The Sunday Oregonian., July 21, 1912, SECTION SIX, Page 5, Image 65

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This Is Not Fiction Narration It Is the Fact Recital of as
Romantic a Courtship as Washington Ever Witnessed.
Its Figures Are the Russian Ambassador and the Socially
Eminent American Beauty He Courted and Won in Spite
of Stern Parental Bans, Aided and Abetted by the Locked
Gates of Fashionable Lafayette Square.
fhe Baron Bakme1iefft'KerI?ussCn. Ambassador at Washington,'
TT kL tho worI that ever loves a
AjL lover the fashionable world be
Ins meant more particularly in
I this case smiles pleasantly whenever
the names of the Russian Ambassador
I and the Baroness BakhmetlefC are mentioned.
The fashionable world of 'Washington
I smiles with especial appreciation, as it
I was there that the romance of these
two began, and in spite of stern par-
Iental opposition pursued its way to sue.
cessful issue.
It is delightful to every one, in these
times of a multiplicity of infelicitous
International marriages, to come across
one that wag a genuine love match to
begin with, and which has successfully
stood the test of the wear and tear of
daily life for over a quarter of a century.
Lafayette Square that Garden of
Kden for so many pretty little love
I episodes between members of the Diplo
matic Corps and the society girls or
Washington was the charmed spot
wherein not only the greater part of
Baron Bakhmetieff's romance ran its
course, but where it took on those lu
dicrously dramatic features that final
ly brought matters to a crisis and made
the secret engagement blossom instant-
er Into a full-blown public announce
ment.
Lafayette Square, somewhat over a
quarter of a century since, was by no
means the freely-open-to-the public
place that It is today. True, then as
now It was green and lovely, and an
Idyllic place for the breathing of fond
vows and the interchange of fervent
troths. At the present time the most
inconspicuous of low stone curbings
separate it on all sides from the side
walks, so that from end to end one may
look through Its green vistas.
Place of Romance.
A quarter of a century ago this
Garden of Eden was girt about with
a formidable iron fence, over eight
feet high. A fence that was cast In
no ordinary foundry, but an Imposing
one. fashioned of slim-barreled con
fiscated guns that had once seen ac
tive service, some said in the Civil
War, others In the War of 1812.
Whatever the fact may have been,
this fencing was not only formidable
to look at, but apparently possessed
the powers of a magic -love talisman
to such good effect as to be the imme
diate instrument of melting parental
wrath and ringing a chime of Joyous
wedding bells from the tiny pepper
pot steeple of St. John's Church for
this particular pair of lovers.
Likewise, a quarter of a century or
so ago there was a markedly different
financial condition of affairs prevail
ing for the young lovers from those
of today. Now, the Baroness Bakme
tieff Is entitled to be enrolled In the
millionaire contingent, while the Rus
sian Ambassador is also wealthy in
his own right, besides having to his
credit a long honor roll of diplomatic
laurels. At that time the Baroness
ras a mere slip of a girl, and the
present Ambassador a beardless, pen-
Hess attache 01 tub iv.'-" -.ac
tion.
Miss Emily Beale, the lovely young
daughter of General and Mrs. Edward
Beale. had Just made her formal bow
to society In her parents" home, the
famous old Decatur mansion, on the
northwest corner of Laiayette square.
The story ran then, that it was a case
of love at first sight for the fair Emily
and the stripling diplomat.
Of course, society saw it Instantly
and smiled Indulgently, and of course
society watched the progress of the af
fair with keenest Interest, for all knew
that some day the lovely debutante
would be an heiress whose fortune
would be named In six figures. It was
never dreamed In those days that the
Beale money rolling up and up was
eventually to mean a fortune in seven
figures to each of the three children of
General and Mrs. Beale.
Parents Raise Objections.
And of course society, smiling In
dulgently at the delightful' little ro
mance, fell to chatting and surmising
and conjecturing as to its ultimate out
come. It followed naturally that after
a time General and Mrs. Beale, who for
long had been parentally blind to the
romance blossoming out In their very
sight, began to have their eyes opened.
