Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-21
WOOing an EmperOr's Sister.


Versailles, sent 20 st. Petersburg a telegram in
which he expressed 70 the Gar ms gratitude for
the friendly attitude which Russia had MAIN
tanned during the progress of the FrancO-PruS-
sian war. and IN which he frankly admitted
that Germany Wa indebted to this sincere
friendship OF her 10 yeTful Eastern neghbOr for
the comparatively limited dimensions OF the gil
gantic conflict PROFESSIONALLY the political
interest Of Russia, and above all, her well-knOWn
policy in the Eastern question, have mainly
contributed to her Partially for Prussia; but
not an insignificant share in this partiality must
also be attributed to personal considerations, To
that near relationship which for upwards of half
century has existed between the dynasties of
Russia and Prussia; Tor Alexander the Second,
the present Emperor of Russia, is a son of the
Princess Charlotte Of Prussia, the sister of the
present Emperor of Germany.
The bCtrOthal and marriage of this princess
with Nicholas, who was then only grand duke,
but became atterward, Emperor of Russia,
forms one of the sweetest and most romantic
EPISODES In the world Of European courts, which
Is usually 80 devoid Of love and romance, and
would on this account alone deserve to be re-
membered, quite regardless of the historical in
terest which will hencefOrth adhere to all the
members Of the family of the cOnqueror OF
France.
Princess Charlotte was born in the year 1893,
and wasthe eldest daughter OF King Frederick
William the Third OF Prussia, and his beautiful
and accomplished wife, Queen Louisa. Her
early childhood elapsed amid scenes of terror
and humiliation for the royal family of Prussia,
and nobody would at that time have ventured
70 predict the brilliant career which Providence
kept in store for this child, born and brought
up under such fatal auspices. We might in
deed, make an exception III favor of her mother,
who with prophetic intuition which seems to
have been the distinguishing feature of that
htgh-minded woman, wrote one day to her
father, the Duke of McCklenbuTg, the following
lines about her daughter
" CHARLOTTE l. given to silence and reserve,
but under her apparent cO!fnoss she cOnceals
warm and loving heart. Her Indifference and
pride are but the duh outside OF a diamond OF
the puTest water which some day viii shine forth
IN its brilliant iuster. Her bearing and man
neTs are noble and Ill guihed. She has but few
friends. but these few are warmly attached to
her. know her value, and predict for her a
brilliant future, IL she lives long enough"
The young princess was, iHdred, very frail
ana delicate cTCature-One Of those tender flow
eTs which seem TO wait for the Kind hand of the
gardener 10 transplant them into warmer
cline. She was charming and handsOma: but
Der beauty was rather that Of a pale lilly than
that of a blooming rose.
Charlotte vas Just sixteen. when in the year
1911, the Fraud Duke Nicholas on his way 10
the canpOi the allied armies of France. passed
through Berlin. and was warmly welcomed as
an honored guest at the royal palace
The description which those who saw and
knew the grand duke at the time have given of
the Incompatible graces of his person and
mind, makes IL easy for us to imagine that the
heart Of young girl Just budding into woman
hood was csPtiv waited and charmed by him al
most at first sight. Well he might have said
Ike Caesar, % came. ] saw. / conquered" The
princess Tn in love with him, and, fortunately
LoT heT' the Young grand duke returned her love
July a. Tassi0nately.
The Grand Duke Nicholas had the reputa-
ton 81 being one Of the handsOmest, il not the
very handsou It man Of his times: and his ma
iestic and stately form. which measured no less
than siN feet tao inches. was COnSid. red une-
qualed in beauty, not only in Russia but in all
Europe. He was vigorous. strong, full of life
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
vVF oh a vfr, - - Of
uqUIty has immortaliZcd under the features of
the Apollo BeiVidere. Ills features were OF the
GTeeidn east-1OTcheal and nose formed a
straight HEe-and his large blue, sincere eyes
showed q singular combination OF cOmPO~nre,
StcTnntsS, Seii-reliauCe. and pride, among which
IL would have been difficult for the observer to
name the predominant expression. Those who
would have looked closely and attSntiveiy into
those remarkable eyes would have easily be-
Eeved that their threatening glances would
suffice to suppress a rebellion, to teTrify and
disaIm a murderer. or TO frighten away a sup
pltcant. but there would have been but few ID
believe that the stornnCS> of these eyes could
ever be 20 entirely s0ftened "a to beam forth
nothing but love and tenderness Among those
few was, however, the young PrusSian princess
who had drunk deep in their intoxicating fer
VOr. IL Is true that she was the only person in
the world in whose presence the Olympian grav-
ity OF his features gave way TO a radiant cheer
fulness, which n AIDE HIS manly beauty perfectly
irresistible In such moments his magnificent
brow. always the seat Of meditation ard thought
exhibited the extreme beauty and Attic grace Of
a young AtheUian-the serious PeTicles seemed
by the Invisible wand Of "a magician, 10 be trans
formed into the youthful AlcibiadCs.
Such IS the fattrTing portrait which his CO.
tcmpOraries havedrawn Of the personal appear
anee Of the Grand Duke Nicholas at the time OF
his arrival at Berlin
Atthat time, however, the matchleSs personal
charms OF the grand duke were not enhanced by
Ly political prospects of the most exalted
character. He was not even eventually con-
Sidered an heir To the Imperial crown of Russia
Ii il true, Alexander the irst, 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 a first page of the blood Neverthe-
less, Frederick William, charmed alike by the
beauty and intellect Of his guest, and hy the
hope OF uniting the sovereign houses OF Prussia
and Russia by the close ties Of family union,
greeted the prospect Of a marriage between the
grand duke and "a Is daughter with enthusiasm
especially when he discovered that the young
folks themselves were very fond of each other.
The Ming then delicately insinuated 70 his
daughter that " she had taken a liking to the
grand duke, and had reason to believe that the
prince entertained similar feelings towards her,
their marriage would meet with no objection on
his part
But the young princess, although secretly de-
lighting in hope which 50 fully responded TO
the secret wishes Of her heart either too proud
or too bashful % confess % her father her love
for the grand duke, who had not made any de-
claratiOn 70 her.
In this manner the day approached on which
eve OF his departure grand gala supper was
given in his honor at the royal palace, and by
way Of accident or policy, the young Princess
Charlotte was seated by the side OF her disting-
uished admirrr.
The grand duke was uncOmmOnly taciturn
during the evening. His high forehead was
clouded, and his gloomy eyes seemed to follow
in the space vague phantOms fitting before his
Imagination. Repeatedly he neglected to an
swer questions addressed TO him, and when he
was asked 10 respond to a toast which one of the
royal princes had proposed 10 his favor, he
seemed % awake from a profound dream which
had entirely Withdrawn him from his surround
iDgs-
Suddenly, as If by q mighty effort of his will,
he turned to his fair neighbOr and whispered as
only 70 be understood by her:
I" So / shall leave Berlin tomorrow"
He paused abruptly, and looked at the prin-
cess a. IL he Was waiting for an answer which
oppressed great 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:
We are all very sorry 70 see your imperial
highness leave rs 30 soon. Would IL not have
been possible for you % defer your departure?"
z" You will all be very sorry?r muttered the
grand dnke, not entirely satisfied with the
Tagueness Of sorrow which these words of the
princess implied " But you In particular,
madam? he added, after some hesitation, ''fOr
~ VIII depend on you alone whether shall stay
here OF depart"
"Ah,' replied Charlotte, with her sweetest