The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-08-01
THE YOUNG CZARINA.
A Beautiful Woman OF Bright and
Vigorous Intellect. 9
She II Fassionasely Fond bf Music a,d
Makes 0taAy Of Matters Pertain
ing to the Governnent
ol NAtao1a. .,s.1s

not rs doubtless have many others il
her place, only as a state function o.
unparalleled splendor, but as a solemr
religious rite. She makes no secret o1
the fact that she has taken life most
seriously since her betrothal to the
czarowitz became an accomplished
fact; nor yet that, in spite of her devo'
ton to her husband, the man of her
hearts choice. as well as the suitor
whom the statesmen of her country
thought it desirable she should espouse,
she considers that the brightest part
OF her life was left behind with her
irresponsible girlhood. During their
honeymoon, as was natural with a
young lover, the czar was inclined to
| cut audiences OF state short, to sign
official documentswith hardly glance
at their contents, and to openly display
impatience when too many details were
submitted to his consideration. With
womanly tact and sweet reasonable
ness, the czarina has modified ell this.
Her bright and vigorous intellect has
known how to give interest to the. dull
ness OF business of state; her originality
has thrown glamour over the monot-
onous round of court ceremonies, while
her suggestions as to what might be
done for this or that section of the
community have done much to make
her consort realize that the millions
he has to govern are human ;ndividu-
ais. and not one great vague indefinite
whole.
We do not assert that the young en-
peror would not in time have made this
discovery for himself, but it is notori-
GUS that his youth and disinclination
to interfere in public affairs have kept
him more in the background than is
usual with heirs to the thrcne, while
his fathers unexpected death prevented
the late car from associating his son
with himself in the administration of
the empire. 1t is an undoubted fact
that Emperor Alexander thought
most highly of his future daughter
in-law's strength of purpose and force
OF character, and in the conversations
he had with her during his last illness
it is likely he spoke long and seriously
on the opportunities she would have of
influencing her husband and thus in
directly swaying the dest;nies of the
vast and great race abou. to be commit
ed to his hands.
1t is nothing new to the Muscovite
statesmen to note the gracious pres
ence of lady in the council chamber
The young czarina is only following
the example of the dowager empress
when, unannounced, she quietly enters
the room. usually with some dainty
needlework in her hand, and seating
herself where, by raising her dark
beautiful eyes, she can let them rest on
her husbands face, proceeds to give
Eager and. intelligent attention to all
that is going on. taas @
: 1t Is known that Princess Alix
II Hesse was passionately fond of mu-
tic. and as, in marrying the czar, she
uttered family whose devotion to the
lrt is equalled by few, it might be
,hought that she would spend more
ime than ever at the instrument she
prefers. The contrary is the case. the
magnificent piano in her boudoir will
emain closed for long mornings at the
ime, while the graceful head of the
'oung empress is bent low over some
'age in the grabbed characters of the
duscovite tongue, or one which, while
written in the simpler language of the
french. deals with subjects of no more
eneral interest than international law.
London Queen.