The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-04-23
Alexander Of Russia.


The subjoined is description Of AIexander
the successor Of Nicholas. 1t is by the Mar
quis De Cuisine, and dates back some twelve
or fifteen years, ut which time the Marquis me-
with the Grand Dake at German watering
place
i ! found myself amid the crowd of curious
spectators close to the Grand Duke just as nc
descended from his carriage; and rs he stood
for some time before entering the gate Of the
maiSon des Ja,ns, talking with the Russian lady,
the Countess --, l was able to observe him
at my leisure. His age, as his appearance III
dictates, is twenty, his height is commanding,
but he appears to me, for so young a man, rath-
or fat His features would be handsome were
it not that their fnllness destroys their express
sion. His round face rather resembles that OF
o German than q Russian it suggests an idea
of what the Emperor Alexander's must have
been at the same age, without, however, recall
ling in any degree, the physiognomy of the
Calmuc. A face of this cast will pass through
many changes before assuming its definite char
acter.
The habitual humor which it at present, de-
notes, is gentleness and benevOlence but be-
tween the youthful smile of the eyes, and the
constant contraction of the mouth, there is,
nevertheless, discordance which does not be-
speak frankness, and which, perhaps, indicates
some inward suffering. The sorrows of youth
An age in which happiness is, as it were, the
right of man-are secrets the better guarded
because they are mysterious, inexplicable even
to those who experience them. The smile OF
this young prince is amiable, his carriage is
graceful, imposing and altogether princely
and his manner modest, without being timid,
which must alone gain him much good will
The embarrassment of great people is so en-
barassing to others, that their case always
wears the character of aHability, to which in
fact, it amounts. When they believe them
selves to be something more than common
mortals, they become constrained, both by the
dieect influence Of such On opinion, and by the
hopeless effort of inducing Others to share it..
This absurd inquietude does not disturb the
Grand Duke. His presence conveys the idea
of perfectly well bred man; and if he ever
reign, it will be by the charm inherent in grace
full manners that he will cause himself to be
obeyed it will no. be by terror, unless, at
least, the necessities attached to the Office of
Russian Emperor should, in changing his posi-
ton, change his disposition also.
Since writing the above, J have again seen
the hereditary Grand Duke, and have examin-
cd him more nearly and leisurcly. He had
cast off his uniform, which appeared to fit him
too closely, and gave TO his person q bloated
appearance. In my opinion, he looks best in
undress. His general bearing is certainly
pleasing his carriage is lofty, yet without mil
itary stiffness. The kind of grace by which
he is distinguished, reminds one Of that pecu-
liar charm of manner which seems to belong
to the Slavonic race. 1t is not the expression
of the quick passions of the southern climes,
neither is it the imperturbable GOODNESS of the
people of the north it is combination of
simplicity, or southern mobility, and of Scan
dinavian melancholy. The Slavonians are fair
cOmplexioned Arabs the Grand Duke is more
than half German, but in Mecklenburg and
Holstein, as in some parts Of Russia. there are
Germans of Slavonian extraction.
The countenance of the Prince, notwith-
standing his youth presents fewer attractions
lost its freshness one can observe that he is
under the influence of some cause of grief
his eyelids are cast down with sadness that
betrays the cares of ripper age. His we'll
formed mouth is not without an expression of
sweetness his Grecian profile reminds me of
antique medals, or Of the portraits of the En-
press Catharine but notwithstanding his OK
preston, ian expression which almost always
imparts that also of beauty)his youth, and yet
more, his German blood it is impossible to
avoid observing in the lines of his face a pow
er of discrimination which one trembles to sec
in so young a man. This trait is doubtless the
impress Of destiny. 1t convinced me that the
Grand Duke will be called to take the throne.
The tones of his voice are sweet, which is not
commonly the case in his family. It, they say,
is gift which he has inherited from his moth
err.
He shines among the young people of his
suite without our discovering what it is that
preserves the dis ance which may be easily OBJ
served to exist between them, unless it be the
perfect gracefuness of his person. Graceful
ness always indicates an amiable mental endow-
ment it depicts mind upon the features, en-
bodies it in the carriage and attitudes, and
pleases at the very time it commands. Rus
sian travellers had spoken to me of the beauty
of the prince as quite phenomenon. With
out this exaggeration should have been more
struck with it besides, could not but recol-
lect the romantic mind, the arch angelic form
of his father and his uncle, the Grand Duke
Michael, who when, in 1915, they visited Paris,
were called northern lights" and felt in
clined to be severe because had been deceiv.
ed; yet, Notwithstanding this the Grand Duke
of Russia appears to me as one of the finest
models of prince that have ever met with