The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-07-20
The Childhood of Alexander II.


The unfortunate Emperor, whose person is
styled sacred in the dispatch announcing his
death to the Russian Embassy, was the son
Of a German mother-Charlotte Frederika of
Prussia. Her maternal tenderness alone rem
dered tolerable in his boyhood the military
strictness in which Nicholas reared him. As
he was her eldest child, her influence extended
over him the best part of her life. She died
when he was forty-four years old. This Prin-
cess had clear, vivid recollection of the
sufferings Inflicted by Napoleon on her father
land: her sensibilities-natural!y keen-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 H0henzollern. The
family tie was hardly relaxed by the marriage
of the Princess Charlotte with the Grand Duke
(since EmPeror) Nicholas.
Those acquainted with her private life well
know that she taught her children, whom she
kept under her own eve as much as the obi
cations of her high position admitted. to love
and venerate their ancestors on her side of the
house. She dishked the Frenchified notions
which had come in under Catherine, and head
ed the reaction against French literature and
language. German became the tongue of the
highest circle at Court The mother of the late
Gar also nourisiied toward France sentiments
analogous to those prevalent in England when
the battle of Waterloo was counted the great
est national anniversary. France was the
birthplace Of revolution and all its attendant
horrors. 1t was a storm cradle, and per-
manent disturbing influence in Europe, and the
close union of Russia and Prussia would be
necessary 10 keep French turbulence in
bounds. There was much affectionate inter
course kept up, through the Czarina, wife Of
Nicholas, between the Imperial family at ST.
Petersburg and the Royal family at Berlin.
This intercourse helped to shape the tragical
end-of the Gar Alexander, who, when tie Slav
race was stimulated by the military successes
of the Germans in France to Overbesr Turks,
Magyars and Roumanians, was felt to be an
obstacle, his heart being drawn toward his
mothers kindred at Berlin. And it was no
wonder that it should have been so inclined.
Whenever members Of the Hohenzolern 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 early dinners. They appeared 10
bring something with them corresponding TO
the atmosphere of spring. When they came the
Empress dressed in simple muslin, and, unless
at reviews and public ceremonies, laid etiquette
aside. Her childrea were suffered to act ac-
cording to their childish instincts with their
relations from Berlin. German sentimentality
dominated courtly grandeur.
So far as she could, the Prussian born En-
press placed youthful Grand Dukes und Grand
Duchesses under German tutors and govern
essess. who made war on the Swiss rigidity
which had passed at St Petersburg for the
French rationalism Of the eighteenth century.
Whatever was humanizing and sofiening and
Of nature to command the sympathy of an
ingenious prince came TO the late Emperor,
when Czarowitch, in a German form. His Mill
taFy Governor was priggish, Russianized
Swiss, who talked French. His tutor was the
benevolent Moerder, pious Lutheren, who
endeavored TO impress upon Alexander thai
the meauest peasant with a good conscience
was higher in the favor Of SGpreme Being
than the highest potentate who neglected the
duties Of humanity. Then the Czarowiteh Alex
ander had an aunt-in-isw, the Grand Duchess
Helena, who was a native Of WurtembeTg, and
had an elegant tongue 10 descant Oh lis 70
mantle hills and dales, old castles and legends.
When oppressed, and brought to q state Of
settled gloom and apathy by the stern disci-
pIine which his father imposed on him, Alex
ander recovered in making tour in Germany
4 healthy interest in life. In the course Of
this tour be fell in love with the Princess of
Hesse Darmstadt, and was indebted to his
mothers taste for poetry and romance for the
leave given him two years later to marry, ac-
cording to his fancy. The Emperor Alexander's
mind was entirely subdued. His will had
been crushed out by his fathers discipline,
and be took refuge from the oppression Of
which he was the victim in vague dreams and
and castle-building in the-air. These arial
castles were generally benevolent Institutions
One Of them be brought down to the region Of
fact in emancipsfing the serfs.