New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-02-25
NICHOLAS AND CHARLOTTE,


Boston Transcript,
NICHOLAS AND CHARLOTTE.
A Love Romance Of History.
The betrothal and marriage of the
Princess Charlotte, of Russia, with
Nicholas, who was then a Grand Duke,
but afterward became Emperor of Rus
STA, forms one of the sweetest and most
romantic episodes in the world of Eu-
ropean courts, which is usually SO de-
void of love and romance, and would,
on that account alone, deserve being re-
membercd, quite regardless of the his
torical interest which will henceforth
adhere to all the members of the family
of the conqueror of France.
Princess Charlotte was born in the
year 1898, and was the eldest daughter
of King Frederick William the Third of
Prussia and his beautiful and accom-
plished wife, Queen Louisa. Her early
childhood elapsed amiu scenes of terror
and humiliation for the royal family of
Prussia, and nobody would at that
time have venturcd to predict for her
the brilliant 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 have
been the distinguishing feature of that
high-minded woman, wrote one day to
her father, the Duke of Mecklenburg,
the following lines about his daughter:
Charlotte is given to silence and re-
serve, but under the apparent GOODNESS
she conceals warm and loving heart.
Her Indifference and pride are but the
dullest outside of diamond of the pur-
est water, which some day will shine
forth in its brilliant luster. Her bear
ing and models are noble and dignitied.
She has but few friends, but these
few are warmly attached to her. ]
know her value, and predict for her a
brilliant future, if she lives long
enough."
The young Princess wasindeed q very
frail and delicate creature of those
tender flowers which seem. to wait fol
the kind hand of the gardener to trans
plant them into warmer cline. She was
charming and handsome, but her beau
ty was rather that of pale lily than
that of a blooming rose.
Charlotte was just Is, when, in the
year 1914, the Grand Duke Nicholas,
on his way to the camp of the allied
armies in France, passed through Der
lin and was warmly welcomed as ar
honored guest at the royal palace.
The description those who saw and
knew the Grand Duke at that time have
given of the incompatible graces of hi
person and mind, make it easy for vi
to imagine that the heart of a young
girl, just budding into womanhood, was
captivated and charmed by him at frs
sight.
Well he might have said, like Caesar
II ca e, saw, conquered
Tho Princess fell in love with him,
and fortunately for her, the young
Grand Duke returned her love fully az
passionately.
The Grand Duke Nicholas had the
reputation of being one of the hand.
soonest, if not the very handsomest
man of the times; and his majestic and
stately form. which measured no less
than six feet and two inches, was con.
sidered unparalleled 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 fee
were of the most aristocratic elegance
His whole figure realized the perfect
model of manly and commanding beau
ty, which the genius of a sculptor of an
tiquity has immortalized under the
features of Apollo Belvidere.
His features were of the Grecian cas-
forehead and nose formed straight
ine-and the large, blue, sincere eye!
showed a singular combination Of com
posture, sternness. self-reliance ant
pride, among which it would have beer
difficult for the observer to name tn,
predominant expression.
Those who have looked closely ant
attentively into these remarkable eye
would have easily believed that thei
threatening glance would suffice t
suppress a rebellion, to terrifY and dis
arm murderer, or to frighten away ,
supplicant. But there would have beef
but few to believe that the sternness O.
those eyes could be entirely softened s,
as to beam forth nothing but love ant
kindness.
Among those few, however, was tn,
young Prussian Princess, who hat
drunk deep in their intoxicating fervor
It is true that she was the only persol
in the world in whose presence tn,
Olympian gravity of his features CAV
way to a radiant cheerfulness, which
made his manly beauty perfectly ire
sistible.
In such moments his magnifcen
brow, always the seat of meditation an,
thought, exhibited the serene beaut,
and Attic grace of a young Athenian
I the serious Pericles seemed, by. the in
visible wand of a magician, to hav
been transplanted into the youthful
Alcibiades.
At this time, however. the matches
personal charms of the Grand Duk
were enhanced by political prospects Q
the most exalted character. He wa
not eventually considered an heir to tn
imperial crown of Russia. It is true
Alexander the First, his brother, has
no children, but in case of his death
which could not be expected soon, th
Grand Duke Constantine was to inheri
the throne of Peter the Great, and leav
to Nicholas at best but the position Of
| Prince of the first blood. Nevertheless
Frederick William, charmed alike b
the beauty and intellect Of his guest
and by the hope Of uniting the sovel
eign houses Of Prussia and Russia b
the close ties Of family union. greete
the prospect Of q marriage between th
J Grand Duke and his daughter with eu