And they began to make strenuous ob
jections to the match.
It was not that they personally dis
liked young Bakhmetleft. On the con
trary, they liked him exceedingly. It
was simply that they had quite differ
ent views for their daughter's future.
Of all things, they disliked moBt the
idea of a foreign marriage.
An American man of means and
standing was the ideal son-in-law
whom they had pictured. Kussia
seemed a tremendously long way on
In those davs. and the youthful dip
lomat's honors were then all ahead of
him. and on the Legation staff he was
the least Important of the attaches.
Truly, not a match for their daugh
r -n-sdcred the Beales. Therefore,
having consulted together, it was de
cided that the most effectual way of
clinoine the wings of this soaring Rus
sian eagle was to forbid him the house.
Incidentally they laid down me law
on the subject to their daughter with
scant reservation.
Stormy scenes were enacted, said so
ciety, in the old Decatur mansion when
this ukase waa issued. There were
sobs and sighs and a threatened whole
sale revolt for a time.
Then In a marvelously short time the
sobs and sighs were heard no more.
The sky Tesumed Its blue, the sun
shone again. The old-time life and
laughter returned to the , pretty de
butante. All invitations were accepted and the
Beales kept open house as before, look
ing on with delight at their daugh
ter accepting attentions on every side,
again the soul of youth and laughter.
That discovery, which It takes no
young couple long .to make the. re
alization that there are other places
to meet than the home drawing-room,
when that has been closed came to
this couple. The Garden of Eden lay,
after all, where they elected to locate
It. In this case it was but a step or
so across the outer threshold Just
over the way where was Lafayette
Square railed In by the dismantled
slim-barreled guns of 1812 fame.
In tbe Garden of Eden.
The Winter season was happily past
and the delicious long Spring twilights
lent their attractiveness to this Gar
den of Eden, where every flowering
tree and shrub was In its perfection.
Neither locks nor bolts were thought
of by the parents whereby to keep
their lovely daughter within doors.
Probably under no circumstances would
they have resorted to such stern
measures, but as it was, they deluded
themselves that the fancy of the young
people for each other was only a pretty
bubble that had broken and scattered
to the four winds of forgetfulness.
Nevertheless, after the manner of
the fashionable world generally, the
daughter's comings and goings were
looked after and directed oy tne par
ents. All of which mattered not, as
the sequel proved, when one soft
Spring evening the debutante, under
the pretext of visiting some ineim am
attending with her a smart function.
left the house at dusk.
She had not gone far before tne ng
ure of the young diplomat advanced
along the street to meet her. ine
Garden of Eden was close at hand.
They entered and strolled about, fi
nally sitting down to rest upon one of
the park benches. '
The fact that it was oi tne om-
fashioned hideously uncomfortable,
grillwork, cast-iron kind deterred them
not. They were happily oblivious of
its Incompatibility with any ordinary
ideas of comfort or its availability as
a prolonged sitting place.
One by one the other strollers about
the Garden of Eden disappeared. Every
twittering bird that on their entrance
had been actively voicing Its good
night plaint, had long since bowed its
head In slumber. High and ever
higher rose the crescent moon, casting
its brilliant lights and dense shadows.
Unmindful of all such things, the
couple sat softly talking of the multi
tudinous things that had filled the
minds of each since their meeting the
day before.
Watchman Locks Gatea.
From the steeple of St. Matthew's far
down the street the clock chimes
sounded musically upon the air, and if
they ITeard or heeded its sweetness,
neither gave any thought to its sig
nificance. '
Fleet footed, tho hours stole by, until,
finally rousing himself from his regu
lar evening nap, the watchman shook
sleep from his eyelids and, lustily
yawning, went from gate to gate look
,ing, bolting, barring each for the
night.
The hands of the city clock pointed
to 11; the mystic hours for this mighty
performance of the custodian of the
Garden of Eden. Yet still the couple,
deep In their engrossing talk, sat un
heeding upon the grill-work iron bench,
not even remotely dreaming of the pre
dicament in which a few moments
later they found themselves when they
began to say their good-nights and es
sayed to leave the garden.
