The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-04-12
THE LATE GEAR.
HIS EARLY FAITH AND THE ROMANCE OF
HIS FIRST LOVE.

HIS EARLY FAITH AND THE ROMANCE OF
HIS FIRST LOVE
New York Evening Post
Alexander was made s1b-lieutenant of
the Imperial Guard when fourteen wears
old. One day he happeaed to cross when
in uniform one Of the has of the palace
where the high dignitaries of the realm
we're assembled. As heentered they rose
and bowed. This mark Of respect from
the oldest soldiers of the empire fsttered
the boys vanity. In his glee he repeat
edly passed through the room expecting
the same recognition from the courtiers.
The latter took no further notice. Vexed
: at what lie considered bseach of etiquette
the young grand duke complained to his
father of the treatment he received.
Nicholas took him by the hand and led
him to the hall. "These men whom you
want to honor you,'' he said, 6 are the men
YOU should honor. You should regard
any mark of respect they pay you as An
excess of kindness. What you have done
shows that you are too young to wear the
epaulettes Of an officer | deprive you of
them" All entreaties were in vain
Alexander was degraded in the presence
of the assembly; to be made, however,
colonel in the Grenadiers Of the Guard at
the age of sixteen. Although he then led
joyous life, he began to be subject to
those fits of melancholy which are charac-
teristic Of the family of the Romanoffs.
The Prince Morouzi, a chamberlain at
tached to his person, relates that he would
sometimes remain for weeks without ut
tering a word. Travelling was suggested
as rem edy for this moroseness, but as it
seemed to have no effect, marriage was
prescribed The romance of this mar
riage is too well known to need relating
The happiness of this couple, however,
came to an untimely end. Religion car
ried to the extreme of bigotry was the
original cause of the enlargement between
the Imperial pair. In spite of her Protes-
tant birth and education, Marie Alexan-
drovna showed all along a strong inclina-
tion to the rites of the Greek Church.
She found a charm in its devotional exer-
cises and lifeless ceremonies which had
never dawned upon the Emperor
Her apartment became a chapel The
number of hours she daily spent before the
. Sacred Image" increased to more and
more serious extent. That nuns life
was by 30 means calculated to please q
brilliant and pleasure-lovipg husband it is
needless TO add. It was at this epoch that
the PRINCESS Catherine Dolgorouki made
her appearance at the court. 1t was like
the rising of a new star. In her presence
the Emperor seemed to forget every one
else Her social success at the court and
the constant homage paid her by her SOW
ereign could not fail, finally, honest as she
was at heart, to intoxieate her. Imper-
ceptibly the young girl fell in love, not
with the spendor or power of the Emper-
or, but with the chivalrous appearance of
the man.
Yet she resorted to all expedients to
break off an intimacy which she saw could
only end in dishonor, and for months she
refused the visits Of her sovereign. She
lived in tears The Princess Dolgorouki
Volcano, her sister-in-law, with whom she
lived, not wishing to cover with her good
name the fall of the girl who had been en-
trusted to her care, in stormy interview
forbade the Emperor her house The Czar
withdrew On the morrow he forwarded
to the Princess his portrait with the au-
tographic legend, ITO the woman re-
spect most Time fled on. But one day
Catherine left her brothers roof and took
up her residence in a small and modest
house on Quai Anglais. In that spot for
many years the Russian autocrat almost
daily sought oblivion from the pre-occu-
patton of State affairs.