THE CZAREVITCH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 56, 30 October 1912, Page 5

THE CZAREVITCH.

FELL FROM A SWING. (Eeceived 9.50 a.m.) London, October 29. The Evening News professes to have received reliable information that the Czarewitch’s illness was caused by a fall from a swing. The paper states that one of the Court ladies at Spal.i drew the child back to _ swing him higher, but the Czarevitch slipped from his seat and fell heavily. [The Grand Duke Alexis (Heir-Ap-parent to the Russian Throne, and only son of the Czar Nicholas II.) was born in 1901. 'J ho long-delayed arrival of a son had been the one shadow on the wedded life of the Czar and Czarina, who were married in 1894. Up till 1904 four daughters had been born to them, but still there was no heir to the throne. The birth of Alexis (or Alvosha, the Czarwich’s pdt name) was generally attributed to the intercession of the wonworking Saint Seraphim. Kneeling side by side on the stone at Saroff, worn thin by the knees of the saint, the Czar and Czarina besought the spirit of the monk to grant them a son. Her Majesty bathed in the spring at which Seraphim had quenched his thirst, the bones of the saint were remoVed to a marble tomb in the cathedral at Saroff, votive candles weighing fifteen tons were consumed, and within a year Alexis was born. It was gravely stated in the ‘Novoe Vreraya’ that St. Seraphim appeared in the forest at Saroff at the time of the prince’s birth. The little Grand Duke has not enjoyed the best of health, despite the fact that he has been the object of the most tender solicitude on the part of his parents.]