Then to their utter consternation they
discovered that the high massive Iron
gates nearest them were locked and
bolted as if to repel a foreign in
vasion. For an Instant their hearts
stood still. Then quick of thought and
fleet of foot off they scampered to
each of the three other gates in turn,
only to find each as securely locked
as the first.
To call for outside assistance would
have been to invite tomorrow the gibes
and laughter of all society. It would
bring down upon them likewise the
wrath of two devoted parents, now
peacefully slumbering in the Decatur
mansion across the way.
To attempt to escape by the Penn
sylvanla avenue side of the park was
simply to court the attention and com
meat of the general public. Scaling
ladders and daring feats of love have
since time immemorial proved close af-
nnmes. A ladder of course the gar
dener's ladder that was the solution.
But alas! When the yawning watch
man, supposing the garden to be quite
empty, had emerged from his napping
In the tool-house, he had locked it ere
he hied hlmeslf off home for the night.
Feat In Wall Scallnc.
If there was no regulation ladder
then one must be contrived, and is
the one makeshift possible lay In the
figure of the young diplomat himself,
he grasped his companion by the hand
and he ran with her to the middle
gateway on the H street side, through
which they had entered. This seemed
to be the most inconspicuous place for
his daring rescue.
Hurriedly breathing a few Instruc
tions, he climbed to the top of the gate
with the cat-like agility of the trained
athlete. Up and over and down on the
far side he went like a flash to turn
his back gallantly upon his companion
and bid her begin her mount from tho
inside.
It. was easier said than done, as' he
discovered when, after an anxious watt,
he realized that she was in too great
trepidation even to make the start
Turning then, he remounted the iron
fence and wedging himself securely
across the top, he swung down toward
her, grasping her trembling hands, and
essayed to pull her up beside him.
Slowly, laborously, with Infinite
trembling and muffled screams of ter
ror the climb began, until, after many
halts and indecisions, the fair one was
finally pulled to the top of the gateway, I
The BaronessBakhmetfeff, who was Miss Em Cy BealeT
from which vantage point of compara
tive safety she must now begin the
equally perilous descent. To facilitate
this her escort vaulted to the pavement
and turning his back once more with
arms upstretched he bade her be of
good heart and courage.
Alack and alas for the best laid
plans! They were no long'er alone. The
always objectionable third party, who
suddenly appeared as if shot up from
the ground, took the lorm or a burly
policeman. With a firm grip upon the
diplomat's collar, he swung him around
giving -him the while a vigorous shak
ing as he demanded in a brogue several
inches thick, what the whole affair
meant anyway.
"Hands off! Hands off! Tou cannot
arrest me! I am a member of the Dip
lomatic Corps!" excitedly cried the
young man. knowing that' in accord
ance with international law no rude
hands of an American policeman could
be laid upon him.
Pretty Climax to Romance,
Unfortunately Erin's son, not having
received even a rudimentary education
in the law, merely laughed uproarious
ly and took a, firmer grip of the young
man's coat collar.
"Jump! Jump! And run as fast as
you can," breathed the prisoner. "Jump!
Hurry! If this fellow keeps on shout
ing there II be a crowd here In another i
minute. Jump!"
And Jump she did, fortunately land
ing full upon both feet. Then she sped
homeward with the speed of a fright
ened deer and around to a side door,
where, in response to her tapping, a
faithful maid instantly let her in to
safety.
To protest further to the now Infuri
ated policeman was as futile as the
endeavor to elude or wriggle free of
that death grip upon his co&t collar.
Therefore, giving In finally, with the
best grace possible, to the Inevitable,
the young diplomat marched to the
lock-up.
Once there, a mounted messenger
was speedily prevailed upon to bear a
note to the Russian Minister, briefly
statins that his presence was Immedi
ately required by his vastly perturbed
attache. The most profuse apologies
tilled the station house air at sight of
the Russian Minister, and In the midst
of these the two departed in the lega
tion coupe.
