The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-02-19
THE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA.
london Cor. Baltimore sun.l


From the memoirs of the Count de
Reiset I translate the following, rs he is
the last of an old school of diplomats
who leave their mark at every court in
Europe, carrying thence in return
recollections and regrets which they are
one day sure to publish: Thirty-nine
years ago this very month of January
the Grand Duke Alexander of Russia
set out, accompanied by Count Orloff
and numerous suite, to visit the vari-
Gus Courts of Germany, where Prin-
ceSses, marriageable and suitable, were
officially reported to exist. He went TO
Berlin, of course, and to several other
of the North German capitals. lie ar
rived shortly afterward at Frankfort
and put up at the Hotel de Russie. But
no marriageable Princesses were to he
found at Frankfort-at that time free
republic.
1t was only to be the halting place
for the night and CarlsruEe their goal,
where the Princess Alexandrina. who
afteTwaTd became Duchess of SAKE
COburg Gotha, and the Princess Marie
of Baden, afterward Duchess of Hamil-
ton, and the mother of Monaco, whose
divorce suit at Rome is cause ceIebrc,
formed pair of the greatest attractions
in Germany. The imperial travellers
were leaving Frankfort, therefore, when
the DEke of Hesse- -Darmstadt sent an
invitation to the Grand Duke begging
his company at the neighboring castle
of Darmstadt. The young Prince some
what unwillingly accepted the invi-
tation. The dinner was a family
one, and the young Princess
Marie did not appear. Alexander was
even ignorant of her existence,
for her name had not appeared on the
official list of German PrincesSes aspiT-
ing to the hand of the first of continental
Princes. In the evening, however, the
Grand Duke, while passing through the
dining-rOOm of the castle, met 81 young
lady accompanied by Mile. de Grancy,
her go1tUeT7aGnte; 3; they were going to the
drawing-rOOm for tea, and the young
lady mOdestly stepped aside to allow the
Prince TO pass. Seeing this young girl
so maize and so gentle, the Grand Duke
asked of the Hessian nObleman who she
was.
'''Tis her Highness, the Princess
Marie of Hesse. -
4" Indeed said the Grand Duke;
4" how old is sheP''
Immediately on reaching the dining
room he begged to be presented to her.
The Princess Marie was an admirable
young girl-modest, simple, and charm
| ing. She had been brought up some
what in the Cinderella fashion in tie
family OF Hesse. The Grand Duke was
| struck still more by her retiring good
ness and modest beauty, and during the
! evening conversed with her frequently.
| On his return to Frankfort the Grand
Duke scarcely spoke a word to the gen
! tlemen of his suite, and retired ut once
| to his apartments. The following morn
| ing Count Orloff (nOw Russian Am
| bassador-elect to London) waited on the
! Prince to receive his orders and to learn
the hour he had fixed for his departure
! for Baden.
"My dear Count said the Grand
Duke, "We need 20 no further; l have
made my choice; my journey is at an
| end"
"WhatP" replied Count Orloff, as
tonished whatchoice has your imperial
highness madeP"
- l shall marry the Princess Marie of
Hesse if she will do me the homer of
granting me her hand"
q But" said the Count, " from every
point of view such a thing is impossi-
BILE. The Princess Marie has not even
been placed on the list of German Prin-
cesses now marriageable. She is in
weak health, and, moreover, too young.
| Your highness has not yet seep the
Baden Princesses, and the Grand Duke
would be offended if you did not 90 to
Carlshruhei"
If necessary, for politeness sake, /
shall 90 to Carlsruhe; but l spent all
night rejecting, and ] shall only marry
Princess Marie, who belongs to a family
that has already given Russia one En-
press, and which is one of the most Illus
trious and ancient in Germany"
Count OrlOff was in despair at this
definite speech, and wrote off at once 10
the Emperor Nicolas. Indeed, this
news was received with astOnishment in
the imperial family. The Princess Ma
rie was known scarcely at all, having,
since the death of her mother, been
brought up privately by Mile. de
Grancy. The most intimate friends Of
the imperial family did their utmost TO
thwart such an alliance.
But the Emperor Nicolas, whose al
fection for his son was unbounded,
would not oppose his inclination, and
said almost publicly, in order to put an
end to the various rumors anoat:
! - Princess Marie of Hesse, like all other
German Princesses, is to be found in
, the Gotha Almanac. She is, moreover,
a charming young lady, who viii make
the happiness of our son. Both the
Empress and myself think that Alex
ander ought TO marry according to his
liking
E It may be easily imagined what joy
this news caused to the Hessian family.
! From that moment the gaze of the
: whole of Europe was directed to that
1 Young girl, so modest and SO accom-
T. plished, who was soon to ascend
= one of the greatest thrones III this
| world.
: From the Count de Reiset / cease TO
a quote, but must add, by the light Of my
u own brief experience in touring 10 and
: from St. Petersburg, that l have never
} heard but one voice of love and admira-
: ton for this Empress, who never forgot
: her maiden simplicity, modesty, and
= virtuous bearing. She was born on the
= 8th of August, 1924, and married the
= 28th of April, 1841, just about four
= months after the accidental meeting al
= Darmstadt ! have described from Count
= de Reisert's memoirs.
e An elephant constituted the great at