The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-18

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+ REMAINDER III. EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.
3 rceive, presents the familiar Inca
gfnts of our Emperor. But as to the
Cher, so strangely alike in many res
Gets to the imperial portrait? Exam
Esc the forehead, the brows, the eyes,
I'D, above all, the mouth, and then see
Whether you can safely hazard an opin-
h. Would you nd he astonishcd if /
Sid to you, rs Hamlet said to his royal
t3other, "Looll here on this picture and
II this, the counterfeit prescntmcnt of
2go brothers?" Rcsc mblance, indeed,
Here is between these pictures, and for
II lie most excellent of all rcasons-con-
a}nguinity. The second of the two
SSSrtraits is that of Mayor Alexcjcff, us
~ was known to the world TO few,
sPwever, he was known as something
Sasorc than the Mayor of Moscow, for
Hey were cognizant of the truth that
81 his veins coursed the proud strain of
"a G Romanoffs!
EsThc secret history of Alcxejcffs life
Ma singuarly romantic one, know II
st to u very few. TO begin mt the be-
Ginning must go back some forty
ssree years to the time when, early in
Ole fifties, the destinics Of the Russian
Umpire wero controlled by the proud
gar Nicholas AT that period the heir
81 the throne was the Czarcwitch Alex
Elder Nicholaicwitch, whose ill-starred
align was prcmaturely ended during
he fatal days of 1850, when he who
I'D freed the scrfs and done so much
81 bring his subjects into touch with
l3ncteenth century civilization fell a
sctim to the Nihilists fury. Though
Dared under parental regime of more
gan ordinary nusterity young Alexan-
afr managed 10 enjoy life and opror-
81 mites to indulge his taste for gayety
Bid pleasure.
l3Therc had never been and perhaps
efver will be gayer young set" at
nc Russian court than that led by him,
Alt like other royal personages, his
Halted station carried with it penal
llles as well as privileges, and following
#any similar prcccdents he was prac-
kcally forced into marriage with Ger
gan princess.
Z To marry his eldest son off early was
'Sle natural policy of Gear Nicholas and
Aae which he regarded as the safest he
Ne could adopt. The fair princess
a'om the Teuton land, however, good
bid amiable though she was, did not
APPEAL to the ardent temperament
af the subsequent lover of the
Princess Dolgoroulsi. Though he sub
snittcd with good grace to be sacri-
iced on the matrimonial altar in the
Slterests of dynastic policy, he had
Bother the inclination nor intention of
3orsaling certain amours, far more nat
IIral and intense than the perfunctory
Eevotion which conventionalism de-
handed that he display toward his legit-
innate bride.
TIE AMOUR DISCOVERED
In court circles it was an open secret
hat the Czarowitz had long been in
love with a lady OF the household, and
! he bonds of lIymcn proved entirely
sncffectual to extinguish his passion for
/ ibis inamorata. The young Baroness
'Clara Won Gerstfcld was one of the most
brilliant and attractive of the young
aides of the court. Not only was she
by n rare beauty of per-
BON, but her reputation for wit was
Equally remarkable. From the time of
her first appearance in st. Petersburg,
Phe had attracted universal admiration
and become the object Of the Car
Owitz's personal attentions. The father
of this lady was distinguished general
of the same name, a native of the Bal.
tic provinces She herself occupied the
position of lady in waiting to the EN-.
press.
After the Czarowitz's marriage Baron.
ess Won Gcrstfeld was closely watched, as
bit is probably unnecessary to state that q
woman OF her unusual charms was not
without enemies who would have wei
coined the opportunity Of injur;ng her.
|Thc tongue of gossip meanwhile wagged
hndustriously, until finally the current
stories reached the ears of the
Gear himself. Nicholas, unlike Sc
many of his predecessors, was noted
Tor the morality of his life and his in
sistencc upon similar virtue in others.
He was, therefore, not at all pleased
boy the rumors and soon began to con