Gambling Exploits of a Princess.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 49, 10 May 1884, Page 5

Gambling Exploits of a Princess.

"Within a day or two, says a Paris letter, society has been considerably interested over tho re-appearance of the Princess Souwarotl. This handsome Russian lady was, during many seasons, the reigning star at Nice and Monaco, and was not the less remarkable on account of her irequent attempts to break the bank. She has not been seen at either of those places or in Paris since 187 S. She lived so fast here and gambled so heavy at Monte Carlo that the late Czar forbade her to leave the Empire until she repaired her fortunes. Whether she has done so or not it is more than one can tell, but &he is certainly back in Paris, where she has already rented a magnificent house, in which she is going to have some fun before the a\ inter is over. The princess, whose maiden name was Basilewska, was enormously wealthy when she married the Prince Souwaroff, whose fortune was very moderate. After a few years of matrimony they agreed to disagree, and an amicable separation took place. The prince devoted himself to travelling, and the princess went to Monaco in search of excitement. She played with large stakes, and her boldness, her coolness, and her alternate heavy losses and winnings were the sensation or Monte Carlo. Every evening, when the gambling-room closed, she entertained a large party of guests at supper in her villa on the Promenade dcs Anglais. Somo rather racy anecdotes are related about her, and her many decidedly eccentric associates gave her a somewhat j scandalous reputation One of these tales is that after one of hor suppers the princess, taking oft' her slipper, threw it across tho room, whereupon an actress of the Palais Royal Theatre, who was among her guests, picked it up, filled it with champagne wine, and emptied it at a draught to the health of the hostess. This so pleased the princess that she exclaimed, as she embraced the actress, " Tomorrow, my dear, you shall have a villa of your own, next door to mine." This promise was kept, and the actress lias now the slipper under a glass case. A very stylish young man, who got cleaned out a.btrente-de-qvarante at Monaco, amused himself one evening by marking game for the rich Russian lady, who, being pleased with his appearance, accepted his services, although he was a stranger. That day she was a heavy winner, and when she left the table offered this gentleman a thousand franc note in so delicate a mannor that a refusal was impossible. The next day the same transaction was repeated, and again and again during the whole week. Then luck turned against the princess, and the strange gentleman placed his purse at her disposal, who accepted his offer, and was soon able to pay the loan with interest. This gave rise to a sort of partnership, and at the end of the season hor cavaliere servante left Monaco with a clear profit of 20,000 francs,