The record-union., 1894-11-02
ALEXANDER III.
Sketch of the Life of the Deceased
Gar of Russia.

ALEXANDER III.
Sketch of the Life of the Deceased
Gar of Russia.
alexander III, Emperor of Russia
otherwise Aleksander Aleksandrovitch)
second son of Alexander IL, born March
10, lS45-old style, February Goth. In
1866 he married Maria Sophia Frederika
Dagmar, daughter of Christian TX. of
Denmark. According to custom, she
took the name of Maria Feodorovna
Alexander took an active part in the war
OF lSI1-IS with Turkey. Alexander II.
was assassinated March 13, 1881, and
Alexander Ill. came at once to the
throne. His coronation, however, did
not take place until May, 1883. There
were born to Alexander four children
Nicholas, heir apparent May q, 1868;
George, April 27, 1871; Xenia, March 25
1879: Michael, November %, 1873. Alex
ander came to the throne in the midst of
turbulence almost amounting to revolu-
ton, and extraordinary measures had to
be taken to preserve his life. Nearly all
the cities were for a time subjected to the
rlgorS OF martial law, while searches for
consplrators went on. A body of rural
police was created-the 'Uriadniki"-to
pursue the enemies of the Gar, and their
acts were felt by the people but little less
many bandits. The Third Section"
hated cordially as the secret police, was
revived and reorganiZed under the name
of Estate Police" The Gar secluded
himself, and from the outset suffered un-
der acute nervous fright, and his wi1e's
terror was such as to become hysterical.
For long time they were isolated at
Gatschina and in Peterhof, receiving few
visitors. Even the officers of State had
to undergo the gantlet OF CosSack guards
In approaching the royal pair, and the
strlctness went even to the search of the
persons OF all visitors by the police. The
practice OF deportation to Siberia without
trial was resumed. AleXander's first
State action was related to the project OF a
representative assembly, which his father
had advised and promised. This and
other reform measures were long de-
bated. The Gar finally refused to take
the advance steps and went over to the
reactionary party. The majority of his
Ministry thereupon resigned. Meiikoff
retired and Ignatietf came to the Ministry
of the Interior, and made it soon known
that the only reforms to be instituted
would be those suiting the Pan-Slavist
party for patriarchal and sacred au-
tocracy. And thus did Alexander ILL.,
begin reign now ended.
Nicholas AleXandrovitch, the heir to
the throne, is by no means a robust
young man. He is short and rather del
lcate looking, with anything but imperial
bearing, which has come To be associated
with the RomanoH family. Alexander
III. was veritable Ajax, of enormous
size and strength. His heart would prob
ably have gone out in sympathy to an
heir who inherited the bodily qualities of
his race, or would have forgiven his
weakness of frame had he contained an
imperious mind, but the CzarowitZ had
neither, and it is said to be only through
the influence of the CZarina that the eId-
est son has not been set aside from the
succession.
"However much the Car may love his
eldest son, he has no respect and admira-
ton for him as Russian Emperor"
says writer in MW1tSeg'S M0Gdztae
He is student, and Alexander III.
tsInk tn students are of small account
In the world as compared TO men who can
bend iron pokers in their fingers
Some five years ago the young Prince
started out on his travels. He went to
Denmark, to England and to Germany,
and the amount OF modern information
that he managed to imbibe and carry
back to Russia set the teeth of the Gar
on edge. The young man had brought
back with him well-detined and radical
opinions and theories upon the questions
and literature of the day.
HE had decided that Jews were hu-
man beings and that it was inhuman and
ridiculous to persecute them. Worst of
all, in his fathers eyes, he had become
the devoted friend and admirer of the
German Emperor.
Look upon Russia as she is to-day
and Imagine mild, very Intelligent.
modern young man coming in to take
the reins OF an almost absolute monarchy:
a young man who has chosen as his wife
vivacious German girl, with keen
sense OF humor. and the daughter of an
English mother.
1.-The CZarowitz is 26 years old. Ever
since his boyhood Europe has been busy
selecting wife for him. He is so Eng
lish in his tastes. so fond of his cousins.
the children OF the Prince of Wales. that
it was supposed he would select one of
the daughters of that house, but even
had inclination pointed that way, the
Greek Church absolutely forbids the
marriage of first cousins.
1.-The Princess who is to became his wife
is % years old. and the most beautiful and
the favorite granddaughter of the Queen
of England. From her earliest childhood
she has shown marked individualitv.
Her mother was the Princess Alice, who
died of diphtheria when this daughter
was only years old, as a result Of devo-
ton to dying child. 1t has ALWAYS been
considered unfortunate in the royal
family circles that the Princess was left
motherless so young. She has grown up
without any of that stiffness and dullness.
that desire to make charity garments
with her own fingers, which distinguishes
the other young women of the royal
blood. She Is very small, with a certain
beauty, and with an elegance which
would make her remarkable anywhere.
She has IN her face that indefinable at
traction which the French call the beauty
OF the devil and she has wit to match