Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-11-11

race, was probably preserved thereby
from something worse.
In this conviction the deceased Car
ina, towards the last, not simply tole-
rated, but, if anything, rather encour-
aged and fostered the iaison. The Gar
himself became so devoted to the
Princess that at length he could not
endure her absence from his company.
The visits to Ems, the social life of the
Car at the -Four Towers" and his
devotion to the Princess and family
there are not unknown in Germany.
The longer the relation was maintain
ed the more attached did the Emperor
become to the family, the happiness of
whose heads would seem to have been
perfect but for the missing sanction of
law and morality. The Czarina de-
voted herself more and more exclusive
ly to the Church and works of religion
and piety, leaving the domestic hearth
and family life more and more in the
hands of the Princess. At length the
latter occupied splendid suite of
apartments in the Winter Palace at
st. Petersburg, above the rooms occu-
pied by the Cza~ himself. The new
family relations into which the sover-
eign thus openly entered could hardly
fail to exercise some influence on pub.
lie life. Before long the Princess was
induced, by solicitations from dignita-
ries of the state and by petitions from
less influential persons, to use her in
fluence with the Car in matters of
public concern.
Thus it came to pass that in the
upper story of the Winter Palace n
kind of regular but separate court
gathered together. Here Russian states
men were to be seen crowGing almost
as eagerly as to the real court, story
lower. Here, in, fact, state business
was transacted quite as effectively as
in the regular ministerial offices of the
empire. The Car himself, indeed, re-
quested of the courtiers that they
should wait on the Princess and show
their respect and devotion to her, and
such a wish was of course not neg
lected. Only the legitimate members
of the Imperial family looked with
jealousy on the intruder and held
aloof from the Court Of the Upper
Story. When it was observed that
the Emp ess's illness was assuming a
threatening aspect, it was regarded as
certainty that rs soon as death had
restored the Car his freedom of ac-
ton it would not be long before he
would marry the Princess Dolgoruki.
Hardly had the Empress's decease
taken place last spring when all eyes
were directed to the upper story of the
Winter Palace. 1t was, however, with
genuine surprise that, four months af-
ter the death of the Czarina, St. Peters
burg heard it whispered that the Sow
ereign had led his second consort to the
altar. Why this haste, it was asked,
since there had been no restrictions
whatever put on the connection, and
especially when such a violation of
the prescriptions of the Church and
of the national traditions could not
fail to offend the Russian people, who
are brought up in such strict regard
for bothY The explanation is, per-
haps, to be found in the health of the
Car.
The Sovereign is now ageing and a
sudden termination of his life, which
might occur at any moment, might
have prevented him giving the. sane
ton of marriage to n connection to
which he was so completely devoted.
For the asthma, by which the Gar
has for some years been afflicted, is
growing worse and his general condi.
ton of body is constantly becoming
weaker. For his new consort the En-
peror has made provisions in various
ways. Among other things, he has
bought for her the palace of the Grand
Duchess Catherine at n cost of 2,000,.
600 roubles. and it is said that he has
already given it to his consort, 1t is,
however, in Livadia that the Car in.
tends to fix his permanent residence
after the PRONUNCIATION ofthe marriage