Of course, no one ever knew, nor
probably ever will know Just how the
story got out. But get out ft did, the
very next day, and in such a broad
cast manner ,that there was nothing
left for the obdurate parents to do but
give in and pronounce their blessing,
as they immediately made a public an
nouncement of the engagement of their
daughter to young BakhmetiefC.
An after the fashion of the most
delightful ancient fairy tale, "They
married and were happy ever after."
liTitG
60MD0F-THfrQUlP3:W
erse
Tales From Humorous Pens
ROCKEFELLER AND HIS ROCKS.
Just because John D. Rockefeller has
made more money than he can count
without the aid of 19 clerks and 40
adding machines, not to mention a
well-trained corps of coupon-clippers,
there are many people who come for
ward these days with stories to show
that John, now famous for his wealth.
wigs and wit, was once about the cutest
person that ever happened wnen it
came to financial strategy.
According to this latest narrative.
Rockefeller told a close friend and
that "close" goes both ways one morn-Ine-
that he wanted to borrow J3000
and that he must have It in order to
ave his business. The friend went
down town In the course of nis worK
and Dretty soon met a big banker.
-I wish " said the banner, "ii you see
Mr. Rockefeller this afternoon you
would tell him that I have found a
place to put that J10.000 which he asked
me to loan out for mm.
The friend gasped like a gointisn.
nrl nroceeded on his way. encounter
ing another of the town's leading
bankers.
I "By the way." said the banker, "when
yu see Rockefeller this afternoon
please tell him that I have found a
man who wants to borrow that J10,
000. The friend staggered on and met a
third banker, who repeated what the
other two captains of finance had said.
Then he went back and found Rocke
feller. "John." he said. In astonishment,
"when I left you this morning you
told me you had to borrow $5000, and
all day bankers have been telling me
that you asked them to .lend out J10.
000 for you."
"Well. well. smiled Rockefeller,
that's fine! I suppose I may safely
assume now that my credit is estab
lished in this town. I'll Just step out
and borrow that $5000 I need." Popular.
A GROVCH'S STORY.
A couple of old grouches at the
Metropolitan Club in Washington were
one night speaking of an old friend
who. upon his marriage, took up his
residence in another city. One of the
g-rouches had recently visited the old
friend, and. naturally, the other grouch
wanted news of the benedict.
"It Is true that he is henpicked?"
asked the second grouch.
"I wouldn't say Just that," grimly
responded the first grouch, "but I'll
tell you of a little incident in their
household that came within my obser
vation. The very first morning I spent
with them our old friend answered
the letter carrier's whistle. As he re
turned to us in the breakfast-room he
carried a letter in his hand. Turning
to his wife he said:
" 'A letter for me, dear. May I open
it?' ',' Lippincott's.
STRIDING AHEAD.
There was a thin and nervous woman
who could not sleep. She visited her
physician and he said:
"fid you eat anything Just before
going to bed?"
"Oh, no. doctor." the patient replied.
"Well, said the physician, "Just keep
a glass of milk and some biscuit be
side you. and every night the last thing
you do, make a light meal.
"But. doctor," cried the lady, "you
told me on no account to eat any
tlfing before retiring."
"Pooh, pooh," said the doctor. "That
was three months ago. Science has
made enormous strides since then."
Philadelphia Record.
private asked for his bill, as he was
about to depart, but the proprietor caid
to him:
" "Not a cent, sir! Not a cent! Tou
owe me nothing."
" "Why, how is that?' the other de
manded in bewilderment.
" T couldn't dream of charging you,
sir,' said the proprietor warmly. 'Tou
are the first private I have ever met.' "
WORTH ALL IT COST.
Commander R. H. Greene, of the G.
A. R., was narrating war stories In
Phoenix, according to the Los Angelea
Times.
"In a Phoenix hotel smoking-room
one night," he said, "a number of vet
erans got Into a dispute on the battle
of Bull Run. The veterans all men
of high rank argued very turbulently.
"But a quiet man spoke up and said:
" 'Gentlemen, I happened to be there,
and I think I can settle the point at
issue
"And settle it he did. He settled It
in a masterly manner. The hotel pro
prietor, much impressed, said to him
when he got through:
" 'My dear sir. what may have been
your rank in the army?'
