Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-01-21
History Of the Grand Duke Alexis
Matrimonial Exploit.

y
Alexis, the handsome youth about whom
so many society bellies in New York
went half wild at the time of his visit to
the United States. The story has never
been told in print except in a very frag-
mentaTy way. Among the deuaoiselles
d'aoHasar of Her Majesty the Empress
was very pretty and attractive girl, the
daughter of q high official who was a
member of the Council of Empire. She
was attached to the imperial household
and lived in the palace; Alexis fell in
love with her-fell in love over head and
ears-which was very wrong for Grand
Duke. He declared his passion and
found it reciprocated, and with the head
strong imprudence of youth he proposed
to elope with her and be married. She,
poor girl, did not weigh the conse-
quenees, and probably was not aware
what q mess she would make by accept
ing his offer One day while the court
was at Moscow the twain met by sp-
pointment, sought priest, and were
united. The marriage was kept secret
for two or three months, but marriage,
like murder, will out, and this case proved
no exception to the rule. When it became
known there was a scene such as does
not often happen. The Emperor swore
and the Empress cried and the whole
imperial family was in funk Alexis
was talked to in very plain, old-fash.
Toned way. 1t was determined TO send
him on d long journey in the hope of
curing him of his love, and so he was
started on the voyage that brought him
to America and took him home by way
OF Japan and Siberia Mrs. Alexis was
90 10 h.-o al
and the eye of the police was not taken
from her until she was safe over the
frontier The priest who reformed the
ceremony was packed off TO Siberia in
spite OF his protest that he didn't know
the parties and that he married
them just as he would any other
couple. They didn't let on who they
were, but only gave their names, a Ia
Russo, as Alexis Alexandrovitch and
Marie Paulovna, which are about as
traceable or suspicious in this country as
John Smith and Mary Jones would be in
New York. Alexis came back after an
absence of three years and he is now
commander of one of the crack ships of
the Russian navy. Ii is intended that
when the Grand Duke Constantine, pres
ent Grand Admiral, has passed away 10
make Alexis his successor, and SO his
voyage round the world cannot fail TO do
him good. The wife and priest are still
in exile, the former in Switzerland and
the latter in Siberia.
Alexis has Iepented of his folly and
the family quarrel has been partially
smOothed over. The laws OF Russia
very stupidity do not permit q divorce,
and when you marry here you have no
hope of release from trouble except by
the Intervention of the old man with the
hour-glass and moving machine. In a
case like this you can get round IL by al
imperial decree, but even that cannot be
done without the disappearance and sup
posed death of one OF the parties. Last
winter they tried to fix up the business
and the undertaking was made by no
less a parsonage than Count Shouyalotf
The Count has the reputation of never
failing in any difficult and delicate piece
of diplomacy that he takes In hand, and
in the present instance he was confident
of success. He went and he returned
and since his return ne has not been in
favor as he was.
Mrs. Alexis was stopping at one of tho
hotels on the Quai du Mont Blanc, in
Geneva, and one day card bearing the
name of Russian nobleman whom she
did not know was sent TO her room. In
order to preserve an incognito the Count
travelled under one OF his inferior titles
and il was with this name that he pre-
sented himself She descended to the
parlor TO see the stranger, and at once
recognized the redoubtable Count, hav
ing become familiar with his face and its
huge mustache AZ court. After the
usual commonplaces the Count proceeded
To business and managed it with all the
skill of which he was possessed.
II was proposed that she should re-
nounce all claim to the hand of Alexis,
should change her name and disappear,
and let the places that had known her
know her no more forever. In return
for this tritiing and perfectly feasible
service she would receive l,000OOO
roubles down and an annuity of $4,000
roubles, which would be continued 10
her child in case the latter survived her,
and 1t was devoutly hoped he would not.
About this time the child was brought
into the room, and the Count observed,
doubtless with sorrow in his heart that
il was in vigorous health, and there was
no reasonable hope that the gods would
love IL and enable IL TO die young.
The Count used all the arguments at
his command, and there were plenty Of
them, but to no purpose. The woman
was obstinate and spurned the offer with
an air of indignation worthy tragic
actress. But remember" said the
Count, "you can never see Alexis again
you will not be allowed TO return TO
Russia, ard his movements will be so ar.
ranged that a meeting will be impossi-
BILE. You have learned by this time that
even were the marriage recognized by
the Emperor you could never appear at
court or receive the imperial recogni.
ton If you love Alexis release him
from the consequences Of his youthful
passion, and enable him 20 fill the posi-
ton which belongs to him."
But she would do nothing OF the sort,
not even when she was told she could
name the financial terms and receive the
money when and where she wished. She
loved Alexis and had married him, and
would remain his wife until death
should do the graceful thing for one Of
them. Possibly the Count hoped that
the pale warrior would begin on her at
an early date, but If he thought SO he
didn't say so. The interview lasted o
couple OF hours and was as unsuccessful
as the most earnest admirer o. pig
headed constancy in love could desire.