New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-14
ALEXANDER AND HIS REIGN.

A RETROSPECT OF An EvEN1FUL PERIOD IN THE
1usToKY OF RUssIA-THE GREAT EVENTS WITH
WHICH ALExANDERs NAME ARE ASSOCIATED.
Alexander If was tho son of Nicholas | and the
Princess Charlotte Of Prussia, the eldest daughter
of Frederick William III and sister OF the present
EmpcrOr of Germany. lie was born April II, 1918,
when his uncle Constantine was heir TO the throne.
About 1921, a secret family agreement was made in
virtue of which Constantine renounccd the success
sion in favor of Nichols who assembled the throne
the death of Alexander l. in 1925. Alexander was
educated with great care under the direction Of hIs
father who gave almost daily attention to its prog
ross and took special pains to tit him for military
career HIS tutors were native Russians among
whom was ZoukOwski a poet and man of much
general information, whose syInpathles were with
the Old Russian party. Alexander showed fair apti-
tude for study, and seldom if ever in
his youth. manifested the intractable
temper of the Romanofs. He was a favOrte with
his companions who liked him for his gentle dspO-
siton and warm-hearted romantic nature Al the
instance of his father he travelled through Russia
before going abroad learning thus tho greatness of
his own fatherland. At sixteen he was declared of
age and was constrained to take part IN reviews and
other military exercises. His health was impaired
bv this discipline, and it was decided to send him
abroad
Tn charge of the Prince de Lieven the young Arch
duke made a tour III Germany, which was a
round of festivity. He tarried at the Court OF
Uesse-D Darmstadt. where lie woOed and won the
Princess Mary, daughter Of the Grand Duke Louis
IT, They were married in 1871. Tho match was
wholly based on affection, Alexander being at lib
erty to make his own choice among host OF Euro
pean princeSses.
After his marriage Alexander, who had borne
the honorary title of Chancellor of the University
of Finland from his bOyhOod, showed warm inter
est in that institution and tried in other ways to
reconcile the Fnanders to Russian rule. In 1916
he yyas placed in charge of the Government during
the absence of his father Italy. From the age oil
eighteen he had been trained to the difficult task OF
Governing tho Empire, and had attended
constantly tho State councils. Accordingly
he proved equal to the task which thus
ouddrnlv deyolyed on him. In 1850 he visited
Southern Russia and took part in skirmsh with
the Circassians for which he received the order OF
81. George, During the quarrel with Turkey his
counsels were on the side of peace. but when war
hogan he nade common cause with his people in re-
sistinp the hostilities waged by Turkey i'll alliance
with France and England.
ALEXANDRA BECOMES CzAR.
On the 10Th of February, 1879, Alexander H.
became Emperor. His father bad died from the
yexation entaled by disastrous war. serve
vonr country /" was his dying command to his her.
" Serve YOUR country! All my care all my efforts
have been directed to the good OF Russia des lred
to take upon myself all the difficulties, all the dah-
gers. so that might leave TO you an Empire Tran
quill, well organized and happy. Providence has