of the community rises
at I. and at 7:3O prayer is said in the
convent church. After breakfast various
kinds of work are engaged in until din
ner time, after which there is more
work, interrupted by prayer. The sin
certify of the sisters may be gathered
from the fact that they manage a home
for disabled soldiers, a hospital for poor
women, a home for consumptiVes. ana
also a dispensary where medicines are
given free The grand duchess has taken
the vows Of poverty, Celibacy, and ooedi-
ence for life. In a word, she has found-
ed a new religious order in Russia on the
lines of the Sisters OF Mercy, who work
among the poor Of Tngland and America
Sir Ralph Paget is to leave the Brit
ish Legation at Belgrade, in Servia, TO
become the assistant under secretary at
the foreign office, in the place OF Sir
Louis Mallet He Is a son of that we'll
known and pOular diplomat. the late
Sir Augustus Paget, and brother OF
Lady Plymouth. He entered the diplo-
matte service in 1855, when the Marquis
of Salisbury appointed him attache 10
the British Embassy at Vienna where
tis fotber then was Ambassador. He
has since served at Cairo, Zanzibar
washington. Tokyo. Munich, Constan-
tiuople. Bangkok. and in Guatemala
Since 1910 he has been British Minister
at BELGRADE His experience has been
extensive and varied.
Although none OF the British premiers
can match the fire-eating record of the
head of the Hungarian cabinet, who has
fought his third duel this year. good
number of them figured on the dueilinS
ground. Within the last hundred years
six persons have fought duels in Eng
land who have been prime ministers
Pulteney Q.ord Bath. Lord ShelbOurne,
Mr.. Pitt, Mr. Fox Mr.. Canning. and
the Duke Of Wellington. We might add
Peel, who twice challenged. and Castle
reagh, also a prime Elinister. OF late
years the custom certainly has decreased
and the House of Lords has not now
dare say, about half a dozen who have
actually fought.