The Portland daily press., 1871-07-01
SELECTED STORY.
How Ksistr Wilhelm's Sister
Was Won.

II will be remembered that the Emperor
William the first Of Germany, Immediately af-
ter the prelimnaries OF peace had been sign
ed at Versailles, sent to St. Petersburg a tel
egram in which he expressed TO the Gar
his gratitude for the friendly attitude which
Russia had maintained during the progress
of the Franco-Prussian war, and in which he
frankly admitted that Germany was indebted
to this sincere friendship of her powerful east,
ern neighbor for the comparatively lmlted
dimensions OF the gigantic conflict. inquest
ionaby the political interests OF Russia, and
above all, her wel-known policy in The eastern
question, have mainly contributed To her par
TALLY for Prussia; but not an insignificant
SHARE in that partially must be attributed 10
personal con.ideIa tions-tO that near relation
shir which for upwards Of half century has
existed between the dynasties of Russia and
Prussia; for Alexander the second, the pres
ent emperor of Russia, is son of the Princess
Charlotte of Prussia, the sister OF the present
emperor of Germany.
The betrothal and marriage of this princess
with Nicholas, who was then only a grand
duke, but afterward became emperor OF Rus
STA. forms one OF the sweetest and most ro-
mantle love episodes in the world of Euro
pean courts, which is usually so devoid of love
and romance, and would, on that account
alone, deserve being remembered, quite re
CARELESS OF the historical interest which will
hencelOrth adhere to all the members of the
family OF The cOnqueror of France.
Princess Charlotte was born in the year
1898, and was the eldest daughter of King
Frederick William the Third of Prussia, and
his beautiful and accomplished wife, Queen
Louisa. Her early childhood elapsed amidst
scenes of terror and humiliation for the roy
al family OF Prussia, and nobody would have
ventured at that time to presto. for her the
brilliant career which Providence kept in
store for this child, born and brought up I'M
der such fatal auspices. We might, indeed,
make an exception in favor of her mother,
who, with that prophetic intuition which
seems to have been the distinguishing fea-
ture of that high-minded woman, wrote one
day to her father, the duke OF Mechlenbulg,
the following lines about her daughter:
charlotte is given to silence and reserve,
but under her apparent GOODNESS she conceals
a warm and loving heart. Her Indifference
al d pride are but the dull outside of da-
mond of the purest water, which some day
will shine forth in its brilliant lustre. Her
bearing and manners are noble and dignfed.
She has but few friends, but these few are
warmly attached 10 her. | know her value,
and predict for her brilliant future, if she
lives long enough"
The young princess was indeed very frail
and delicate creatufe-One of those lender
flowers which seem to wait for the kind hand
of the gardener to transplant them into a
warmer cline. She was charming and hand.
some, but her beauty was rather that OF a pale
lily than that of blooming rose.
Charlotte was just sixteen, when, in the
year 1914, the Grand Duke Nicholas, on his
way to the camp of the allied armies in
France passed through Berlin, and was warm
ly welcomed as an honored guest at the royal
palace.
The description which those who saw and
knew the grand duke at that time have given
OF the Incompatible graces of his person and
mind makes it easy for..us to imagine that the
heart OF young girl. just budding into wO-
manhood was captvated and charmed by
him, almost at first sight. Well he might have
sad, like Cesar, Il came, saw, l conquered"
The princess fell in love with him, and tOrtu-
nately for her the young grand duke returned
her love fully as passiOnately.
The Grand Duke Nicholas had the reputa-
ton of being the handsomest, if not the very
handsomest man of his times; and his ma
jestic form which measured no less than six
feet, two inches, was considered unequalled in
beauty, not only in Russia but in all Europe.
