WOMAN'S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 189, 30 December 1912, Page 5

WOMAN'S WORLD.

(Conducted by "Eileen.") * COUNTESS TARNOWSKI WRITES LIFE TRAGEDY IN GAOL, j "The path of my life is strewn with the bodies of those that loved mo most. Everyone of them died a violet death," So' writes Countess Maria Tarnowski. The story she pens is of a frankness so astonishing tliat it amounts to a confession made almost religiously. The Countess is at present serving a term of imprisonment for complicity in the murder of Count Ktfmedowski by her admirer, the Russian student Mailmow, in Venice in 1006. This amazing autobiography is the history of a once noble soul lost in the labyrinth of passion. Against her father's commands, she married Count Vassili Tarnowski when she was only seventeen years old.

He proved to be a debauchee, and slowly but cunningly led his young and beautiful wife along the easy path of a gay and sinful life, infinitely repulsive to her at first. She writes:— "It was at that time that a woman friend whispered in my ears a word that made a deep impression on me, and which I have not forgotten. 'My dear,' she said, 'you are young, beautiful and charming. When you find yourself in one of those gatherings, keep a steady smile on your face, never show your inner sufferings, and always strive to make yourself acceptable to both men and women. 1

And an old Russian prince also told me: 'My dear madame, you are beautiful, and seem to be made to turn men's heads and to make so many slaves of us. But smile, smile always."' Peter Tarnowski, her husband's brother, fell in love with her, and, realising the helplessness of his passion, hanged (himself. He was one of four who killed themselves or were killed for love of her. One of the most tragic chapters in the book describes her affair with. Lieutenant Borgewski.

"He fell ill love as soon as he was introduced to me. When I understood what was happening, I ran away from him, but his courtship assumed the form of a veritable persecution. On one occasion he requested our friends, the M's, to invite me' to their country place, tut when I learned that he was there I refused to go, and the M's came over to visit us, bringing Borgewski as tlieir guest. I must ; insert here that my husband was a fine shot, and ho often made me a kind of target holder by placing something over my head, which he would shoot away.

"That day my husband was suddenly called away to Kief on urgent affairs. After dinner we Went to our shooting gallery to amuse ourselves with the rifle, While loading my gun Borgewski told me many times that he loved me, and that he would love -roc to his death.

"'I shall prove it to you," he cried, putting his right hand over the muzzle of my rifle,, which lie had re-loaded while my attention was engaged on something else. As'l pulled the trigger a bullet pierced his hand. Borgewski raved all night, and I never left his bedside. , A few: days later, when he was on his way to recovery. I ordered him to leave the house, which lie did." .. , A few days later Borgewski sent for the Counters' husband,

"He went," writes the Countess, "and in! the presence oil several- witnesses Borgewski told him that ,he was. madly in love with itae, and demanded -'that my husband Sli'ould divorce me and figh.t a; difel With'- him , , . "My husband,».asked for two days' tipe to consider, at the end of which time he told- Borgewski, that he had begun an actioh for divorce. ' On this Borgewski asked us to a supper of celebration.

"The suppfli; over, : yrp. gol rjeajly to leave. It 'was' one o'clock in the morning. Borgowski kissed my hand,, and pmbraeed my .hu^a/id'. 1 But -while lie was, helping nie'iii'to the sleigh a bullet; whistled, pa§t.njy head, piercing a 'large father -in ' ; my ' bonnet,' and Borgowski' fqll jitijiy 'i'ppt with a ghastly wound in' the neck. As t .bent' over the prostrate ,man I heard ,-njy husband; say: .'This, better.' \,' : . r '|r, '' ' ' ■' 1 . ; "BorgewSki was ta!keit up to' his'^oom', 1 and there died,. As I hav6 saidj'rty hjusband was a'*good shot," •' ■'

j THE LAST PIT WOMAN | ICTERESTIIXG,--REmiSGBX€ES.' j A report published recently ' of ' tfte death, of the. "last pit woman iij East jLothian" has disclosed the fact that a,hstill pjiyje, and hate and hearty, ihe person, of Mrs.' Sipiik. ripe Ivatie Wilson, Vho" at!"Qrihiston. Xo.fiivinterviewer Mrs. Smith gave interesting "details' of h'e l 'experience as'a'pitf woman. : ' ; "-.r-iiiD

"I was borji,'* she said, "at ; Peh'caiftf! land, \viier6 'ihy Colics had'been' during, and rernatft'ed" after, ; the' slavery.qreribd. - I 'inind very well the collier families all lived by ''themselves ; iti'' ; a' square ndair the .Cross, Huntjaw colliery was 'going) ilieii. ' VMpip- do6n, ; but I heard mb'jhersa'y 'cdal'^Vks"Molt so -diffioultr tb work, but getting it out'-'was' beastly: The roof was 'sor.:laieh -creels could not pe vised, and it had to be slypped; that is, it had all t(* bq-flra\y!}. in wooden boxes without wfieel's.' The women did ithis, for which they, wore graith and b tail-chain, and had to crawl on hands feind .kts£s ;#Tnpng rand. jjtill behind them like ponies. I was riearlj'ieigfct -ij!eaj9;-,<?J4 .tftep, and, would-, hsvye jbcen down the. pit; ,at Huntlaw, Imtwajr jofiSno..'Pfla<!yo\y^ng., ( tp 'severe*, paiujj'e'. iof the' work. '

: "We shiftedr t-o Elphinstone. colliery.' jMy flrsj! .riding Jfye lat-,Waterloo j)it.v\yerc-> terrible.T)ieie j wore, no .slidesliji .tlu; shaft and no cages,,, iWe..were rpaidowfl.dn.baskets.' Father,, [twined one arm,round..the rope.aud mp'. !lef>t 1 tumbled out, ami he had to guard with his other jifind frpfn the- ascending,, baskot. and the wall all around.. .. Oh,-^t' was a fearful dangle in mid-air all, thp. war up and down.. And still there were" few accidents. I then went to the Nancy pit. There was an engine there for winding purposes, slides and cage? in the shaft, and hatches with wheels for putting. An older brother and I puttpd for father., . "We had rare fun'there. The' Voids were dry and easy. We used to throw aside i our shoes a.nd .skelp barefoot 'behind .the luitcfye,s. all day long till lowsjng time. Some-.of the lassies, were 'Hire players on thp Jewish harp, and' wffcft trade was slack they' used to dftneo'li'lce daft ones around tlie pit b.ottoin, to the strain? of, the Jewish .liarp. Tliere were: various. ivp engaged in which 'flsoij to tftkp, ll ]' OU> ; time. : Every .fl:i'nsel Monday .we had a procession, all the; girl 9 jyh'ite. 'down.W Btixley, j Mr. Purie's farm', and.|ha<i a .day's" 1 fun \ ihere. , ; X'il : f<?rget'. tkt day "tliej Tine was sent down the shaft mtinU'tmjf! that henceforth (1843) female labor wis ; to be jiroljibiU'd in : the Womciv andgirls, of every age cried outright. They had sore hearts, and grat all -the, way home. . Tlow were they to five? They could do nothing but pit work, and saw nothing but starvation before them." ~ ' 1