The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-13

The Childhood "a Ats-asusF.
The unfortunate emperor, whose
4 person is styled sacred in the dis
patch announcing bis death to the
Russian Embassy, was the son of 4
German mother Charlotte Freder-
/ ika OF Prussia. Her maternal ten
derncss alone rendered tolerabie IN
Alis boyhood The military strictness
in which Nicholas reared him. rs
he was her eldest child, her inllu-
+ cnec extended over him the best
part Of his life. She died when he
was fertv-tour years Old. This Prln-
. cess had a clear, q vivid recollection
OF the suilierings inflicted by Napo-
leon on her fatherland her sensi-
Enthusiastically kcen-had been
intensified by the sorrows which the
French Invasion had brought upon
her family. and by the untimely
death Of her mother, the heroic and
talented Queen Louisa These Sc
we're trials knit close to each other
the members Of the House OF iio-
henzollern. The family tie was
hardly relaxed BY the marriage of
the Princess Charlotte with the
Grand Duke (since Emperor Mich
olas.
Those acqaainted with her private
live well knew that she taught her
children, whom She kept under her
own eye as much rs the oblieatins
Of her high position admitted, to
love and renerate their ancestors on
her side OF the house. She disliked
the Frcnchified notions which had
come in under Catherine, and
headed the reaction against French
literature 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
the battle Of Waterloo was counted
our greatest national anniversary.
France was the birthplace of revolu-
ton and all It's attendant horrors.
1t was n storm cradle, and a pcrma-
nent disturbing influence in Europe,
and the close union of Russia and
Prussia would be necessary to keep
French turbulence in bounds. There
WAS much aifectionate intercourse
kept up, through the Czarina, wife
Of Nicholas, between the Imperial
family at St Petersburg and the
Royal family at Berlin. This inter
course helped to shape the tragical
end of the Gar Alexander, who,-
when the Slave race was stimulated
by the military successes Of the Ger
mans in France to oyerbear Turks.
Macyars aud Roumanians, was felt
10 be al obstacle, his heart being
drawn toward his mothers kindred
az Berlin. And it was no wonder
that It -noa,d have been so inclined.
Whenever members of rho Hohen-
zollern family went on visits to the
wife of Nicholas and mother Of
Alexander the natural feelings Of
the heart were allowed to expand at
informal teas and carly dinners.
They appeared to bring something
with them corresponding TO tho at-
mosphere OF spring. When they
came the Empress dressed in simple
muslin, and, unless at reviews and
public ceremonies, laid ctequcttc
aside. Her children were suffered
20 act act according to their child
ish instincts with their relations
from Berlin. German sontimcntah-
t. dominated courtly grandeur.
So far as she could. the Prussian
born Empress placed youthful
Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesess
under German tutors and govern
esscs, who made war on the Swiss
rigidity which had passed at st.
Petersburg for the French rational
lam o. the eighteenth century.
Whatever was humanizing and soft
ening and OF a nature to command
the sympathy Of an Ingenious Prince
came to the late Emperor, when
Czarewhich, in 4 German form. His
military governor was pTiggish,
kussianized Swiss, who talked
French. His tutor was the benevo-
lent M0erder, a pious Lutheran,
who eaaeayored to impress on Alex
ander that the peanest peasant with
a good conscience was higher in the
favor Of a Supreme Being than the.
highest potentate who neglected
the duties OF humanity
Then the Czarwitch Alexan-
der had an aunt-in-law, the Grand
Duchess Helena, who was a native
of WQrtembuFg, and had a tongue
to descant on its romantic bills and
dales. cd castles and legends. When
oppressed, and brought to 4 state Of
settled gloom and apathy by the
stern discipline which his father in-
posed on him. Alexander recover
ed in making a tour in Germany a
healthy interest in life. In the
course CT this tour he fell in love
with the Princeas Of Hesse- Darn
stadt, and was indebtcd to lis moth
er's taste for poetry and romance
for the leaye given him two years.
later 70 marry according 70 his fan
cy. Tie Emperor Alexander's
mind w.s entirely subdued. His
win had been crushed oat By his
discipline, and took refuge
from the oppression Of which he
was the victim in vague dreams and
casle-building in the air. These
Irial castles were generally boneyo-
lent institutions. One Of them he
brought down to the region Of fact
in emancipating the serfs.-PGH
Nal GG-ctie