THE NIOBES OF HISTORY. I

Manawatu Herald, 22 July 1881, Page 4

THE NIOBES OF HISTORY. I

> - | I^ecentchcnmstadces bring to mind the' Sad. story ot'-a .Russian lady who 80jight ; refuge in, Italy one hundred years ago. This was the Princess Tarrakanoff, daughter of the Empress Elizabeth, and grand-daughter, of Peter tho Great. Her father was a singer, to whom her motlior was clandestinely married. She ivas a possible claimant of the throne occupied by Catherine the Great, but was living a modest retired life in St. Petersburg. The wrongs inflicted by Catherine on Poland excited the angei of the Prince Eatlzivill, who sftein" in the Princess Tarrakanoff an instrument of revenge, having gained ', the consent of lior guardians, had her ■ convoyed with her governess to Home. • Catherine confiscated Prince Rady.ivill's estates, and when he returned iv poverty to Poland offered to restore them if ho woud bring the Princess back to Russia, lie complied so far ns to consen t not to pros- her claims to tho throne and to withdraw his protection. Then Catherine sent Alexis Orloff., on o of her favourites to Italy, who, needing a confederate, called io his aid a- Neapolitan villain ii-imcd Jtibas. J.'ibas visited the Princess, pre! ending' that he was drawn to her by sympathy with her misfortunes. Having won the confidence of the unsuspecting girl, he informed her (hat ho came commissioned by Oi'luft to offer her the (hi one of Russia, which she had been told by Prince Radzivill was hers by inheritance. Orloff was afterwards introduced to her aud being young, hmidsome and fascinating ho won. her heart and offered her 'his hand. She was an inexperienced girl of six toon and obeyed all his suggestions. He ex pressed a. desire to be mat lied by the Gree_Jvif.uip.li aud having hired villains -to assume the office of priest and witnesses, had a mock ceremony performed, after which he hired a magnificent, p.ilaco iv Pisa, where slio was taken to reside, pending the expected revolution that was to put her on the throne. Orloff played admirably the role of the tender and affectionate husband, seeming to have no object in life but to gratify her every taste and wish The Russlm fleet appeared opportunely in the neighbouring port of Leghorn, and he enticed her thither on the pretence of business, fiuding her a home at the houso of the English Consul.. Here her beauty and rank brought her to attention, and she was constantly surrounded by a brilliant circle. 'he asked to visit the fleet, and a day was appointed lor the purpose. Sha was take.n from shoiein a boat splendidly equipped, filled with Ltd ies of the city and her recently acquired friends. The fleet received her with music, cheers, aad volleys of artilleiy She was hoisted up the. side of the ship in a magnificent chair, but no sooner had her foot touched the deck than she was handcuffed and taken to the hold She wept at the feet of her supposed husband, but could not move him. It was said that he had presented the poisoned cup to the lute Czar at Catherine's command She was taken to Russia, j . and imprisoned in a fortress on the banks of the Neva, but .whether she Was murdered or drowned in an inundation that occurred a few years later was never known.