Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-06-11
NICHOLAS AND CHARLOTTE
A Love Romance of History

The betrcthal AID marriage of the
Princess Charlotte Of Prussia with Mich
olas. who was then Grand Duke, but
afterwards became Emperor of Russia,
forms one of the sweetest and most ro-
mantle love episodes in the world OF
European courts, which Is usually 30
devoid of love and romance, and would,
on that account alone, deserve being re-
membered, quite regardless Of the his
torical interest which will henceiorth
adhere to all the members Of the fami-
ly of the consueror Of France.
Princess Charlotte was born in the
year 1898, and was the eldest daughter
Of King Frederick William the Third OF
Prussia and his beautiful and accom-
pllshed wife, Queen LOUISA. Her early
childhood elapsed amidst scenes OF ter
ror and humiliation for the royal family
OF Prussia, and nobody would at that
time have ventured to predict for her the
brilliant career which Providercs kept
in store for this child, born and brought
I'D under such fatal auspices. We might,
indeed, make an exception in favor OF
her mother, who, with that prophetic
intuition which seems to have been the
distinguishing feature of that high-mind'
ed'woman, wrote one day to her father,
the Duke of Mecklenburg, the following
lines about his daughter: Charlotte is
given to silence and reserve, but under
her apparent GOODNESS she conceals d
warm and loving heart. Her indifer-
ence and pride are but the dullest out
side Of diamond of the purest water,
which some day will shine forth in its
brilliant lustre. Her bearing and mod
els are noble and dignlfied. She has but
a few friends, but these few are warmly
attached to her. 1 know her value, and
nredict for her brilliant future if abe
lives long enough
The young Princess was indeed very
frail and delicate creature, one OF those
tender flowers which seem to wait fol
the kind band of the gardener to trans
plant them into warmer cline. She
was charming and handsome, but hsl
beauty was rather that of pale lily
than that of a blooming rose.
Charlotte was just sixteen, when, in
the year 1914, the Grand Duke Eicho'
las, on his way to the camp ofthe allied
armies in France, passed through Ber'
| lin and was warmly welcomed as ar
hsnored guest at the royal palace.
The description those who saw ant
knew the Grand Duke at the time have
given of the Incompatible graces of his
person and mind, makes it easy for u:
10 imagine that the heart Of a young
girl, just budding into womanhood' wa'
eaptlvatea and charmed by him almos
at first sight.
Well he might have said, like Cesar
l'I came, 1 saw, 1 conquered
The Princess fell in love with him
land fortunately for her the young Crane
Duke returned her love fully as passion
lately.
The Grand Duke Nicholas had th'
reputation of being one OF the hand
soonest, if not the very handsomest, mai
OF the times and his majestic and state
" form. which measured no less thai
, six feet and two inches, was considere
uneeualled in beauty not only In Rus
sia, but in all Europe.
He was yigoross, strong, full Of III
4 and health, with broad shoulders an
chest. while his small hands and Zee
were ofthe most aristocratic elegance
His whole figure realized the periec
model of manly and commanding beau
ty. which the genius of a sculptor ofar
tiquity has immortalized under the fea
lures of Apollo Belvidere.
His features were Of the Grecian cal
forehead and nose Termed a straigi
,ine-and the large blue, sincere ey'
tt showed singular combination OF CON
y nosure ,sternn ness, ,seli-rellance and prid
among which it would have been dif
cult for the observer to name the pr'
dominant expression.
Those who have looked closely al
attentively into those remarkable ey'
), would have easily believed that the
threatening glance would suffice to su
press a rebellion, to terliy and diSar
a murderer, or to trighten away su
'. nl;cant. But there would have BET
but few 10 believe that the sternness
those eyes could be entirely softened
as 10 beam forth nothing but love al
70 kindness.
Among those few, however, was
Young Prussian Princess, who had dru
deep In their intoxicating iervOr. 1t
ry true that she was the only person in t
world In whose presence the Olympi
gravity of his features gave way to
radiant cheerfulness, which made
z: z; manly beauty perfectly irresistible.
In such moments bis magnidcs
." brow, always the seat of meditation a