South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-12

those one calls in Russia the Baltic
barons. who have any affection for
Prussia.
The Desire of the Let's.
The population Of Courland is,
and always was. quite Russian in its
sympathies and has never wished
10 be separated from the Russian
empire. This population is not at all
German. but Lett. and the only
thing which the Let's crave is their
autonomy Hnder Russian protection.
They all hate the German mobiles
who have constantly tyrannized over
them and who conquered them in
past ages-that is, in the 18th cen
tury-when they were subdued and
converted TO Christianity by the
Brethren Of the Sword" a German
military order.
In 1897 COurland passed under the
domination Of the "Teutonic
Knights" owing TO the amalgama-
ton of this order with that of the
Brethren of the sword" At that
time it comprised the two duchies
OF COurland anG Semgallen. Under
the increasing pressure of Russia
the "Teutonic Knights" in 1861,
found il eNpedient 10 put themselves
under the suzerainty OF Poland,
their grand master. Gotthard Ket-
tier. becoming the first duke of
Courland
The duchy suffered severely in the
Russo Swedish wars of 10000. But
by the marriage in 171O of Kettlers
descendant, Duke Frederick Will
liam, 10 the Princess Anne. niece OF
Peter the Great, and afterward en-
press of Russia, Courland came into
close relations with the latter state.
Anne being duchess of COurland
from I'LL 10 1880, when she became
widow The last Kettler, William.
titular duke of Courland, died in
1887. when the Empress Anne seiz-
ed the duchy and bestowed il upon
her favorite. the stable boy Biren.
who held il from 1897 70 174O. when
he was exiled to Siberia by the sue
cessor of Anne, Ivan VI, or rather
10y the latter's mother, Anne Leo
poldowna. who was regent during
his minority.
The "Stablc Boy Biren.'
Tn Biren was a most extraordi-
nary parsonage. and it was after him
the favorites of the Russian sover-
eign were called "WremienSchik,"
which usually means the man of the
moment His good looks had at
tracted the attention of the duchess
| of COurland. who. when she became
/ empress of Russia, made him her
great chamberlain, created him a
count, and at last transformed him
I into a duke OF COurland He had
I the insolence to adopt the arms Of
the French Ducal House OF Biron,
and 10 declare himself a member of
I II. Notwithstanding the fact that
I every one knew his German origin.
Every body in Russia detested him.
/ because he was not only mean, but
aiso treacherous. rapacious and hor-
ribIy vindictive. He made millions,
! thanks 20 his eXactions, which were
as extensive in Russia as later on in
Couri6nd. where he kept a sumptu-
GUS court the magniticence of
which astonished all the foreigners
who were admitted 10 IT, The dia-
monds with which he loaded his
wife. a Fraulein Won Treiden, were
the envy of. the Princess Eliza beth.
the daughter OF Peter the Great,
who was later on to become the en-
press OF that name.
After the death Of Anne, Biren.
who had been appointed regent of
the Russian empire by her will, was
dispossessed by the council of state.
tried and condemned 10 death. a
sentence which ultimately was
changed to lifelong exile in Siberia.
His vast properties, including the
duchy OF Courland. were conhscated,
and he was reduced almost 20 pen
ury. But with the advent of Cath
crime IT his position changed for the
better and he was reinstated BY her
( in his duChy of Courland in 1853.
No one was ever able 10 guess why.
as ne was already SO old that one
could not admit the empress ever
allowed him 20 occupy the place OF
one of her favorites He died in
Mitau in 1872 and left the duchy of
Courland to his son Peter. But the
lAtAtl NtAlQ itl pItScEFe II from
foreign invasion. and the country
became a shuttlecock between Rus
STA and Poland until eventually in
the meanwhile diSposSeSSed Peter,
sent him into exile and placed the
duchy under the Russian scepter,
which had kept it ever since
Duke Peter retired 70 his castle OF
SaEan in SileSia. which he had
bought from the heirs OF the IA
NOUS WallenStein. and was fire.
quently seen at the Berlin court. II
was in that town he died in a house
hich was afterward bought by the
Car Nicholas I. which was until
the beginning of the present war
occupied by the Russian en- bassy,
and which constitutes perhaps the
last bit OF personal property which
is left 20 Nicholas II. after the con-
dscatiou OF his fortune by the new
Russian government.
Under Russian Rule.
Courland, under Russian rule, de-