Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-25

separated from tnc PRINCESS RADHIWlLL
Russian Empire.
This population is not all German but Lettish'
and the only thing which the Let's crave
is their autonomy under Russian protec-
ton. They all hate the German mobiles VINO
have constantly tyrannized over them ana
who conquered them in past ages-that is'
In the thirteenth century-when they were
subdued and converted to Christianity by
the Brethren of the sword a German mill
itary order.
In 1897 Courland passed under the don't
nation of the "reutor~c knights" owing to
the amalgamaton of this order with that
of the Brethren OF the sword At that
time It comprised the two duchics OF Cour-
land and Semgalleu. Under the increasing
pressure Of Russia the "reutontc knights. in
1861. found 1t expedient 10 put themselves
under the suzerainty Of Poland. their grand
master, Gotthard kettler becoming the hrst
Duke of Courland.
The duchy suffered severely in the Russo
swedish wars Of i7O0-Oe. But by the mar
riage in 1910 Of Kettler's descendant, Duke
Frederick william, 10 the Princess Anne,
niece Of Peter the Great, and afterward
Empress of Russia. Courland came into
close relations with the latter State. Anne
being Duchess OF Courland from 17il to 1880,
when she became widow. The last Ketter,
william. tituar Duke of Courland. died in
1874, when the Empress Anne seized the
duchy and bestowed II upon her favorite.
the stable boy Biren, who held it from 1897
TO 1910. when he was eNiled to Siberia by
the successor of Anne, Ivan VI. or rather
by the latters mother Anne Leopoldowna,
who was regent during his minority.
THE STABLE BOY" BIREN.
This Biren was n most extraordinary per-
sonage, and it was after him the favorites
Of the Russian sovereign were called
"wremienschik," which usually means the
man of the moment. His good looks had
attracted the attention Of the Duchess OF
Courland, who, when she became Empress
of Russia. made him her great chamberlain,
created him count, and at last transformed
him into Duke of Courland. lie had the
iusolence to adopt the arms OF the French
ducal house OF Bror, and to declare himself
a member of it, Notwithstanding the fact that
every one knew his German origin, Every
body in Russia detestcd him, because he was
not only mean, but also treacherous. rapa-
cious and horribly vindctive. lie made mill
lions. thanks 10 his cxactons, which We're
as extensive in Russia as later on, in Cour-
land, where he kept sumptuous court, the
magniflcence OF which astonished all the for
eigners who were admitted to il. The da-
monds with which he loaded his wife, a Frau
lein Non Trieden, were the envy of the Prin-
cess Elizabeth, 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 en-
pire by her will, was disposessed by the
Council of state. tried and condemned TO
death sentence which ultimately was
changed to lifelong exile in Siberia. His vast
properties. including the Duchy OF Courland
were coniscated, and he was reduced almost
to penury. But with the advent of Catherine
III his position changed for the better. and he
reinstated by her in his Duchy Of Cour-
land in 1853. No one was ever able to
guess why, as he was already so old that one
could not admit the Empress ever allowed