He was vigorous, strong, full of lite and
health, with broad shoulders and chest, while
his small hands and feet were of the most
aristOcratic elegance; his whole figure realized
the perfect model of manly and commanding
beauty which the divine art of sculptor ct
antiquity has immortalized under the features
OF the Apollo Belvideie. His features were
of the Grecian cast-folehead and nose iorm-
ed straight line-and his large, blue, sincere
eyes, showed a singular combination of COM
posure, sternness, sefreliance, and pride,
among which it would have been difficult for
the observer to name the predominant ex-
preston. Those who would have looked
closely and attentvely into those remarkable
eyes would have easily believed that their
threatening glances would suffice to suppress
a rebellion, to terrify or disarm a murderer,
or to friehten away supplicant; but there
would have been but few to believe that the
sternness of these eyes could be so entirely
softened as to beam forth nothing but love
and kindness. Among these few was, how
ever, the young Prussian princess, who had
drunk deep in their Intoxicating fervor. 1t is
true that she was the only person in the
world in whose presence the OlympIan gravity
OF his features gave way to radiant cheerful
ness. which made his manly beauty perfectly
irresistible.
In such moments his magnificent brow, al
ways the seat of meditation and thought ex-
hibited the serene beauty and Attic grace of
young Athenian-the serious Perices SEEM
Ii.
have been transformed into the 20 lthful Al
cibiades.
Such is the flattering picture which his
contemporaries have drawn of the personal
appearance of the Grand Duke Nicholas at
the time of his arrival in Berlin.
At that time, however, the matchless per-
sonal charms of the grand duke were not en-
HANGED by political prospects of the most ex-
allied charater. He was, not even eventually
considered an heir to the imperial crown of
Russia. 1t is true, Alexander the First, his
brother, had no children, but in the case of
his death, which Could not be expected soon,
the Grand Duke Constantine was to inherit
the throne of Peter the Great, and leave to
Nicholas at best but the position of prince
OF the first blood, Nevertheless, Frederick
William, charmed alike by the beauty and in
tellect OF his guest, and by the hope of uniting
the sovereign houses of Prussia and Russia by
close ties of family union, greeted the pros
poets OF marriage between the grand duke
and his daughter with enthusiasm, especially
when he found that the young folks them
selves were very fond of each other.
The king then decately insinuated to his
daughter that If she had taken liking TO the
grand duke, and had reason To believe that
the prince entertained similar feelings toward
her, their marriage would meet with no OBJ
lection on his part.
But the young princess, although secretly
dellghting in hope which so fully responded
to the secret wishes of her heart, was either
too proud or too bashful TO confess TO her ia
ther her love for the grand duke, who had not
yet made any declaration TO her.
In this manner the day approached on
which the grand duke was to leave Berlin.
On the eve of his departure grand gala sup
per was given in his honor at the royal palace,
ana by way of accident or policy, the young
Princess Charlotte was seated by the side of
her distinguished admirer.
The grand dnke was uncommonly tactur
during the evening. His forehead was cloud
ed, and his gloomy eyes seemed to follow in
the space vague phantoms fitting before his
imagination. Repeatedly he neglected to re-
ply to questions addressed to him, ard when
ne was asked to respond to toast which one
OF the royal princes had proposed in his honor,
he seemed to awaken from profound dream
which had entirely withdrawn him from his
sur0l. ndings.
Suddenly, as If by mighty effort of his
Will, he turned to his fair neigbbor, and whis-
pered so as to be only understood by her.
$50 shall leaves Berlin tomorrow"
de paused abruptly, and looked at the prin-
pressed sorrow and grief ON her part. But
the princess was fully as proud as the grand
duke and, overcoming the violent throbbing
OF her heart, she said politely to him:
I'VE ale all very sorry to see your imperial
hlgEness leave us so soon. Would it not have
?"
You will all be very sorry?' muttered the
grand duke, not entirely satisfied with the
Qfsorrew which these words of the
princess implied. "But you in particular mad
am ~ he added, after some hesitation, "For
i will depend on you alone whether l shall
stay here or Depart"
s.AhH, replled CharIotte with hor s1raatost