The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-02-20
THE RUSSIAN RULER AND THE LADY.
An American Girls Meeting with I'm In
Toy shop at Copenhagen.

Every autumn the Czarina has been
in the habit of going with the Gar to
Copenhagen to visit her parents. the
aged King and Queen of Denmark. At
the same time the Princess of Wales
would journey northward to Denmark's
shores accompanied by the Prince, and
from Greece would come King George
and Queen Olga, until the Danish King
and Queen had all their children about
them. Three years ago an American
lady and her daughter were visiting in
Copenhagen at the time of the royal
gathering. In vain they tried several
times to get near enough to Fredenborg,
the castle of the Danish hosts, to see
some of the royalties; and when once
the daughter caught glimpse of the
Princesses Victoria and Maud driving a
pony through the town, she felt herself
we'll rewarded for the hours of watch
ing. For so do mortals love the sight
of royalty.
One morning the younger lady want
ed to do little shopping. She went to
toy store to buy a few of the queer
looking Danish playthings to take home
to her little nephews. and she also want
ed to buy a box of the queer-shaped
candies made there. The toy store was
crowded. There were nearly dozen
children, and with them half dozen
maids. The who'e party seemed to be
in charge of a tan stout man with fair
beard and pleasant face. He had the
build of an athlete and the mild express
sion of woman.
"Wait on the lady first" he said pleas
antly in Russian to the shopkeeper, and
then to the young lady he said in En-
glish, Il will not allow you to wait and
be served after this horde of youngsters.
They can we'll wait"
At this the youngest child of all, q
gan to kick and cry and behave very
badly.
II will wait" said the young lady,
laughing at the youngsters screams
and kicks, "for see you have an impa-
tient member of your party"
With bow of thanks the athletic
looking man picked up a small drum
with Danish colors upon it and handed
it to the struggling child in his arms
Then the others each received pretty
present. while some town children who
had wandered in were treated to gift!
of toys and pretty trifles. When al
had bo an served with playthings the
gentleman whispered to the child in hi
arms, and a minute afterward the littl'
one, stretching out his little hands to
ward the young lady, handed her ;
book.
"Uncle 'Xander says must give yol
this because was so rude" he said IL
fairly plain English. "and will Civ
you this myself" handing over sticb
of many-colored candy.
When the company had filed out
great sleigh-like affair on wheels drov
up to the door and all piled in. Their
was struggle to get near the gentle
man whom the little lad had called "Un
Gle 'Xander," and tiny but pretty chill,
who spoke nothing but English begal
to cry md show as much temper as tn
other had. But they were well-behave'
children considering, that they were al
the way from two years up to fourteen
and the American girl and the shop
keeper cast admiring eyes after them a
they drove away. From the back sea
of the queer-looking vehicle chill
waved his little hands as far as he coul,
be seen.
THAT is the Gar of Russia" said tn
shopkeeper. "He is on his annual vis
to Copenhagen, and this is the way h
amuses himself. He buys alternately
of all the shopkeepers and is friend t.
every one"
"And who was the child in his arms
| 0. that is the son of our Grown Prince
He may be the King of Denmark some
day. And the little girl who cried be
cause she could not sit on the Gar
knee was lady Alexdra Duff, who come
here every fall with her mother ant
grandmother This year her father, th
| Duke of Fife, is here also. The child
dainty mite, and if she were to com
to the English throne Tthe Duke of Yorl
had not then married the Princess May
every body around here would rejoice
The baby waving his hands from tn,
back of the wagon is the Crown Primo,
of Greece. His father is the best of al
the family, think, and that is saying
a good deal"
The Czar nodded back at the young
lady and the shopkeeper just before the
vehicle went out of sight, and his tai
shoulders and fine head were outlined
like silhoutte against the sky.
Il have read great many prett,
things about the Gar, and have know
people who received friendly word:
from him at their presentation to The
Russian court" the young lady saiC
afterward; "but think / am the onl,
American girl who ever saw Alexande
at his best, among his lite nephews ant
nieces, laughing with them over to,
counter. IN Y San.