South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-26

words s. Sire,
Varsovie est a vos pieds.' which
translated into English means,
Your majesty. Warsaw lies at your
feet"
He was a great warrior, this
Prince Pachkewitsch. who after his
exploits at the time of the war with
Turkey in 1928 was made a field
marshal. But he was supposed to
have committed great crulties, and
in particular to have used most I'M
necessary severity in the repression
of the Polish mutiny. He was a
great favorite with the car, who
presented him. in recognition Of his
services, with the estate and castle
of Homel. which he hardly needed,
because he was already immensely
rich. He had an only son. who was
married TO a sister of the late
Count Worontzoff Dachkoff, the
great friend of Alexander III. but
the marriage remained a childless
one, and the millions OF Prince
Pachkewitsch passed 10 a nephew of
the late prince. Mr.. Balaschoff, his
widow. however. retaining a life in
terest in them. together with the
castle of Homel.
The Princess Pachkewitsch.
She is a charming woman, this
Princess Pachkewitsch, and was
considered one of the leading per
sonalities of St. Petersburg society,
under the reign of the last three
/ emperors. Her house on the Eng
lish quay was a wonderful palace,
full of the most precious forks of
art. But the mistress of this beau
! except to the houses OF her imme-
date relatives, and intimate friends,
and the splendid receptions for
which she had been famous during
the early years of her marriage
were discontinued after an incident
which occurred in the beginning of
the reign of Alexander II. when he
J publicly repToved Prince Pachke-
witsch for having dared TO criticize
some OF his acts.
The prince Immediately asked 10
be allowed to leave the army. and
returned to the Infatuated sovereign,
mis- epaulettes Of imperial aide-de-
camp, to the scandal and amaze
ment of the whole Of st. Peters
burg society. where such a piece OF
independence had never before been
witnessed. One thought at first that
the czar would exile the prince to
Siberia. but the name of Pachke-
witsch was such a great one that
---- II IL - IL -
coed 10 eXtremities with the last
bearer of il. But he indicated 70
him that he was never more 70
show himself in his presence, and
after this neither the prince nor the
princess ever went into society. The
latter received her friends every
evening after dinner. and showed
herself al her brothers or cousins
whenever they had any family cele-
bration, but refused to appear at a
ball or party where she was liable
to meet any member of the imper-
ial family.
Homel was a beautiful residence
built somewhat on the style OF the
old American colonial houses one
sees in the south. 1t was full of the
rarest objects Of art. and the prin.
cess had introduced every modern
comfort. She was enormously rict
and could therefore indulge in any
piece of extravaganza she liked. She
transformed the old home of tn,
field marshal into a residence which
reminded one of some English caAsl,
with all its quaintness and interior
charm. She was very fond Of HON.
ell and made herself immensely pop.
ular among the Russian inhabitanti
of the little town. into whose icc2
interests she a entered with aest
magnificent hospital. severa
schools and charitable establish.
ments had also been built by tbs
prince, and altogether Homel wa
one of the show places OF Russia.
Polish Hcsuility.
But the Polish part OF the popu
~lation. of which there was a consid
cradle amount, had eve been re
conciled to the owners of the prop
erty. They always remembered tn
part played by the field marshal il
the destruction of the last remnant
Of independence possessed by thei
country. and they hated the yer,
name Of PaChkewitsch with a ferOci
GUS energy. Even the charm Of tn,
princess had not been OF avail
against the animOsity. and If wha
we hear is true, one OF the first act
OF the revolution was 20 destroy IN,
lovely home which she had embel
lished with such love and care. TO
gether with all the artistic treasure
which il contained.
Homel is said TO be today a heal
of ruins. and the gracious lady VIII,
was its mistress has been compellel
10 fly for safety 10 the Caucasus
where. BY the way. "A considerable
portion OF the Russian nobility IA
sought and found a refuge. aban
dOning its estates 10 the peasants.