, 1888-06-23
y y THE gHREBg FIGEQ1BL4S

the Empress OF Germany and tie trlnceSs
Victoria, daue liter of the latter appear to
make common cause in that affair OF the
heart of which the world has beer. hearing
so much of late. Prince Alexander, OF
Battepberg, and the Princess are lovers
betrothed for SAM time, dating from the
period when he was reigning at Sofia as
Sovereign of Bulgaria. Since then his
fortunes have changed, and as If to verify
the Shakespearean maxim, that "the
course of true love never does run
smooth" great diplomatic obstacles have,
as we all know, 0 between the lovers
and the consummation of their wishes.
Powerful Russia favors not Prince Alex
: ander,s aspirations to sovereignty, anu
naughty old Prince Bismarck, the dragon
g inzthe fairy tale, himself almost as potent
as an empire, has given his Judgment
against.the match, because .tofs0oth the
Bear would BE offehded%thereby. 1t has
become, therefore, a contest between tue
three Victorias and Alexander ON the one
side. and Bismarck and the Gar on the
other. Both parties have many Sy mpath'
izers, but those We rave named, and more
particularly the Empress OF Germany ana
the Iron Chancellor, appear in the eyes OF
the world as principals at the 'front.'
Prince Alexander Is represented as addlhg
new lustre to the somewhat dllapldated
name of Battenbtrg by his fidelity. and
devotion as a lover. He has for years
shown to his intimate friends, we are told,
a bracelet riveted on his arm as a pledge
of mutual vows between himself and the
Princess. With less oStentation, Victoria
appears to be equally devoted and deter
mined to wear out or SurmOunt all OBJ
stacles. "NVa shall be married." the
Prince has said, for in spite of all OBJ
Stacles the last word is, always on the side
of lOve.u The heart of the world
has been somewhat moved. by the
story of the royal Romeo and
Juliet of the time, and it will be no
fault Of the three VictOriaS if Prince Alex
ander's hopeful words are not realized.
Bnt the chances are doubtful, and al
though from time to time inclining first to
one side and then to the other, it is quite
apparent that much must depend. upon
the result of the Emperor Frederick's i'll
ness. Should he die while these matters
are pending, the most active and luhuen'
tial friend OF the Young people at court
would be suddenly Invested OF her great
power to aid them. Much graver issues
depend upon the precariOus lite OF the
distinguished sufferer, but amid all these
the world of sentiment will not readily
lose SlRhI VI It's DcdIlHS uIOH lux
of the betrothed prince and princess. 1t
is confidently predicted that the three
royal women will find a way, however
powerfully opposed, to carry out their
wishes AS to this, it is only safe to pre-
dict that we shall ste what we shall see.
Meantime the young couple may take
consolation, however meagre it may be,
from Colonel LOvelace'S ITO Althea i'll
Prison" Though the impassioned words
were written in the middle of tbs seven
tenth century the sentiments they incul-
cate are quite as true i'll our day:
Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an heritage:
III have freedom in my love
And in my soul am free.
Angels alone that soar above,
Enjoy such liberty.
Alexander, that medieval knight of the
niueteenth century, aud ''his. high-born
maiden in a palace tower, at Charlotten-
berg may be. depended upon TO prove in
good time the truth of the old adage that
"'Love laughs at lock Smiths."-RiCtoriG
Weekly COlOniSt
MisceUaWeoWs.