Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-30
He Is Interestingly Described by the
Princess Marie Engalitcheff.
Other Members of the ROYAL Family
Come in for Share of Attention.
Interesting "reminiscences of Life at
at the Gay Court of the Gar.
An Hour With Royalty.
Sunday Inter Ocean.

/ ed her second lecture IN the h1mball
Hail.
The subject was The Imperial Family, "
one upon which the average American has
very little well authenticated information.
Travellers tales are usually highly colored,
and the newspaper correspondent knows
the taste for which he must cater The
distance, geographically considered, sep
arating the two countries is not so great
as that made by divergence in customs,
laws and religion. The friendly relations,
however, that have existed between the
strong, youthful Republic in the West and
the old autocracy that constitutes a big
part of the map of Europe make it neces-
sary, as well as pleasant, that there should
be better understanding OF the empire
and Its people. The recent Juror for Rus
sian literature has not died away, and the
field opened up by the trans!ators has Civ
en- glimpses of a life novel and intensely
interesting.
THE LECTURE BY THE PRINCESS ENGALIT-
CHEFF
must gradually increase this interest, for
she speaks authoritively from personal
knowledge, narrating her facts with the
simplicity of absolute truth; without ex-
aggeration and without prejudice. Her
lecture was description of court life and
of imperial family around which it re-
wolves. 1t had all the charm that lies in
the testimony of an eyewitness who does
not intrude his personality too strongly in
to the story he relates.
The audience was entirely feminine, and
prior to the talk the lecturer held an in
formal reception behind the scenes. A lit
| tie after clock she came upon the plat
form unannounced, and seated herself by
the little table at which she read she
has spoken of the slow, graceful move
ments of the Russian people, and is her.
self an example of this characteristic. She
wore gown OF white wool, trimmed with
lace and white ribbons, and brilliant jew
els that are now familiar to Chicago peo-
| pie who have met her.
THE INTRODUCTION WAS CONCISE
SKETCH
of the empire and its history from 1926.
Constantine having married a Polish prin
cess, Julia Grudzinska, renowned his
claim to the throne, so that Nicholas, his
brother, came next in the line of success
sion. The reign of Nicholas was briefly re-
viewed with its chief events, the Polish in
surrection and the war with Turkey, In
which France and England were united
against him. His relations with his wife
were exceptionally happy. He died from
a cold contracted while reviewing his
troops in bad weather. During his reign
great encouragement was given literature
and arts Musicians and artists were warm
ly welcomed in St. Petersburg. There had
been no theaters at which the royal family
appeared, entertainments being given ex-
clusively in the palace. But through the
instrumentality of the Empress they were
established, and French and German &C
tors were invited to Russia.
All the society of the capital had been
transformed, and the long winters were
especially brilliant, the Neva being frozen
over and the earth snow-bound. Enter
| tainments were given by the mobiles, at
which the entire imperial family appeared,
| and which cost vast sums of money
Nicholas died disheartened and disappoint-
ed. never having recovered from the shock
occasioned by the death of his eldest son,
deceived by his friends, and the ingrati-
tude of the Emperor Francis Joseph. He
aged rapidly in the latter part of his life.
Great improvements were made in en-
cheering and architecture, and the first
railroad was one of the chief works of his
reign.
at the age of 81. He married a German
princess, of whose youth and beauty he be-
came enamored, seeing her walking in
front of her fathers palace. She was a
devoted wife and mother, but did not
possess the strong individuality of the
Dowager Empress. He was crowned at
Moscow in great splendor, the princes and
mobiles of Europe lending their presence to
the ceremonial, the Dowager Empress APP
pearing in a court dress of purple velvet.
The Crimean war was ended, the laws were
revised, and public educational institu-
tions were established to which all classes
had access at Kief, Odessa, and elsewhere.
The greatest measure of his reign was the
emancipation of the serfs in 1861. The
Polish insurrection of 1863 was quelled
after two year s struggle, the last effort
made by the people for national freedom.
In the Crimean war thousands of young
men, the flower of Russia, fell and were
buried in nameless graves, and heroic
work for the wounded and dying was
done by the sisters of the Red Cross. In
the subjugation of Turkestan great luster
was added to the renown of eminent Rus
sian generals The effort of Russia to pro-
tect the Christians from the brutality
of the Turks was touched upon, with
the final adjustment of the Roumanian diff
ticulty.
ALEXANDER DIED MARCH 13, 1881,
from the explosion of nihilistic bomb
Such was the fate of man who had done
more for his people than any preceding
ruler He was victim of the fanaticism
of those whom he had liberated. The fun
eral was the occasion of universal mourn
Tho ctraatc uroro oroIv6p1 WI III moo
pie, who were kept back by the police as
the cortege passed. The Grand Duke, clad
in black. rode behind the bier on horse
back, and the family followed IN carriages,
all in deep mourning, which was worn by
the court for year. The car was lament
ed by the people who reverenced and loved
him The literature of Russia through his
influence had been marvelously developed, |
and the list of poets and novelists includ- |
ing such names as Koltzoff, Nikiten, Gogol, |
and Tolstoi.
The responsibilities of empire came up
on Alexander, finding him entirely unpre |
pared. He was man of retiring habits |
and simple tastes, having talent for
music, which he cultivated. He was the
second son. the Grand Duke having died |
at Nice. He married the Princess Dagmar. |
sister of the Princess of Wales. She had /
been betrothed to the Grand Duke, and |
was with the Empress at his bedside when |
he died
IN ANTICIPATION OF HER DUTIES
as Empress she came to Russia to study /
the Russian language and to be instructed |
In the doctrines of the Greek church, into |
which, as the state church. she was to be
received She was met by the royal |
family. and the meeting, which was ex-