" 'I was a private, sir, a full pri
vate was the calm reply.
"A short time afterward tha full
NOT IXTENDED
He was a budding author and his
wife, determined that his train of
thought should not be trammeled by
domestic worries, said to the new
maid:
"Now, Jane, if you want anything,
always come to me. Never go to Mr.
Bookmaker unless I am out."
A few days later theTe was a knock
at Mr. Bookmaker's study door and. In
reply to the usual "come!" the new
maid, fresh and pretty, appeared.
"Please, sir," she said, "Mrs. Book
maker said I was never to disturb
you unless she was out."
"Well?" said Mr. Bookmaker, inquir
ingly. "She's out, sir." Upplncott's.
Quips and Flings
ALL HIS.
Senator Vardaman, says Judge, once
rented a plot of several acres to one
of his black neighbors. The land was
to be planted to corn, and the Senator,
then ex-Governor, was to receive one
fourth. The corn was duly harvested,
but the Senator did not receive his
fourth. Meeting the negro one day, he
said:
"Look here. Sam, have you harvested
your corn?"
"Tes. sah, boss, long 'go."
"Well, wasn't I to get a fourth T'
"Tes, aah, boss, dat's de truf, but dar
warn't no fo'th. Dar was Jes' three
loads, and dey was mine."
THAT CrRED HIM.
"I don't hear of your boy taking
your car out at midnight any morb.
Barker, the way he had a habit of
doing." said Wiggles.
"No," said Barker, "I cured him of
that."
"Really? 'Why, I thought that habit
was Incurable." said Wiggles.
"Oh, no," said Barker. "I made him
get out of bed every morning at 2
o'clock and run the car 40 milea for a
couple of months, and he got so sick of
it that he can't even stand the smell
of gasoline." Harper's Weekly.
Governess Tommie, what is the fu
ture of "I diagnose?" ,
Physician's Child "I operate," Miss
Brown. Life.
Scroggs Didn't his teacher always
say he was a budding genius?
Boggs Tes, and now he's nothing
but a blooming artist. Satire.
Knicker So Jones has a great inven
tion?
Bocker Tes; an umbrella handle that
retains the fingerprints. New Tork
Sun.
.
She I shall never marry a man who
can't nlav nolo.
Verv well. I'll learn to ride. But
suppose I break my neck?
She Oh, there always are survivors.
Judge.
Wife How imprudent you are!
Tou've only Just finished dinner and
now you propose to bathe.
Husband That's all right, my dear.
I ate nothing but fish Pe-le Mele.
...
"Well, Major, I notice that you're
runnin' for office again?"
"No, sir; it's the same old run. I
got started years ago, and to save my
life I can t stop myself. Atlanta con
stitution. ...
Guest (timorously, on being presented
with exorbitant bill) Don't you think
this Is Just the er least bit exorbi
tant? Landlord (blandly) Oh, yes: Just
the least bit. not very much. Puck.
"Do you have any trouble in keping
your boys on the farm?"
"No," replied Farmer Corntossel.
"They're willin' to stay. The only dif
ficulty is that they all want to act like
Summer boarders." Washington Star.
. f
"1 went to one graduating affair that
I really enjoyed."
"What was that?"
"The graduating exercises of a cook
ing school. One girl's essay consisted
of chicken croquettes, cooked in full
view of the audience and passed around
for us to sample. And there were other
essays just as good. One very fine
thesis consisted of a cherry pie."
Washington Herald.
...
Bill What kind of a fellow Is Dob-
kins?
Will He can tell you how to adopt
a national system of currency tnat
would pay off the National debt, but
he can't raise tho price of his grocery
bill. Cincinnati Enquirer.
-. . .
"Who is that woman sitting on your
I side porch?"
j "Hush She'a my next door nelgn
I bor."
"What Is she doing there?"
"Why, she's interested In a serial
story in a magazine I let her take, and
now she's waiting for. me to bring
home the next number."
"Rather cheekv. isn't it?"
"No, no. I've got her lawn mower."
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
. . .
Visitor I want a mourning suit.
please.
