South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-03


pale pink color which was given TO
one Of his ancestors by Louis XIV. as
a token of appreciation for a dip
lomatic mission with which he had
been entrusted by the Empress Eliz-
abeth of Russia at the French
court II seems that il has been
bought for a fabulous price by a
London dealer. who made no Sc
cret OF his intention TO send it TO
New York at the earliest oppOrtun-
ity.
Prince YOussoupoff. the father of
the young man who will be known
in Russian annals as the slayer of
the vagrant preacher call Rasputin.
has also sold the picture gallery
which his wife had inherited from
her father, and considered one of
the most complete and valuable in
St. petersburg. And il is further
reported that Count StrogOnoff, the
last representative of that old and
illustrious family, is trying 10 get
rid OF his collection of snuff boxes,
and other articles de vertu, valued
at several millions. In fact. every
body is hurrying 70 dispose of his
or her family heirlooms.
Missing VaIuables.
The pictures composing the col
lection kept at the Hermitage pal
ace we're removed Immediately aft
er the first revolution, the one
which drove the RomanOffs from
their throne, to Vologda and Nijny
NovgOrod. by order of the provision
al government. The crown jewels
also have been put in a place of
safety. the name of which so far
has not been made public. In re-
gard to the latter. various rumors
are aflOat. There is, however, one
thing which unfortunately is true,
and taat is that different curiosities
which had been kept in glass cases
in the long gallery bordering on the
Hermitage ballroom have been
either destroyed or stolen. Among
these curiosities there was a large
life-sized silver peacock, with tail
composed of enamel and precious
stones, that used to spread out by
an ingenious mechanism, and that
was always admired during the Sc
lect and small balls which were
given in the Hermitage palace at the
time of the reign of Emperor Alex
ander III.
This peacock had a story, and
tradition would have it that it had
been sent by Queen Elizabeth of
England to John the Terrible, but 1
must acknowledge that this tradition
was believed in only by "A very few,
and that connoisseurs ascribed a
much later date as the one when this
wonderful bird was manufactured.
Some people asserted that il was the
work of a French, and not of al
English artist.
This peacock was standing alone
in its case, quite at the end of the
gallery in a kind of small room in
10 which were lined ~ other glass
cases containing some treasures
taken out of the private possessions
Of car, and which it was considered
more expedient 70 keep in the Her
mitage rather than in the apart
ments occupied by the sovereign in
the winter palace.
Among them could be seen three
wonderful aigrettes of large dia-
monds and sapphires that had once
belonged 10 Prince Potemkine. the
famous favorite of Catherine IL, and
one OF which had been a present 10
him from the sultan. Then there
was a gold toilet service, once the
property of the Empress Anna Ivan
owna that was always taken out on
the occasion of a marriage in the
imperial family. and laid upon a
table, before which the bride-elect
put on the diamond crown and veil,
which etiquette prescribed grand
duchesses had TO wear on their wed
ding day II was a curious kind OF
toilet service. composed of one inn
mense looking glass. encased in a
heavy but very beautiful frame, and
OF innumerab BILE boxes OF different
sizes and shapes. the use of which
il was impossible TO guess. but
which were all OF them very pretty
70 look AT
Russia For AntiQuarians.
81 Petersburg was a town where
collectors OF rare and lovely things
were perhaps more numerous than
anywhere else with the exception OF
New York. and il was still a place
where il was possible here and there
TO pick up some wonderful bargains
in the way Of curios or pictures
Russians have always cared FOR
beautiful works OF art. especially
for pictures. and there was time
when almost every private house
had its walls adorned by paintings
from great masters. In Moscow
too. some admirable private cOllec-
tions were visited by the traveller
and tourist after they had com
pleted their tour OF the kremlin
with its palaces and shrines. The
Youssoupons. too. had residence
i'm the ancient capital. which con-
tanned another picture gallery as
valuable II not more so. than the