The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-03-26
A DUCAL TYRANT.
A Grand Daughter of Queen Victo-
ria Becomes Victim of Mat
rmOnial WretchedneSS.

- NTdI1u DduSnLeF OF queen NlCLO-
ria Becomes a Victim of Mat
rimonial Wretchedness.
LONDON, March H-Deep indignation is
expressed among all classes of Englishmen
in regard to the reports current as to the
treatment of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth,
granddaughter Of Queen Victoria by her
husband, the Grand Duke Sergius of Russia,
brother of the car
1t is now we'll understood that the cars
motive for appointing his brother to be
governor of Moscow was not, as officially
stated, to give him mark of esteem, but
to remove the grand duchess from the for
eign society of st. Petersburg where her
maltreatment by the imperial family has
already caused an International scandal.
The reports as to the abuse to which the
lady has been subjected are not mere gos-
sip, but come from high and trustworthy
sources, and nobody in England has any
doubt OF their truth. The grand duke is
said to be really attached to his wife, but
he treats her on the same principle that
Russia treats conquered province or state.
Having annexed her by marriage, he has
claimed that she must become Russian al
together, even to the abandonment of the
religion in which she was born and edu-
Gated. With this view coercion, characterized
as brutal, has been tried upon her. When
she desired to attend English services she
found no carriage to take her, and the
grand duke on such occasions has shown
displcasure in ways that Russian or Tar
tar, whether high or low, very we'll under
stands. There is no allegation openly
made Of physical violence, but rumors to
that effect are current.
The young princess, now but twenty
seven years old and only twenty when she
was maried, appealed for divorce to her
father, the grand duke Louis of Hesse, and
to her grandmother, Queen Victoria. The
queen, dreading scandal, appears to have
advised her to comply with her husbands
wishes as to religion. Officially, the queen
was simply stated to have sent her blessing
to her granddaughter, about to be con-
verted to the Russian church. The grand
duke Louis, however, took different view
of matters. He was indignant, and openly
protested against his daughter being CO.
creed as to her religious profession, and
wanted to bring her home. Then ensued
| correspondence between the father and
the grandmother the tormer urging the
| latter deprecating interference; but be-
| lore anything could be done, the
| Russian imperial family, apprehen-
| sive of the disgrace that would attach to
them should the grand duchess leave her
| husband, made the official announcement
of her conversion, and then speedily fol-
| lowed the decree appointing Sergius gov
ernOr of Moscow and removing him and his
wife to that interior Russian city, far from
the glimpses OF England and Germany
that may occasionally be caught at St.
| Petersburg.
1t is not at all certain that the end is yet.
| th0T0UV
aroused. 1t is he who has through the
Times and other newspapers appealed from
| Queen Victoria to the English people in be-
half of his daughter and whatever the re-
suit may be he has certainly succeeded in
exciting strong public sentiment.