MARCUS WHEELER,
Sir, - If you will permit a footnote to David Fitzpatrick's letter (August 8th), Kazimierz (Casimir) Markiewicz, having been born in the Russian zone of partitioned Poland, was indeed a Russian subject (and, as such, served in the Imperial Russian Army). But an inquiry made by the Gore-Booth family at the time of his marriage to Constance elicited from the Russian authorities a denial that he was entitled to designate himself "count". An intriguing detailed account of the investigation was given by Seamus Martin in his article "Mrs Markievicz, I Presume?" (Irish Times, April 4th, 1994).
Following the restoration of Polish independence in 1918, Markiewicz became a Polish citizen and, by virtue of this, Constance was able to obtain a Polish passport in 1921. She used this document - which does not describe her as "countess" - for her visit to the USA in April-June, 1922. This coast-to-coast trip did include a stop to Chicago, according to at least one of her biographers (Anne Marreco, The Rebel Countess, London 1967, p.280). - Yours, etc.,
MARCUS WHEELER,
Professor Emeritus of
Slavonic Studies,
Queen's University,
Belfast.