RUSSIAN TITLES. Facts Related by an Ex-Resident of St. Petersburg.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 403, 18 September 1889, Page 6

RUSSIAN TITLES. Facts Related by an Ex-Resident of St. Petersburg.

I have seen your query, ' What is a Russian princess anyhow, and how does the title compare with other titles of nobility ?" During two years' residence in Russia it used to be my favourite conundrum. After a supper at the Arcadia, Feliciens or thtj Zoological I would ask my host or guest, as the case might be, * What is a Russian Prince ?' Ido not remember two replies - - among educated Russians, mind you — that were si*nilai\ Each had his own history or theory of rank. Propounding tho question to a prince one evening, I received a reply which I believe to be more truthful than any which I afterward obtained. I will give it to you as I received it, although I would not be surprised to see it contradicted by interested parties. I mean people (when I say parties) who are trying to convince the simple-minded, notoriety-seeking Americans that a Russian Prince is the equal to an English, French or German nobleman enjoying the same title. Said ho to mo in answer to the question, ' What is a Russian Prince ?' *lam a Russian Prince. In my family we have been princes time out of mind (sans cessation). In Russia we have two classes or grades of princes — first, those who hold their title by inheritance, and, second, those who are created princes on account of exemplary service to the state. c In the ninth century the people living in the valley of the Volga (a duplicate of the Mississippi) called upon " Ruric," a Scandinavian chief, to come over, drive out the Asiatic hordes oppressing them and rule over them. He arrived in a short time

with an invincible army, occupied the country, established a firm government and made a decree that all his descendants to the remotest generations should be princes and princesses. " Well," said he, "I am a lineal descendant of Ruric, consequently a prince. Were I unable to substantiate it I would be put in prison as an impostor and most probably sent to Siberia. Each descendant ot Ruric is therefore a prince or princess, no matter whether born in a palace or hovel."' The second class of princes are created by the ruling power, taken ofben from the lowest ranks (like Potempkin), or winning their tital by service in the army of bureau, like Suvarolf or Gortachakoff. * Now,' said my princely informant, 'given a prolific Russian family in the ninth century (892 a.d.), wibh a decree that every descendant should be entitled to the rank of prince or princess, then taking into consideration the inexorable law of deterioration which governs and controls all families, can you wonder at the number or the position of many Russian princes ?' As I intimated above, however, his theory difFered from that given me by my next acquaintance. After many inquiries and 1 much study, I arrived at the conclusion that the Russian prince occupied the relative position in Russia accorded to 'the Kentucky Colonel' and 'the Georgia Major' in our country, and that conclusion was based upon actual experience as well as upon patient query. For example, I have known a prince holding tho position of ' Councillor of the Empire ;' I have observed him promenading the ISTevsky Prospect in gorgeous uniform, with a half-dozen orders on his manly chest; I have seen him on 'the Bench,' advocates, bailiffs and satellites doing him honour and obeisance ; I have known him (a young and foolish fellow), to wash his hands in champagne and light his cigarette with a five-rouble bill ; serving his Imperial ruler with fidelity, building railroads, dancing afc state balls, the envy of his rivals ; and then I have found him a most excellent waiter at the Hotel de France, and a miseri able valet at the Hotel d'Europe ; a meek billiard - marker on the 'Grand Morskaia,' and h faithful ' isvostchick,' or cabdriver on l the islands.' I have, in passing through that collection of old shops vulgarly known as ' the Louse Market,' heard him call to his competitor across the way : 'I say, Prince, whab will you give me for this old pair of trousers ?' In a word, I have seen him in the most exalted and in the most degraded social positions, but he seemed to ! retain his rank — at least he informed the stranger of his rank. You will perceive, therefore, that in Russia there is a plebhora of princes, and a paucity of positions. Like our ' colonels ' and ' majors ' — there be colonels who have grasped their laurels from the brow of Mars on the red edge of battle, and there be colonels who owe their rank to saloon courtesies and their brevets to bar room honors. I am afraid that I have not solved your problem. 1 have said enough, however, to suggest an alteration in your question. Without knowledge of so little as the name of theparty or parties to this controversy, it will always be more pertinent to ask 1 Whab kind of a prince is this one at home ?' My experience tells me that in nine cases out of ten such a query would have an effect similar to that produced upon a convivial party by the abrupt entrance of a jaunty ' bock agenb ' or the presentation of a subi scription list for a negro church in Georgia.