Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-22

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HE most amazing reverses of fortune ever recorded
have occurred in the family of the Grand Duke
Michael AIichaelovitch of Russia cousin Of the
deposed Gar
The Grand Dukes young daughter by morganatc
riage, Countess Za Torby has just become engaged
Major Harold Augustus Wernher, the richest young
in England.
Up to the outbreak of the Russian revolution the Grand
Duke and his family lived in England imperial spendor
on the immense revenues he received from Russia Then
when the revolution occurred he suddenly found himself
penness unable to pay for the upkeep Of the mag
ncent houses he had bought in England Now through
bis daughters marriage he finds himself warmed by the
glow OF fortune once more-a glow radiatng from the
worlds principal diamond supply.
Major Wernhei is the and chief heir of the late Sir
julius Wernher, senior partner of the firm of Wernher
Belt Co., of the richest South African diamond
mines Sir Julius born in Germany but natural
lied in England many years ago. and his Harold is
major In the Twelfth Lancers famous English cavalry
regiment 1t is generally supposed that there Hebrew
strain IN the family account of Sir Juuss amazing
skill in acquiring and approaching diamonds.
Although Major Wernher only the second son. his
father left him the bulk his fortune of be-
cause the older Sir Derrick Wernher had lost
favor by accommodating debts of ST 100000 and indulgng
, IN many extravagances and eccentricities.
Homances have been happening in the Grand Duke
Mchaels family for centuries and there is no cause to
think they yet Last year his older daughter
Bsttehberg whose mother of the dcposed Czarna
OF Russia The Prince has little money of his own and
Duke Michael could support his lovely daughter in luxury
men along came the Russian revolution and the Grand
Duke was so impoverished that he could contribute moth
ing more to give his pretty daughters their accustomed
Injuries 1t is said that he had income of S. 600
ayear great fortune in Europe and that he spent it ALL
Ills large allowance member of the imperial family
was stopped by the revolution and the revenue from his
private estates also ceased The peasants have divided nm
most of his land among themselves The numerous mines
factories and industries his estates came to standstil
ceased to yield any income
The Grand Duke Immediately closed up his two country
houses IN England and offered them for sale They are
henwood at hampstead the largest estate in the vicinity
OF London and Keele Hail. in Stafordshre an ancient
and very picturesque place.
The poor Grand Duke not equipped for earning a
HVng Inc story he once wrote called Never Saw Die"
him The British Government came 70 his an5
gave MIN JOB clerk at small salary in the War
Otce where his knowledge Of Russian is supposed to he
very valuable hlng George also helped the Grand Duke
by placing at his disposal modest little villa in Windsor
Park which is royal domain.
q Ihen came the Wernhcr romance. The Grand Duke,s
VIE and daughters working industriouslv maxine
comforts for British soldiers In the course of this work
invaded from the front An engagement resulted Some
persons are enough to say that the diamond MGR
chants heir would have been welcomed into the Grand
Dukes family before the revolution but it would be hard
to prove that.
The newly engaged Countess Zia Torby is deehtfu1v
pretty like her sister the Countess NADIA now married Rnt
IN the beauty Of these two girls in their dark heavily
Added eyes and in their full, dusky features many OBJ
edly in them
For the mother of the young Countesses is descended
from Peter the Greats black slave Hannibal Since that
early period the spirit Of adventure has al
Hannibal gift from the Sultan of Turkey He was
gigantic, powerful, uperby formed coal-back negro
Hannibal showed such extraordinary energy and inteli