The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-07-06
HOW KAISER WILHELM'S SISTER
WAS WON.

! ing the progress or ll6 rdGcO-G RUSSIAN
war, and in which he frankly admitted
| that Germany was indebted 10 this sincere
| friendship of her powerful Eas ern neigh
Dor for the comparatively limited dlmen-
| sions Of the gigantic conflict. Unques
tionably the political interests of Russia,
ard above all, her well known policy in
| the Eastern question, have mainly con-
/ tributed to her partiality for Prussia; but
not an insignificant share in this partiaity
must be attributed to personal consideTa-
! tions-to that near relationship which for
| upwards of half century has existed be-
! tween the dynasties of Russia and Prussia;
| for Alexander the Second, the present En-
| perOr OF Russia, is son OF the Princess
| Charlotte of Prussia, the sister of the
present Emperor OF Germany.
! The betrothala and marriage Of this Prln-
! cess with Nicholas, who was then only
/ Grand Duke, but afrerward Emperor of
/ Russia, forms one of the swaetest and
| most romantic love episodes ii the world
| of European courts. which is usually so de-
void of love and romance, and would, on
! that account alone, deserve being remem-
| bered, quite regardless OF the historical IN
! terest which will henceforth adhere to all
| the members Of the family Of the con-
| queror of F'ranCe.
! 1893. and was the eldest daughter OF King
, Frederick William the Third of Prussia,
and lis beautiful and accomplished wife,
Queen Louisa. Her early childhood
elapsed amidst scenes Ofterror and humll-
alton for the royal family Of Prussia, and
nobody would at that time have Ventured
to predict for her the brilliant career
which Providence kept IN store for this
child, born and brought up under slcn fatal
auspices We might, indeed, make an ex-
ceptiOn in favor Of her mother, who, with
that prophetic intuition which seems to
have been the distinguishing feature Of
! that high minded woman, wrote one day
! to her father, the Duke Of Mecklenburg,
the following lines about her daughter:
"Charlotte is given to silence and re-
, serve, but under her apparent coldness
she conceals a warm and loving heart
Her indifference and pride are but the dull
| outside of a diamond Of the purtst water,
which some day will shine forth in its
brilliant lustre, Her beaIilg and manners
are noble and dignifed. She has but few
friends, and these few are warmly attached
to her. | know her value, and predict for
her a brilliant future, if she lives long
enough"
The young Princess was, indeed, very
frail and delicate creature-One of those
tender flowers which seem to wait for the
kind hand OF the gardener to transplant
them into a warmer cline. She was
charming and handsome; but her beauty
was rather that Of a pale lily than that OF
a 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
warmly 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 s9 ... iacqm8are PIE gJaess 9t
TO Imagine that the heart of young girI
lust b idding into womanhood was captl-
yated and charmed by him almost at first
SIGHT. Well ne might have SAID, nke
Caesar, q came, saw, | conquered Inc
Princess fell in love with him, and iollu-
nately for her the young Grand Duke re-
turned her love fully as passlonately.
The Grand Duke Nicholas had the repu,
tation of being one of the handsomest II
not the very handsOmest man OF his tlmes
and his majestic and stately form, winch
measured no less than six feet two inches
was considered unequaled IN beauty, no
, only in Russi,, but in all Europe. dS
was vigorous, strong, full OF ne aliI
! health, with broad shoulders anu cnesl
! while his small hands and feet were OF tn
I most aristOcratic elegance; his who'll
+ figure realized the perfect model OF mani,
> and commanding beauty which the devn
u art of sculptor OF antiquity has lmmoi
- talized under the features OF the Apoll
Il Belyidere His features were CT the Grecla
- cast-forehead and nose formed stralgh
IS Iine-and his large, blue, sincere eye
e showed q singular combination or con
} posure, sternnesss, self-rciiance, and prd,
among which it would have been dllhcu
- for the observer to name the prtdonihal
I expression Those who would have locke
- closely and attentively into those r MARI
" able eyes Ould have easily believed th'
- their threatening glances would suIi!ce
suppress u rebellion, to terrlty ana ulsar
l0 a murderer, or to frighten away q supp
X ant. but there would have been but te
IA to believe that the sternness Of those ey
's could be so entirely sOtteuGd rs to pea
oi forth nothing but love and kindne'
lal Among these few was, however, the YOU
Prussian Princess. who had drunk deep
~ their intoxicating fervor. 1t is true that
~ was the only person in the world III DC
III presence the Olympian gravity OF his /
III lures gave way to a radiant cheeriuint
Ll0 which made his manly beauty perfectly
=" rtsisiible.
IAN In such moments his magnificent brc
We alWays the seat of meditation aud thoug
~ ~ exhibited the serene beauty ana a
~ grace OF young Athenian-the seri,
ny, Pericles seemed, by the invisible wand
'oh a magician to have been transferred l
the youthful Alcibi4des.
Such is the tiattering picture when
cOtemporaries have drawn OF the perso
appearance of the Grand Duke Nlch'
ing at the time of his arrival at Berlin.
, Of At that time, however, the match
ride personal charms of the Grand Duke y
nee. not enhanced by political prospects Of
i3llv most exalted character he was not
+ura eventually considered an heir 10 the
tbe perial crown of Russia. 1t is true
- ander the First, his brother, had no {
Iii dren but in the case of his death,
- - could not be expected soon, the G
Duke Constantine was to inherit
1'ln throne Of Peter the Great, and leav
Nicholas at best but the position
-, Prince of the first blood. NeyeTth(
.Io5 Frederick William, charmed alike ny
l-ie5 ll;e beauty and intellect of his guest, an
80 the hope of uniting the sovereign n
b;.s of Prussia and Russia by the close III
, h;S a family union, greeted the prospect
- ni' r,arriage between the Grand Duke
- his daughter with enthusiasm, espe'
,n as when he discovered that the young
,,bsr themselves were very fond Of each
Mons The King then deicately insinua
ssiog his daughter that if she had taken
"a ~ TO the Grand Duke, and had reason
COMO lieye that the Prince entertained S
, far feelings toward her, their marriage
=, Of meet with no OBJ ection on his part.
IS as But the young Princess, althous
have cretly delighting in a hope which Sc
being responded to the secret wishes OF her
lother was either too proud or TOO bashtui
" and fess to her father her love for tle
mother Duke, who had not yet made any d'
same ton TO her.
of in In this manner the day approach
/ pair which the Grand Duke was 10 leaH
me of lin On the eve Of his departure a
of the gala supper was given in his honor
lied ROYAL Palace, and, by way OF acciC
Doiicy, the young Princess Chariot
seated by the side of her distlnE
nts in admirer.
veaient The Grand Duke was uncommon