St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-01
ALEX ANDER.

The most prominent figure to-day among
the lesser potentates of Europe is the Ger
man prince who rules over the turbulent
Slavs of Bulgaria. The recent upheaval of
popular forces in Bulgaria has brought
ALEXANDER into prominence. Rising sud
denly. as he did, from comparative obscurity
and becoming an important factor in the
determination Of the great questions which
are convulsing Europe, public curiosity is
excited to know something of the ruler
who has succeeded so well in circumscrib
ing the limits of the revolt and in prevent
ing the atrocities which could not fail to
ensue from fresh struggle between
the half savage elements that are
always seeking some sanguinary
outlet and furiously seething in that hot
bed of fierce passions and rival ambitions
once known as European Turkey. The
London Globe gives an entertaining descrip-
ton of the prince and picture Of his home
life. 1t says ALEXANDER is an exceedingly
handsome man, of powerful but ungraceful
uld, his features are regular and finely
chiseled. His bearing is military; his man
ner toward strangers is dignified yet polite.
Although young his attachments are exten-
sive and varied, and he is especially inter-
ested in all that relates to antiquities.
There are some very old Slav tombs near
Samaren and Goboroo, and the prince, de-
slrous that their origin and probable date of
construction should be investigated pre-
scented the munifcent donation of 100, 900
francs to a learned society at Moscow for
that purpose, on the sole condition that any
curiosities brought to light should be exhib-
tied at Sofia.
The Bulgarian people have shown their
gratitude to their first independent ruler by
erecting for him in the late Turkish quarter
of the capital residence of somewhat
peculiar kind for the head of an ambitious,
if not as yet very important, state. 1t con-
sists of arudely-constructed story build
ing. differing little from the huts of the or
binary inhabitants, save in respect of its
superior cleanliness. The furniture is sim
pie, though tasteful, and in no way such as
one would expect to find in princely abode,
but rather in the modest dwelling of some
well-to-do citizen. The knee. as the Bull
2dlIdHS luCll SONClCiSii. Ids iOoiNiSi AOiO
with few short intervals of absence since
the year of his election to the throne (1S79).
The house contains three sitting rooms, one
reception room, study and a bedroom.
At the back of the courtyard are two sery-
ants rooms, an apartment for Dr. SToJLov,
secretary of state, and some stables. This
completes the moee than unpretentious state
Of 0riDo A r Of Pal
garia.
IL is unfortunate that the prince is a
bachelor. otherwise there would be serious
difficulty in providing for the accommoda-
ton and domestic comforts of the (presum-
ablyl royal lady called to share the throne
of Big or Little Bulgaria. as the powers
NAV arrange it. This consideration has
not. however, prevented ALEXANDER of
Battenburg from turning longing eyes in
the direction OF the holy estate of matri-
mony. and his tender regards fell upon no
less exalted !. princess than the second
daughter of the crown prince Of Germany,
a granddaughter of the venerable emperor
and of Qneen VICTORIA, whose name she
bears. When Prince ALEXANDER wvaaSs 4
guest at the court OF the emperor. three or
four years ago, he spent much of his time
in the palace of the crown prince. and
there he was the frequent companion of the
youthful princess. who was Enthusiastically
attracted by his personal gifts. This APP
pears to have grown into a tender feeling,
which was confded to the maternal ear,
and in time the crown princess consulted
hpr husband Tho IL ftnr would not daci1a
what course he would adopt until the head
of the house of Hohenzollern had ex-
pressed an opinion upon the subject, and
the aged monarch was no less careful to
sound his faithful minister on the matter.