Proprietor What is the bereave
ment, may I ask.
Visitor My mother-in-law. '
Proprietor Mr. Brown, show the
gentleman into the Light Affliction De
partment. Tit-Bits.
...
The Parson (about to Improve the
golden hour) When a man reaches
your age, Mr. Dodd, he cannot. In the
nature of things, expect to livej very
much longer, and I
The Nonagenarian I dunno, passon,
I be stronger on my legs than I were
when I started! London Opinion.
...
A dialogue which may be anticipated
In 1950.
First child I guess my fam'ly is Just
as good as yours. My great-greatgrandfather
was In th' battle of Get
tysburg! Second child That's nothin'. My
grandfather was at Chicago in 1912.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
...
Splltstraw (tragically) So you tell
me to go. And yet I have been your
slave.
Muriel (severely) And isn't it only
right to free a slave? Satire.
...
"I hope you are not bringing up
your children to worship money,
Hawkins," said Dubbleigh.
"No, indeed," signer Hawkins. "Why,
Dubb. my children despise money so
much that the minute a dollar comes
their way they get rid of It as fast
as they can." Harper's.
Among the Poets of the Daily Press
FATHER'S RETICENCE.
Father doesn't always answer when
I'm anxiousest to know.
When I asked him Just this morning
why no peaches ever grow
On the apple tree, he told me, "Cause
it'a nature's way. Then l.
Feeling not the least bit wiser, asked
the simple question, w ny :
Father took his hat and muttered:
"Guess it's time for me to go."
Wonder why he never answers when I
want the most to know.
Once I asked him how the oak roots
that were all mixed up with
beech
Picked out Just the sap for oak leaves
each the rightful stuff for each
From the self-same soil and moisture,
never making a mistake.
Father turned to mother, saying: "How
my poor old head does ache!"
Mother told me, "Please be quiet; don t
disturb vour father so!
Now, why doesn't father answer when
I m anxiousest to mow .-
Testerday down at our garden we were
Dulling up some weeds
And were wondering why no sprouts
came from the dwarf nasturtium
seeds.
Then I said: "Say, father, tell me why
the thintrn that are the best
Are so hard to start to growing when
this sorrel and the rest
Grow so swiftly, if they've even Just a
tlnv root or so."
Father only sighed in silence, though
I'm anxious still to know.
Chicago News.
MID-SUMMER SONG.
When the binder sings in the fields of
grain
T. n nleasant season, too. I find.
Then it is that an old refrain '
la borne upon the passing wind.
Across the fields of golden wheat
The binder flails go round and round.
And memory makes doubly sweet.
That old and unforgotten sound.
Is there, perhaps, a boy today
Who carries water lor tne crew.
And tarries here and there to play.
As other boys were sure to do ;
I fear asmuch the columbine
Is Just as brilliantly aflame.
And the chances are, by every sign.
The boys are very much the same.
We, too, are as the grain that grows
A season springing from the ground.
And going down in martial rows
When the singing binder comes
around.
And life, too, like the world, is fair.
And in its beauty ever sweet
As the music ringing in the air
When the binder rattles through tha
wheat.
St Louis Post-Dispatch.
FASHION.
O":, Fashion's a whimsical lady,
She changes her mind every day.
One day she brings out a new hobby.
And the next day she puts it away.
She's always In search of the novel.
And she doesn't care what it may
cost,
And the queerest of all things about it
Is the whole world submits to be
bossed.
Oh, Fashion's a terrible tyrant.
She issues her changeful decrees,
And although we protest we don't lik
it.
Still we all of us drop on our knees.
We worship her while we're protest
lng.
And her whimsical rules we obey.
Till the question all others transcend
lng
Is: What's the most stylish today?
Somervllle Journal.
THE ONLY WAY.
If he comes to borrow ten,
I am out.
Tell him, office boy, again,
I am out.
It's the only way to win.
Or to save my hard-earned tin.
For if he should find me in,
I am out.
Lippincott's.
A HINT.
From the New York Sun.
Knicker Did you explain baseball to
our girl?
Bocker Tes she said she understood
all about diamonds