New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-03
TIE CHILDHOOD OF ALEXANDER III.
F,ron The Phil AGU Gd.eue.

The unfortunate Emperor. whose person ls styied
sacred in the dispatch announcing bis death 20 tne
Charlotte Frederick OF Prussia. Her maternal
tenderness alono rendered tosrable in his bsvheod
the military strctncss in which Nicholas reared ninI;
As he was her eldest child, her influence e1'enaeo
over him the best part Of his life. She died when
he was forty. four years old. This Princess nau
clear. n vivid recollection Of the suffer1nRs innicteo
by Napoleon on her fatherland; her sensiollitles-
naturally keen-had been intensified by the sorrows
which the French invasion had brought upon nei
family. and by the untimely death OK Der mother,
the heroic and talented Queen Louisa. these severe
trials knit close 10 each other the members OF the
House of HobeDzollern. The family tie was batdiy
relaxed by the marriage OF the Princess Chafiotte
with the Grand Duke since Emperor Nicholas
Those acquainted with her private life well knew
that she taught her children, whom she Kept under
her own eve as much as tho obligations OF nsr hieh
position admitted. TO love and yeDcrate tneir ances
tors on her side or the house. She dlslked tne
Frenched notions which had come IN under Cath-
crime, asd headed the reaction against French tera
ture and language German became the tongue OF
the highest circle at Court The mother OF the late
Gar also nourished toward France sentiments
analogous TO those prevalent in England when tne
Battle of Waterloo counted our greatest rational
anniversary. France was the birthplace OF revolu-
ton and all It's attendant horrors. 1t was storm
cradle. and permanent disturbing innuenco IL, w
Europe, and the close union OF RUSSIA ana
Prussia would be necessary 10 keep trebch
turbulence IN bounds. There was much affsctionate
intercourse kept up through the Gzirins Ilie OF
Nicholas between the Imperial family at ~, Peters
burg and the Royal family at Berlin. ms INFER
course helped to shape the tragcal end of the Car
Alexander. Who. when the Slav rece was stimulated
by the military successes Of the Germans IN France
% overbear Turks Msgyars ana Tournaments, was
ieIt 10 be obstacle, his heart being drawn toward
hi, mothsrs kindred at borL", Ana IL was no
Whenever members OF the Hohonzollern family
went Oh visits to the wife Of Nicholas and mother
of Alexander the natural feelings OF the heart were
allowed to expand at informal teas and early
dinners. They appeared to bring something WIN
them corresponding TO the atmosphere OF spr1ng
When thev came the Empress dressed III simple
muslin. aud, unless at reviews and pubic cere-
monies LAID etiquette aside. Her children were
suffered to act according to their childish instincts
with their relations from berlin. German senu-
mentality dominated courtly grandeur
So tar As she could. the Prusslan born Empress
placed Youthful Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses
war on the Swiss rigidlty which had passed at 81
Petersburg for the French ratonslism OF the
eighteenth century. Whatever was hqmanlzlng
and ssftenng and Of nature to command the sym
psthy OF an Ingenious prince came 10 the late Elm
perur, when Czsresitcb, in German form
Hs military governor vas PrsR,s ~.
tutor Vas the benevolent Moerder. P,ous Lutheran.
who end-avored 10 impress upon Alexander that
the meauest peasant with good conscience was
higher IN the favor Of o Supreme Being than the
highest potrntatc who neglected the duties OF nu-
n.anitv. Then the CZarewitch Alexander bad an
aunt-in-law tho Grand " Dacnss helena nd T SaS
au eloquent tongue to descant on ito romantic NUS
aud dales old castles and legends. When oppressed,
and brought TO a state OF settled gloom ano apa'ny
by the stern discipline which his father Imposed Oh
him Alexander recovered III making tour IN Ger
many healthy interest IN life In the course OF TINS
tour he fell in love with the Princess or hesse Darn-
.talt and was indebted TO his mothers taste Tor
% 9 ~ and romance Tor tho leave gwen him two
wears later to marry according to his fancy. lhe
Emperor AlexsndeTs mind was entirely suooued'
In, viii had been crushed ont by lis fathers dis.
cIplIne aud he took refuge from the oppression OF
winch he was the victim 10 vague dreams anu castle
building IN the air. These Gria castles wero gen.
brought down 10 the region oil fact IN emancpatns
he scTfs-