The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-19
HERO or MANY EsCAPADEs.
Stories Recalled of the Grand Duke
Alexis of Russin.
From &c New York Sun.

rom the New y Ork sun
The recent false reports of the death of
the Grand Duke Alexis recall stories of
his interesting visit to this country In
spite Of sensational and sometimes scan
dalous escapades, Alexis has been a popu-
lar man, not only in his own country, but
with the people of other European ma
tons. He had personal attributes making
for popularity not peculiar to royalty.
which the American people, or some OF
than, had an opportunity of studying
when he was here. In 1871 he visited this
country with a numerous suite BETTING
"A popular son of the imperial family of
Russia. Young as he was then, curiosity
regarding him had been piqued more by
the stories of his numerous escapades
than even by the fact of his exalted
rank. From the time of his arrival until
his departure he was a source Of grievous
perplexity to the resident Russian minis
ter. For some reason, which probably
mad a political motive, it was determine
ed that the visit of the grand duke to this
country should be made, so far as posi-
Die, a series of official and formal calls
upon as many American rulers, munich
pal and state, as his itinerary included.
Alexis arrived and from that moment
a conspiracy with him to defeat the con-
ventional diplomatic programme arranged
for his social experiences. He was liked
for himself, and he Immediately made it
plain that there were a great many Amer
leans whom he liked for themselves,
whether they happened to be the wife of
a mayor or a governor or a pretty girl
who had nothing to recommend her be-
sides the physical ability to Withstand
the eXhausting strains of a waltz a la
Russo. 1t is said that during the tour
OF the grand duke. which extended as far
west as Chicago, the distracted gentleman
who acted as his chamberlain was in
hourly Geographic communication with
the Russian minister concerning questions
of precedence and American social con-
ventions. There is a story that when the
grand duke and his suite were being en-
tertained at Cleveland, and after Alexis
had gone through the opening quadrille
with the wife of the mayor, the dance
programme was suspended for an hour
while his chamberlain was communicating
with the Russian minister by telegraph
concerning the determination of Alexis
to 90 to his hotel if he should not be per-
mitted to have the next dance with pretty
Buckeye girl instead of the wife of the col
lector of the port.
In every city he visited he became
known to the mechanics in the principal
workshops of the place. There he went
without formality and without his suite.
OF course he was known; his pictures
were extensively published, and he was
almost a twin of his brother, the car, In
stature and muscle. Thus, while at nights
he was winning the hearts of the women,
IN the daytime he was making friends in
very good English with the mechanics
at their benches and lathes, with whom
he could talk shop intelligently and tech
nicaIy.
After his return to Russia he made sew
eral cruises in command of naval fleets,
and wherever his flagship stopped there
followed stories of revelries and gallan-
tries which we're said to shock greatly
ms more austere brother, the late car.
How deeply the car felt about these un-
conventional actions of his handsome
younger brother was never suspected,
probably even in the well-informed Eu-
ropean courts, until the famous scandal
OF 1889, which resulted in the Punishment
OF the grand duke.
Alexis in the winter of that year was in
81. Petersburg, where he paid marked
attention to the beautiful and ambitious
Princess Leuchtenberg, sister of the ia
nous soldier, Count Skobeleff. One evening
after the opera the princess and the grand
duke went together to the public dining
room OF famous st. Petersburg restau-
rant There also were some Frenchmen
VINO We're, of course, aware Of the pre-
Vailing gossip concerning the ambition of
me princess to make an alliance with the
imperial house of Russia. Knowing this
and also knowing, as they of course did,
NAT the grand duke was as impulsive as
ne was powerful, it is astonishing that the
Frenchmen should have excited his wrath
oy their demonstrative admiration of the
princess. They did So There was a story
current in Paris a little after that the
Quarrel and scandal which followed were
,Ae result of a deliberate plan to involve
me grand duke, and not of an irnpulsive
action. 1t was said that it was another
aamlrer of the princess who prompted
gne Frenchmen to bring about the quarrel.
Inc quarrel followed quick enough. Alexis
was too incensed to be content with Or
0erinS the expulsion of the Frenchmen
rom the restaurant, which he could have
zone. He could not challenge them nor
IecelVe a challenge from them, being
possible heir to the throne. So with an
SAhlbiton' of democracy possibly developed
ny his visit to this country, he nimbly
ahd with great energy and force threw
we Frenchmen out into the snow. a pub
lIt scandal resulted. The ear was out
u. "a seu. Europe was amazed in few days
A. A. near that Alexis Alexandrovitch, grand