Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-05-11


An American Bride.
r I was early in the Spring Of 1917. The
mighty Russian Empire still existed,
tho Russian armies still faced the
enemy and the Car still sat on the throne
OF his fathers
There were. indeed, evident menaces of
revolution, but no one dreamed Of such
an overthrow as was to happen during
the year, In the earlier phase of the revo-
luton, as most people will remember, the
imperial family and the nobility kept pos
session of their palaces and vast estates
Everybody supposed that Russian princes
and Drincesses would always occupy these
palaces and be waited on by hundreds of
servants, that the old life of luxury and
splendor would go on forever whatever
the political changes might be.
great banquet was given at this time
ny Ambassador Balihmetieff, who repre-
scented Russia so long and so brilliantly
III the United States. 1t was given in the
Ritz-Carlton, in New York.
The guest of honor was young Russian
Prince and officer-Prince Dmitri Nico-
laievitch Galitzin. He was the son of the
Czar's Prime Minister, who had before
that been Governor-General of Moscow
empire in Importance
With Prince Dmitri Galitzin we're a
number Of other Russian officers The
other guests included leaders of American
society and finance, some of the most bril-
liant and beautiful New York women and
number of Russian and Allied diplomats
One object of the banquet was to promote
friendly relations between Russia and i'm
portant American interests and to obtain
hp Due
war.
1t was a peculiarly brilliant affair The
foreign diplomats and officers were all in
full uniform No expense had been spared
to make it a delightful dinner and to pro-
mote perfect convivialty.
Near Prince Dmitri Galitzin sat a bril-
liant and charming American girl, Miss
Frances Simpson Stevens, member of q
family socially prominent in New York and
descendant of noted figure in American
Colonial history.
The eyes of the prince and the Amer
lean girl met, and at that instant both
knew that this was something more than
chance acquaintance. He had enjoyed
remarkably extensive experience Of cosmo-
politan high society. He had met the most
beautiful women of Russian society and
other European capitals. His rank his
brilliant services in the Russian navy and
his natural attractions had made him
general favorite. He could certainly have
made very brilliant match But in spite
of all that he had remained a bachelor
until well on in his thirties.
Never before had a woman stirred such
emotions in him as at this moment.
And Miss Stevens, too, was good deal
of a cosmopolitan. She was several years
out OF her teens and she had employed
them profitably. She had listened to the
compliments of lords and millionaires at
...,.IJ AL
Cowes, Newport, Palm Beach and the rest
of the luxurious loaing places of the
world
She had seen the best of the men Of
high society, and doubtless some who were
not the best. Many had paid her flatter-
ing attentions, but they had never made
her feel serious inclination to give up
the delightful life of travel, sport and
study which she enjoyed so thoroughly.
But now she realized. even in a mo-
ment's glance, that this man was quite
different from the others. He did not in
deed lack any of the superficial attractions
of the best of them. He was tall and stall
wart and he wore his splendid uniform,
decorated with many medals, with perfect
distinction.
Behind the outward glitter, however,
there was man. Out Of the bronzed face
looked eyes that had faced death many
times and never known fear. 1t was that
which caught the American girls atten
tion and made her feel an emotion which
nerhaps she had hardly experienced before
The prince lost no reasonable time In
begging permission to call upon the charm
ing American girl. 1t was granted. From
that moment the gallant and Temperament
TAI Slav began a whirlwind courtship. He
had no time to waste, for stern war might
call him inexorably at any moment.
To cut matters short, within few days
an engagement was planned between Miss
FRANCES Simpson Stevens of New York
and Prince Dmitri Galitzin of Russia.
II was considered most brilliant
match from every point of view. The
nrince's family was perhaps the most ia
mons in Russia. In a standard work oil
russian national biography the name
occurs twenty times.
The family name has In the past beer
usually. spelt "Galitzin" in English, but
recently the form "Golitzin" has been used
az it is said to represent the sound of the
Russian word more closely.
The family was particularly prominent
during the war. The princes father was the
cars Prime Minister up to the moment Of
the revolution. Prince Dmitri himself was