European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 20, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Sid Whipple staff writer an american comedian boasting of his strength of character once Toldan audience "1 can resist everything but  russian Empress 200 years ago said the same thing in essence in a 300-Pagedocument recounting her Rise to the throne through a calculated mixture of diplomatic intrigue and boudoir politics. The lady was Catherine the great an she wrote i have said that 1 was  one half of the Road to temptation was already covered and itis Only human in such situations that one should not Stop half Way. For to tempt and be tempted Are closely Allied and in spite of All the finest moral Maxim buried in the mind when emotion inter feres one is already much further involved than one realizes. And if you do not run away nothing is More difficult than to avoid something that fundamentally attracts you. Statements to the contrary could Only by prudish. Millions of words have been written and continue to be written about this woman who through will Power an sheer ability Rose from a minor German Princess to become the most powerful Monarch of 18th-Century Europe. The latest appraisal of her Imperial majesty comes from the pen of a Well known historical novelist Zoe Olden Bourg Catherine the great Panthe on. The chief Merit of this work is that it relies not so much on imagination conjecture and exaggerated slander Asit does on Catherine s autobiography and authenticated documents from her own hand. Manifestly there were two Dis Tinct sides to Catherine s character but perhaps that is Over simplification. On the one Harul she was cold blooded Auto cratic cruel ruthless despotic and will ing to condone any crime up to murder to Active subjection of the sprawling russian Empire to her will and the enhancement of its position As a world  on the other hand she was warm hearted generous tolerant extravagant impulsive Wanton amoral and Lustful. It is True As a contemporary literary critic observes that so Many opposites were mixed up in her that she almost defies a biographer to paint a consistent  it is also True that most of Cath Erine s earlier biographers reveling inthe More salacious details of her escapades emphasized that Side of he nature to the exclusion of her really constructive  should also be remembered that Many of these biographies appeared Inan age of popular revolt against All monarchical systems and at a time when the pious hypocrisy of victorian morality had an overwhelming influence nonpublic thinking. In condemning Catherine s anti social habits some writers have neglected to measure her morality or Lack fit against the customs of the age in which she lived. Every court in Europe from Moscow to Versailles from Venice to London was riddled with corruption  every court in Europe. Was rid tiled with corruption and bathed in  Page 12 contemporary engraving of Catherine shows poised thoughtful Young Princess. And bathed in sensuality. Marriages among the nobility were for Camu Niece or reasons of state rarely fur love complaisant wives provided impresses for their husbands. Kings and Prince maintained palaces for courtesans. No body cared except perhaps the people who had to pay the taxes for to Royal frivolities. Indictment of Catherine for Lack of restraint in her amours would appear to be based on her status As a Wosnum rather than As a  herself summed up her Atti tude towards convention in these words if i May venture to be Frank i would about myself that i was every inc say More witha gentleman with a mind Muc male than female but Toothe this i was anything but masculine an combined with the temperament and mind of a Man the attractions f lovable woman. I Pray to t e forgiven for this description which is justified by its truthfulness and which my vanity admits without any pretence of false  Catherine s detractors making much out of her frivolities and infuse cities conveniently forget the circumstances under which she was brought up in the court of the Empress Elizabeth Dur Niji Tonj distressing years of her Betru uial an marriage to the grand Duke i Eter Elizabeth s Nephew a la on  and certainly i input in apparent to the throne. Eli a self on numerous occasions  Nephew a  enemies also charged m. /. Erine s marked balls Laush entertainments luxurious  personal extravagances were ing the nation. What were u half heir her -.  Al is and  tads her Lover Prince Gregory Orlov helped Catherine do away with her husband. The stars and stripes it is undoubtedly True elaborate displays of  Cost u lot of Money but Ca Luinie tint these. As Empress Catherine wore a look of regal majesty which cloaked her hidden violent nature. Lien she assumed sex throne and found ithe state insolvent. It was Catherine herself Ivhon mined the pump  j n of the National budget should1 anybody Short of an auditor. I she took Over the reins of gov a i she recounts the state had a 1 deficit of 7 million rubles Anft stailing debts of 13 million two years after her Coronation a had risen to 28 million. And b was a credit of 5.5 million. The the  of Peter the great impress Anne and three quarters of thu Empress Elizabeth had. U. Thu credit of the Crown Wasi it no chants confided their nume state in one part of the pm Reci Ive it Hack on u Given Date  Pennon when she assumed theland Fuyumi the state insolvent the Paul and the Cost of bread Dou was Cahit Rine herself who a pump. By Ino udly in the third persons 1 of the nation s dilemma and a id about it Athit Jne became aware of Ufuti ii on i Mijc he 3, 1968 Gregory Potemkin top and on Catherine s the stars and stripes Moie of Catherine s fiends seige Saltikov i top and her last Lover Prince Platon Zubov. Page 13