Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-09
THE GRAND DUKE ALEXIS.

Thk @HAND DVAE ALEXIS.
Alexis Alexandrowitz. 1. &. the son OF Alexan-
and is, therefor, now about Il years old. He is
the third living son of the Gar, his seniors
being the Grand Duke Alexander, heir-appa-
rent, who was born February rs, 1s45, and mar
RED TO Maria Dagmar, daughter of The King of
Denmark: and the Grand Duke vladimir, who
as born April 10, 1871. The younger children
Maria, born October 3, 1853: the Grand Duke
Sergius, born IN April, 1857; and the Grand
Duke Paul, born September II, 1850. Still an
othei son was there in the family-Nicholas, the
eldest uf all-who died some years ago at Nice,
Of consumption: his heirship of the crown and
claims upon the hand OF Maria Dsgmar OF Dem
mark being turned over, as is the custom OF
khgly families, to the Grand Duke Alexander
Our mperial guest being the third VI the family
In order OF birth, stands a slim-a very slim
chance OF ever approaching very close TO the
throne, but strange things happen in Russia be-
times, and II may be that we are entertaining
car uDawares.
Alexis, il would seem, from all accounts, that
his tRtree into this world was beset by dangers
and difficulties of no ordinary character. The
life OF his imperial mother was for a long time
endangered, and subsequently IL was reported
in the palace tina; the newborn babe was dead.
For more than an hour after his birth the Crane
people of the Russian court were deeply alb
sOrbed in conversation bew ailins the fate of the
ill-starred babe and the deep disappointment of
the noble parents. But at length the welcome
message came from the sick-chamber that the
life what had, at the moment OF birth. appeared
to be dead infant. The livCliest conRratula-
tons followed this announcer ent, and when the
eNultant father appeared at the door of the gpr-
geOus salon, bearing in his arms his newly-born
offspring, the gladnesS of those present knew Ito
bounds, and Overlooked with prayers for the
safety and happiness of the little one. tall,
majestic man, OF commanding form and inn
posing presence, to whom all seemed To pay ex-
treme Difference, stepped forward, and, APP
preaching the unconscious babe. christie ned
of Icka fberi in NH In
tantry Regiment" an honor conferred at
that age only on princes OF the imperial blood
Thus came in the world Alexis Alexandrewitz,
grandson OF the Gar Nicholas, who had Just
created him a colonel, and son of the present
Emperor OF all the RussiaS. The magnificent
Cathedral Of st. Isaac's, in the Russian capital,
for years past had not been filled BY q more
brilliant throng than the one which attended the
sOlemnities amid which the newly born Grand
Duke Alexis was baptized at the same font from
which. for nearly hundred years past, the holy
water had been sprinkled on the forehead of his
ancestors. The whole imperial family, including
the Emperor and Empress, and all the Grand
Dukes were present. Most of the foreign courts
were represented by Ministers attirea in their
robes Of state, and the officers OF the Imperial
Life Guards were stationed at regular intervals
in all parts of the vast building. After Alexis
was removed from the baptismal font the EN-
peror Nicholas kissed his little grandson ON the
forehead and then tenderly embraced his son,
the Grand Duke hereditary, Alexander Nicolaje-
WITT.
For several years Alexis remained in very
feeble health. He was sickly child, and il " as
generally believed that he would hardly survive
the period OF his bOyhoOd. In the year 1854 he
was pale, sweet-faced boy, looking younger
than he really was, with large, dark ewes, and a
beautiful head of blonde hair. The Grand
Duchess Maria often drove out with him i'm the
gardens Of Zarskoe-SelO, and the Emperor
Nicholas never allowed them to pass without
saying kind word 10 his daushter-in-law and
tending his little grandson. Early in March,
1856, the Gar died, heart-brOken, surrounded
by his weeping family, every member of which
was devOtedly attached to him. In the year
1o56 the young Grand Duke accompanied his
parents to their coronation at Moscow, and was
then, for the first time, presented TO the as
sombled representatives OF the vast Russian
Empire. When his mother appeared, surrounded
by her children and bearing little Alexis in her
arms, there was such joyous shout as has sell
dom welcomed the scion of an imperial house.
