THE CZAR'S MISTRESS.
It may be perhaps well to explain at once who is the lady that ig exciting the discontent of the secret, as well as the ordinary society of Russia. The present Kmperor had three mistresses acknowledged in the course of his life, and all the three were Princesses Dologorouky. The first of them, being a woman, of superior abilities and intellect, had a great and beneficial influence over .the Emperor in the first period of his reign, and many of the best reforms introduced in Russia at tbat time—chiefly the emancipation of the peasants—are universally attributed^ to her influence. The said. Princess Dolgorouky behaved extremely well, never boasted of her influence over the Czar, and was subsequently married to Count Albedinsky. To her succeeded her. neice, another Princess Dolgoroaky, and was in the course of time—some seven years an**** replaced by her own sister, the present favourite, who by no means follows the example of her distinguished aunt. She has three children from the Czar, the last of whom was born quite lately at Talta, in the Crimea. She does not make any mystery whatever of her relations to.the sovereign, and acknowledges her children in an open way, taking them with herself every time she drove out in company with the Emperor in the Crimea. 1 She is, moreover, always intruding on the privacy of the Empress, trying to annoy her. as much a» possible. The Empress, could not, of course, patiently . bear the presence of*that woman in her immediate surrounding, but was unable to get ri^ of her ; the Oezarewna, howerer, managed the matter in a more resolute manner, and positively shut her doors to the obtrusive beauty.. As to the Czar, he is so much taken'up by his favorite, that he allows her to do very much ag she pleases, having besides taken it into his head to insure to her children a name that may suit their high origin. The family, of the Princess Dolgorouky, as well as the reigning family-of the Romanoffs, counts its lineage from Burik, one of the three first PrinoeS called in from abroad, in order to govern Russia, in the year 862. Now the Minister of - War, Miloutiae, and other ferrent sup* porters of the Princess Dolgorouky, have been -instructed to try and find some ancient name of other descendants ~ of Rurik, belonging to some family; ex* — tinct already, as there is no-possibility of < giving the childreirof'the Princess either her own name or that of any other family: belonging to the old nobility of the "'Em*' pire. The chronigue scandaleus6 says that f Miloutine has consented to do the service l asked of him, and is now reported to fa seriously engaged with the affair. Whether he will persevere is neverthey; less to be doubted, as,* notwithstanding the support of the Czar, the.circle around I the Princess Dolgorouky is some- ! what widening, since her provoking at--1 titude has set the family of the heir ap-. I parent-against her. The Czarewitch himself is by no means a man to overlook such scandals. It is a matter upon which he is most severe, even in hit relations to his uncle and brothers, setting himself with his consort the example of a simple and faultless family life. But besides all above stated, the Princess Dolgorouky enjoys the worst possible; reputation cveu among the less scrupulous part of society, as it is a well-known fact that she is \ bribed by many financial people here, and.. uses. her influence over the Emperor in 1 order to make him grant financial concessions to the gentlemen who offer her the largest sum of money. The Princess Dolgorouky is as yet only 24 years old, . and the Emperor is so much taken by-, her, that the opinion prevails in the Court circles of St. Petersburg to the eitect that, as soon as the Empress dies, the Czar will contract a morganatic marriage with the Princess.
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Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3507, 22 March 1880, Page 2
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658THE CZAR'S MISTRESS. Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3507, 22 March 1880, Page 2
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