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The Czar and Czaritsa.

In an articl© on the Empress of h'iseia in the Young Woman, we are tohi that the Czar always Jovod his orphan cousin, and: a s they met somewhat frequently, he did not lac? opportunity of discovering for himself that his love was reciprocated. But there were grave objections to the match,- and the young couple had luany enemies. The Czar's parents opposed the union with all the emphasis they could command. Hrincess Alix was a Lutheran, and Nicholas ijt-longed to the Greek Church. To Alexander IH, this was the most fatal objection to their marriage, and everything was done that could be done to convince the young heir" to all the Russias that he must accept another bride. Even Queen Victoria joined the little army arrayed against the lovers. Princess Alix was her favourite granddaughter, and- she did not wish her to ahange her religion or to fa«c the perils" of the Russian throne. There was another serious objection, too 1 .! Both the lovers were delicate, and Alexander HI, was naturally anxiousi that the throne of Russia should bu occupied by his son's son. At last the obstinate CzareWitch was sent on a voyage round the world, lt„. be3ng hoped that in the constant change of seene he would forget his love, and come back prepared to do as he was told.

The love which had tfound Nicholas to hia orphan cousin was not, however, a thing that could he put oil in a new country, and the Heir Apparent went hack to Kussia more determined than ever not to marry unless Be loved. The voyage had greatly improved his health, so that part "of the objection was therefore removed. But there still remained the religious objection, and Nirthoiis pressed his suit. He w«s I-juunaU in securing two powerful a!!ics—the then Duchess of Edinburgh Jind iho Grand Duchess Serge, sister of the Prinoess. Ttfctether these ladies were atole to overcome the father's' objections, but Queen Victoria • had yet to be won over* It was no easy task to convert the Queen, but ■it was done al length. The Duchess of Edinburgh persuaded the Prince of Wales, and ,the Princess Victoria (revailtxl upon Her .Majesty* 'J hen, a-> if to compensate the young people for their disappointments, the Queen suggested that they should vinil England. I'rinco Louis of Battettbery invited tUa Princess to Waiton-on-Thames, and hither the young man who was to ru'.e a hundred millions of human beings came to win the hand and heart of the woman lie loved< One would have thought that now the task was easy; but the Princess was not easily won. If others had felt that she should not change her creed, she herself hail felt so even more strongly. Years before, when the (Jzarewitch first spoke to her of love, she. had not listened because the horror of having' to change her creed, in which she is said to have devoutly believed, and her. strong religious nature had only rooted this objection deeper and deeper as the years went by. What happened at Walton, how passionately the devoted Niohojas pleaded, we do not know. But we know that a year afterwards, at the wedding of her brother, the Grand Duke Ernest ot Hesse, and Princess Victoria Jle|jta of Coburg, the betrothal was -publicly announced. The CzarwHch had turned up at Coburg at the last moment, not having been expected until shortly before he arrived. "I am dotormined at last to have an answer- out of her own mouth," he said to his parents as he started. A day or two before, the Princess had talked of her lover with tew in her eyes. She gave vent to her religious scruples before her brother. " You do not loM> him, then " said the Urand Duke Ernest ; and the answer " Oh, yes, I do, I do," showed how painful the struggle in her mind must have been.

The Queen was Ihc first to be informed of the news that the C'/.arewitch had proposed and been accepted, and there Was great joy among their friends that at last the long wooing was over. Then came the illness of Alexander 111., and the l'rincess was. summoned to Livadia lo nut a,' the dying. CZar. When the monarch passed away, and her lover was Emperor of Hussia, Princess Alix wore no signs of mourning. It was a happy thought of the widowed Empress that no needless pain should mar the joy of the bride, who was so soon to share her son's throne, and the house of mourning was brightened day by day by the beautiful, sad figure of the future Empress dressed in the purest white. It was thought best that there should be no d.'lay for form's sake, and the funeral was quickly followed by the wedding. On November ISfll, at the age of twenty-two, Princess Alix became Empress of Russia.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19050605.2.21

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7840, 5 June 1905, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
819

The Czar and Czaritsa. Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7840, 5 June 1905, Page 3

The Czar and Czaritsa. Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7840, 5 June 1905, Page 3

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