St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-26
THE TALlSMAN.


and most romantic love episodes in the worl d
OF European courts, which is usually so de-
void Of love and romance, and would, on that
account alone, deserve being bered,
quite regardless of the historical interest
which will henceforth adhere to all members
of the family of the conqueror of France.
Princess Charlotte was born In the year
I79S, and was the eldest daughter of King
Frederick William the Third of Prussia and
his beautiful and accomplished wife, Queen
Louisa. Her early childhood elapsed amidst
scenes of terror aud humiliation for the royal
family of Prussia, and nobody would at that
time have ventured to predict for her the bril-
liant career which Providence kept in store
for this child, born and brought. up under
such fatal auspices. We might, indeed, make
an exception in favor of her, mother, who
with that prophetic intuition which seems to
hare been the distinguishing feature of that
high minded woman, wrote one day to her
father, the Duke of Mecklenburg. the follow
lines about his daughter:
Charlotte is given to silence and reserve,
but under the apparent GOODNESS she coneeals
warm and loving heart. Her indifference
and pride are but the dullest outside of dia-
moud of the purest water, which some day
will shine forth in its brilliant lustre. Her
bearing and models are noble and dignifed.
She has but few friends, but these few are
warmly attached to her. I know her value,
and predict for her brilliant future, if she
lives long enough.''
The young Princess was indeed very frai
and delicate creature-one Of those tender
flowers which seem to wait for the kind hand
of the gardner to transplant them into a
warmer cline. She was charming and hand
some, but her beauty was rather that of a
pale lilly, than that of blooming rose.
Charlotte was just sixteen, when in the
year 1914, the Grand Duke Nicholas, on his
way to camp of the allied armies in France,
passed through Berlin, aud was warmly well
coined as an honored guest at the royal pal
ace.
The description those who saw and knew
the Grand Duke at the time have givnu of
the incompatible graces of his person and
mind, makes it easy for US to imagine THAT
the heart of young girl, just budding into
womanhood, was captivated and charmed by
him almost at first sight.
Well he might have said, like Caesar, 81
came, saw, con QuereO ~
The Princess fell in love with him, and
fortunately for her the young Grand Duke
returned her love fully as passionately.
The Grand Duke Nicholas had the reputa-
ton of being one of the handsomest, if not
the very handsomest man Of the times and
his majestic and stately form, which meas
ured no less than six feet and two inches,
was considered unequaled in beauty not
only In Russia, but in all Europe.
He was vigorous, strong, full Of life and
health, with broad shoulders and chest,
while his small hands and feet were of the
IN ost aristocratic elegance. His whole figure
realized the perfect model of manly and
commanding beauty, which the genius of a
sculptor of antiquity has immortalized under
the features Of Apollo Belvidere.
His features were of the Grecian cast
forehead and nose formed a straight line
and the large, blue, sincere eyes showed a
singular com bination OF composure, stern
ness, self-relance and pride, among which
1t would have been difficult for the observer
to name the predomnating expression.
Those who have looked closely and atten-
lively into these remarkable eyes would have
easily believed that their threatening glance
would suffice to suppress rebellion, to terri
fy and disarm murderer, or to frighten
away supplicant. But there would have
been but few 10 believe that the sterness Of
those eyes could be entirely softened so as to
beam forth nothing but love and kindness.
Among those few, however, was the young
Prussion Princess, who had drunk deep in
th cir Intoxicating fervor. 1t is true that she
was the only person in the world in whose
presence the Oympian gravity of his fea-
lures gave way to a radiant cheerfulness,
which made his manly beauty perfectly ire
sistible.
In such moments his magnificent brow,
always the seat Of meditation aud thought,
exhibited the serene beauty and Attic grace
of a young Athenian; the serious Pericles
seemed. by the invisible wand of magician,
to have been transplanted into the youthful
Acbiades.
At this time, however, the mate HESS per
sonal charms of the Grand DuNe were en-
HANGED by prospects Of the most exalted
character. He was not eventually considered
an heir to the imperial crown of Russia. 1t
Is true Alexander the First, his brother, had
no children, but in case Of his death, which
could not be expected soon, the Grand Duke
of Constantine was to inherit the throne of
Peaer the Great, and to leave TO Nicholas a
best but the position OF a prince OF the irt
blood. Nevertheless, Frederick Williams
charmed alike by the beauty, and intellect of
his guest, and by the hope Of uniting the SOW
ereign houses Of Prussia and Russia by the
closr ties of family union, greeted the pros,
pect of a marriage between the Grand Duke
an d his daughter with enthusiasm, especially
when he con sidered that the young folks
/ themselves were fond of each other.
Ire knig then delicately nsinuated to his
daughter that, II she had reason TO believe
that the prince entertained similar feelings
towards her their marriage would meet with
no objection on his part.
But the young princess, although secretly
delighted In hope which fully responded to
tue secret wishes of her heart, was either too
proud or too bashful to confess to her father
her love for the Grand Duke who had not yet
made any declaration to her.
IN this manner the day approached on
which the Grand Duke was TO leave Berlin.
On the eve Of his departure a grand gala
supper was given in his honor at the royal
palace, and by the way of accident, or policy,
the Young Princess Charlotte was seated by
the side of her distinguished admirer.
The Grand Duke was uncOm monty taciturn
during the evening. His forehead was
clouded, and his gloomy eyes seemed 10 fol-
low in space vague phantoms fitting before
bis inauguration. Repeatedly he neglected
TO reply to questions addressed TO him; and
when he was asked TO respond to a toast
which one of the royal princes had proposed
TO bis honor, he seemed TO awake from
profound dream which had entirely with
drawn him from his surroundings.
Suddenly, as II by mighty effort Of his
will, be turned to his fair Deighbor and
whispered, so as only TO be understood BY
her:
$50 shall leave Berlin TO morrowp'
He paused abruptly and looked at the
Princess, as II he were waiting for an an
swsr which expressed sorrow and grief on
her part. But the Princess was fully as proud
as the Grand Duke, and overcoming the VIC