Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-03-12

Fore IN Correspondence b .s.oa ffrcrlls.r
There Is SO seldom romance in roval ml.-
II-es that whoa it does exis. think tue
good example shouil D., cited s. | must
,e,l ypl tie circumstances # the Empress
If E1s-.a telrltha. q, learned them
from one who is very near and Gear to her.
Like the Princess % Wales. She was one
Of numerous and p,o- family bat, unlike
that charming princes. She was mt beaut.-
full, and no hopes were founded up0n her
making marriage which would adj glory
to the modest princess % llessc parmstundt.
S1ch, however. WIS destined t1 be the case,
and the projects 0i wise mcu were ovcrturn-
et By the simple caprice Of the human heart
Alexanlre Nicolajeyiiche, Grand Due Heri-
teer, vas in the year lSil charming
young prince oi -. who, having reached the
age VIXEN It was thought necessary that lie
should take a wife and perpetuate the in
perial line of Russian monarchs, went forth
on a voyage Of discovery amongst marriage
able rrirces-es. great and small. armed with
list Of the most eligible names, and quite
decided To choose one from among them
Prince Orloti, who oaecompauieI His Imperial
llighress rs mentor and guide. affirmed and
confirmed hy each courier the state Of in
ciIn pursued his round, and a. last wrote
begging 'Empercur Nicholas to indicate
Preference which would help 10 turn the
balance, and decide the important question
Before the answer was received, fate con-
dHcted the wanderers 10 the theatre, where
the first person upon whom the Young
Grand Dues eyes alghtei attentisey was
the Princess Marie Maximillanue of Hesse
nodestly seated in the second row of her
fathers box.
"N no IS that young person 90 asked His
Imperial !iighness ; and when Prince OrioH
replied he added decidedly. "Anl future
Empress Of Russia 80
Bat her name Is not even on the list ~
cried the poor Prince Orlon
No matter, we will make it first -
replied the headstroug youth and Us he
proved as good a. ms word. the UNCONSCIOUS
Princess Marie was in due form demanded
in marriage, and has ever since been the
faithful and beloved OF II good and great
monarch.
There first son Nicolas who died in
Nice few years since, had likewise his
page Of romance bu. which closed for him.
poor boy Ger it- realization. lie was be-
trothe3 to Dagma~, Princes OF Denmark,
and had 50 high On appreciation OF her
qualities that on his death-bed he entreated
her to become the wife of his brother Alex
andre and in 1866 that prince did, indeed,
fulfil the death-bed request of one who thus
left him not only throne, bat wife. lie
Is, it seems, a man of great promise, com
binding the iirmness and discipline Of his
grandfather Nicholas. with the erudition
and charm Of the present Emperor.
Whilst | am on the chapter Of kings, past
and present. | may rs well tell you that the
ION dit which las undoubtedly reached
you, of the projected marriage between the
French Prince Imperial and the youngest
daughter Of Queen Victoria, Is perfectly
founded, and tine best prool--were such
proof needed-is that the Queen has indors-
ed the last loan put in circulation in Eng
land bT the Empress Eugenie. Oddly
enough, Her Majesty has overcome her pre-
judices against Protestants marrying Roman
Catholics, but, since she has already accept
el a husband Cor one Of her daughters be-
longing TO the Greek church, the second
step is but very slight one, and ciyiiiza-
ton viii undoubtedly profit by extending
the limit OF royal marriages, rather than
continuing in the frightlul abuse of keep
ing TO near blood.