Russian Memories

tor—"An Unofficial Ambassador"—Baron de Staal's Indifference—Prince Lobanoff's Kindness—Count Shouvaloff's Dislike of My

agent," and their significant nods and glances conveyed all sorts of terrible things. I had come to England, some thought, to lure British statesmen to betray their co

impossible to estimate the services she has rendered her country. Not all the diplomatic corps of the Empire and all the Grand Dukes have done as much for Russia as that lady, {100} who since 1877 has directed

ished women of her time—she has come to be looked upon as the Czar's agent, as a sort of unofficial Ambassador." Imagine my being described as "ma

ternich, and the late Princess Leopold Croy. What other characteristic is common to them all? Only this, that one and all they have been inveterate consumers of cigarettes, and each h

FOR GIRL TEACHERS

FOR GIRL TEACHERS

ladies as is generally supposed. Indeed, Petrograd society was a little surprised some years ago when a British Ambassadress, with kind intent, arranged at the {101} Embassy a smoking-r

n very popular.... What she has to do for Russia in America the Yankees will doubtless find out; at any rate she is backed by the Russian fleet, which will soon be, if it is n

can easily be seen to-day. Where would Europe be now if it were not for the Russian armies, and where would the

al agitator, she is very fond of music, and some distinguished artist is generally to be found at her piano." I have often

work was nearer to my heart than anything else. The Pall Mall Gazette, for instance, remarked that "Mr. Gladstone praises Madame Novikoff for her remarkable ability in handling political c

iends of the Russian lady describe her parties. But her detractors and enemies say they are merely a clever trap for attracting people from whom she may obtain information to dispatch to Russia. A curious

iew of my poor "Thursdays" was

net Minister, who wished to verify one of my statements, that if Madame Novikoff said so, it was probably true, for she was often better informed than he of what

Office, and looked somewhat bewildered by the compliment paid to m

ur Minister for Foreign Affairs himself, who, unlike Count Shouvaloff, about whom I still have a word t

deed that I received the following l

ETERS

/14 Mar

DA

essieurs les Anglais, and I am very grateful for the as

ANO

encouraging my efforts, have bribed me hitherto

ges of memory, many shadows from the past arise before me, and I {104} think of how much good, and also how much harm, can

spirations did not, in every case, meet wi

tunately out of print. But while I always remained a staunch Slavophil, E. Novikoff, after his appointment as Ambassador to Vienna, was obliged in his official capacity to obey the orders of the Foreign Office, and in so doing yielded so far to Austrian views as to become indif

f helping me, constantly did me harm. He was polite and ceremonious in paying me visits, but he hated my work. I am surpr

something {105} almost comical in th

ian agitation was reached, and its managers believed the overthrow of Lord Beaconsfield to be imminent, Mr. Gladstone, at the close of the St. James's Hall 'Conference,' left his seat, went up to Madame Novikoff, offered her his arm, and led her triumphantly through the bewildered crowd, in order to give them an earnest of the anti-Turkish all

world, and who boasted that though he never signed the Paris Treaty, he did all in his power to abolis

ise," with the other "his blame." (His right hand really did {106} not know what his l

o Katkoff, the editor of the Moscow Gazette, in England chiefly to Stead, my English editor, and to Mr. Gladsto

a note from the Chancellor asking me to ca

ven for a very young woman, to call on business, either at a

let me return to my unpleasant interview. The Prince received me, as usual, very cordially, flattering and complimenting me, but after which he said: "But, dear Madame Novikoff, I mu

, every schoolboy must

ellor, "but Europe hates that word. It is the

1

uch friendly advice would have made me sink to the f

in his review of my book, Russia and England, distinctly recommended every Englishman to read it, and that he himself wrote a pamphlet on the Bulgarian

ncellor, and he said: "Well, well, but do you know

etimes are. Let them know that I am my own agent and nobody e

ontradict each other. But you can obstinately, perseveringly, year after year and day after day—work, in acco

self from the brave Hungarian people, who during a whole century

1

Brunow, which although it has been told before, is so char

en Victoria, deeply grieved by the death of the Duke of Wellington, had expressed her wish that the funeral of the "Iron Duke," as he was called, should be as splendid as possible. The whole of the Corps Diplomatique was requested to attend the c

scape from my dilemma? Of course, one does not like to disobey Her Majesty's wishes—almost her orders;

visitor seemed particula

tion about your difficulty. None of my secretaries has informed me of anythi

1

ttend Wellington's funeral. From her point of view she is quite right. But I, as a Fre

it involves. But then, you are much younger and stronger than I. Of course, if you were asked to attend Wellington's resurrection, perhaps I should say 'don't

books I have consulted relating to those times, wh

ies and committees paying the compliment of asking me to their gatherings. In England they love a fighter, provided he fight fair, and I think I have always done that. Imagine Germany, for instance, paying tributes to the command

d something new to say on a subject so well-worn during the last 300 years! Imagine, then, my astonishment, my horror, when I found on the programme my own name with the announcement that I was responding to the toast addressed to

my little watch bracelet, that makes me think of time and space. I shall not trouble you for more than five or six minutes; for though I feel myself to be a veritable Demosthenes, I resemble him only

ine, who died a few months ago. This charming Grand Duke had, in addition, {111} a considerable histrionic talent,

othing can be more apropos at this moment. But Shakespeare has done something that surpasses all ententes, alliances, and treaties between countries large and small. Sha

s and gentlemen, you have every reason

eech was received most kindly. There could not have