The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-04-14

Sad tree love thee more
Than those Of noblcr m.cn---
The "monarchs of the wood" who rise
In majesty serene.
When in dust rcposc,
Wave thou DER my lone rest;
When all loved have passed away,
Weep thou above my breast. MN.
From the n. Y. Courier and Enquirer 10th.
The Late Car.
Nicholas Paulovitch, Emperor Of Russia,
! now reported to be dead, was the ninth child
Of the Emperor Paul, by his second mar.
riage with Maria Feodorowna Of Wurtcm-
burg, and was born on the 2jth Of June,
1876, at Gatshina, near st. Petersburg
Imperial historians. call him the fifteenth
sovereign Of the house Of RomanoF who has
ruled in Russia. Others call him the eighth
sovereign of the Holstcin Gotorp dynasty,
which is Of German descent. At the time OF
his birth, and for years aftcrward, there was
little sign Of the high destiny which awaited
him. Two elder brothers, the Grand Duke
Alexander and the Grand Duke Constantine,
were Immediately between him and the
throne, and prospectively were their issue,
which might cut him off from it forever.
He, with his younger brother, Micheal, re-
ceived his education under the immediate
superintendent of his mother The first
event OF his youth which stamped itself with
terror on his memory, was the murder Of his
father, Paul. On tho fearful night when
that tragedy occurred, his mother caught up
the two young Princes in her arms, and
amid the clash Of weapons and the confused
voices Of alarm in the palace, she ran
through the corridors leading TO the apart.
ments Of the Emperor, where she was stop
ped and forced back by one Of the conspra.
tors. In the meantime the Emperor was
strangled with scarf by the hand Of aNsas-
sins, and Alexander !. was proclaimed Enpe-
ror the ensuing day.
The first years Of the reign Of Alexander
were so full Of stirring events, that the pri-
vate history Of his younger brothers Nicho-
/ las and Michael remains in measure unrc-
corded. Their education was eventually
entrusted to tutors, both native and forei n,
who instructed them in the sciences and in
the French and German languages. In the
acquisition Of modern languages Nicholas cX-
/ hibited some adriotness, whilst he was pas
| sonately fond Of music, aud even composed,
/ it is said, several parade marches. The de
meanor of Nicholas is said to have been cold
and reserved in his youth to those around
! him even 10 his .,otL~s -~is-.- hs had trsi
! passed tie bounds Of childhood and began to
understand his real position in the imperial
palace lie early manifested love Of mar
| tial studies, particularly the ordinary rou'
/ tines of field muster discipline. The youth OF
/ Nicholas was what may he said to be moral.
! In the gallant Court OF his brother the En-
pcror Alexander, he appears TO have kept
/ himself marvcl!ously free from intrigucs,
/ and to have concentrated all his pleasures on
| military exercises and amuscmcnts. In
| 1914 Mich las left the Court Of his brother
for tour abroad. He visited France, Ger
many, England, and various other countries,
and returned home early in 1877.
On the 18th of July, 1917 being then hard.
ly twenty.one years of age, he married
Maria Charlotte, eldest daughter OF the late
King Of Prussia. The bride was about two
wears Younger than the bridegroom. The
marriage was solcRnized at ST. Petersburgh,
and the bride, in accordance with Russian
law, although she came ola Protestant iaml-
ly, adopted the Greek religion, and with it
the Christian names Of Alexandra Feodorow-
ma. The marriage is said to have been one
Of love on both sides although there was
doubtless, political expcdicncy mingled with
it. There was a great similarity between
them not only in the majesty of figure, but
also of mind and character. At the time OF
his marriage, Nicholas held the military
rank of Head Inspector Of Engineers in the
service of his brother the Emperor, but he
was not admitted to the Council table when
political and diplomatic questions were dis
cusscd, and his sphere Of operation was con-
fined to mere garrison service. Nicholas felt
his subordiatc position and lived with his
wife retired from the Court, domestic man,
! deriving his happiness in performing the
part of husband and father in such man.
ner that the example of himself and wife has
been cited as model bliss. His eldest son,
Alexander Nicolaiwitch, was born one year
after his marriage. In 1919 followed the
birth Of his second child, the Grand Duchess
Maria; in 1922 that of the Duchess Olga.
Alexander died December lst, 1925. The
news arrived at the Winter Palace, where
the Imperial family were assembled in the
chapel to render thanks for the messages
received the previous day, announcing the
conyalcsccncc Of the Car. st was Nlchoias
who received the fatal news, he only OF the
three brothers then being resident in st.
Petersburg. 1t was supposed by the Rus
sian people that the Grand Duke Constan-
tine, the next brother in age to Alexander,
(the latter having died without any
direct heir would succeed to the throne
But Constantine had some years previously
resigned his claim in favor of Nicholas, the
fact being only known to the Empress ss-mother
! Before the news Of Alexander's death was
bruited in the streets of St. Petersburg,
Nicholas obtained brief interview with the
Empress mother What passedat the inter
view is not known. Immediately afterwards,
Nicholas repaired to the Senate Palace ia
take the oath of allegiance to his brother
Constantine The State Council replied by
appealing to sealed packets deposited by
Alexander with the Senate to be opened
| a., Inatl M nacE NJ u,a