Upon the return of the imperial family to St
Petersburg, the education Of the young prince
immed ately commenced, and has been going
on, almost without interruption, ever since
Among his tutors were, first, Madame de Ber-
nard, French woman, and Fraulein Won Julitz-
hon, the orphan daughter of Courland noble
man. and, at later period, Professor FarganOff
who instructed him in mathematics and geo.
graphy: Professor Won Stein, who taught him
ancient and modern history; and Mr.. Gordon, q
ScOfchman, who gave him lessons in English.
At the present time he is under the tutorship Of
Vice Admiral Possiet, OF the imperial navy;
professor OF the English language to the i'm,
periai family, accompanies him as English
teacher.
As to the habits Of this Young man. we have
heard so many different statements that il would
indeed be hard to tell which are correct. Some
say, fer instance, that he smokes excessively,
and others, again, that he does not use the weed
at all. Upon what we consider the very best
authority, he does smoke, but not by any means
excessively, and rarely anything but Russian
poporos made Of fine Turkish tobacco. He
. the genuine Widow Cliquot and Russian
Roederer; but never will take more than he can
carry with the dignity of prince. He is fond
of the society of ladies and of Irritation, and
does not Set m TO have inherited the gloomy
and melancholy disposition Of his august father
and grandfather, and great grandfather. In
this respect he seems to have taken after his
mother the cZaTina, who, before she WAS
married Tin 1s4), VAS counted among the
gayest and lveliest, as well as most beautiful
OF German princesses. 1t was she who for m INV
years caused the court of her father Louis, the
Grand Duke Of Hesse, to be considered one Of
the iyelies. and most interesting i'm all Europe
1t Is either Kohl, or some other distinguished
traveller, who devotes long chapter to the de-
scriptiOn Of the court at Hesse and the lovely
ha1imiliana. Even now, as the cZarina, she IL
said to be almost rs CAV and fond OF fun and
frOlic as when she was the young German
princess, in marked contrast to her august con-
sort, who, although an enlightened ruler and
man Of liberal ideas and generous impulse Is
yet, perhaps, one of the most unhappy among
The crowned heads of Europe, owing to his per-
petual melancholy and hypochOndria.
The Grand Duke Alexis, like his uncle, is an
Offcer In the Russian navy. AT the present time
he holds the rank Of captain of the fleet, and in
addition thereto, the rank OF aide-de-camp TO
the Car. For his present calling he received
thorough preparation by undergoing the strict
discipline and mastering the severe curriculum
Of the Imperial Marine Academy. He is said to
be thoroughly devoted to his profession, and de-
termined to work his way by degrees through
all the intervening grades till he, in course OF
time, shall reach the highest position in the SER
vice.
Alexis, although young man, has seen quite
a good deal OF the world. He has visited Paris
and London repeatedly, and has been in Vienna,
Prague, Munich, Dresden, Berlin, and many
other places too numerous to mention. In 1860
the Grand Duke accompanied his mother to
Germany, and afterward went with her to Nice,
where his eldest brother, the Czsrowitz Mich.
olas, was lying dangerously ill., The Emperor
Alexander, the Empress, the Grand Duke Alexis
and the affanced bride OF the dying grand duke
the charming Princess Dagmar, OF Denmark,
were all present at the death-bed. The follow
ing years in the life of Prince Alexis have not
been distinguished by any noteworthy events
unless II he that he was present, i'm the year 1864,
when the murderOus attempt was made upon the
life of his imperial father which excited so pro-
found sensation throughout the civilized world
Alexis stood OH that memorable occasion close
behind the emperor.
On another occasion the Grand Duke was en-