The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-25
THE czARINA's LOVE STORY.


A Long Opposition To Be Overcome Be
fore She Married The Gear.
The Car always loved his orphan
| cousin, and as they met somewhat fire.
| quently he did not lack opportunity of
discovering for himself that his love
was reciprocated. But there were grave
objections to the match, and the young
lovers had many enemies. The Cars
parents opposed the union with all the
emphasis they could command Prin-
cess Alix was a Lutheran, and Nicholas
| belonged to the Greek Church. To
Alexander III this was almost a fatal
objection to their marriage, and every
thing was done that could be done to
convince the young heir to all the Rus
sias that he must accept another bride.
Even Queen Victoria Joined the little
army arrayed against the lovers. Prin-
cess Alix was her favorite grand daugh-
ter, and she did not wish her change
her religion or to face the perils Of the
Russian throne. There was another
serious objection, too. Both the lovers
We're delicate, and Alexander III was
naturally anxious that the throne of
Russia should be occupied by his sons
son. At last the obstinate Czarowitch
was sent on a voyage around the world
1t being hoped that in the constant
change of scene he would forget his
love and come back prepared to do as
he was told. The love which had bound
Nicholas to his orphan cousin was not
however a thing that could be put off
in new country, and the heir apparent
went back to Russia more determined
than ever not to marry unless he loved
The voyage had greatly improved his
health, so that part of the objection was
removed.
But there still there remained the
religious objection, and Nicholas press
ed his suit. He was fortunate in secur-
ing two powerful allies-the then Ouch
ess of Edinburgh and the Grand Ouch
ess Serge, sister OF the Princess To-
gether these women were able to over
come the fathers objections, but Queen
Victoria had yet to be won over. 1t was
no easy task to convert the Queen, but
it was done at length. The Duchess of
Edinburgh persuaded the Prince Of
Wales, and the Princess Victoria pre-
vailed upon Her Majesty. Then as If
to compensate the young people FOR their
appointments, the Queen suggested
that they should visit England. Prince
Louis of Battenburg invited the Primo
ess to Walto-on-T Thames, and hither the
young man who was to rule hundred
of human beings came to win
the hand and heart of the woman he
loved.
One would have thought that now the
task was easy, but the Pricess was not
easily won. If others had felt that she
should not change her creed, she her
self had felt so even more strongly.
Years before, when the Czarowitch first !
spoke of love to her, she had not list
ened, because of the horror of having
to change her creed, in which she is
said to have devoutly believed, and her |
strong religious nature had only root |
ed this objection deeper and deeper as
the years went by What happened at |
Walton, how passionately the devoted f,
pleaded we do not know. But |
we know that year afte-wari, at the
OF her brother, the Grand Duke
Ernest of Hesse, and Princess Victoria
Melitia of Coburg, the betrothal was
had turned up at Coburg at the last mo-
nent, not having been expected until,
shortly before he arrived. II am deter
mined at last to have an answer cut of
Ter own mouth" he said to his parents
Is he started. A day or two before the
Princess had talked Of her lover with
ears in her eyes. She gave vent to her
scruples before her brother.
You do not love him them" said the
4rand Duke Ernest: and the answer,
oh, yes, do, I do showed how pain
I'll the struggle In her mind must have
,een.
The Queen was the first to be inform
d of the news that the Czarowitch had |
proposed and had been accepted, and
here was great joy among their friends
hat at last the long wooing was over
hen came the illness Of Alexander III
nd the Princess was summoned to
.ivadia to nurse the dying Car. When
he monarch passed away, and her lover
tas Emperor Of Russia, Princess Alix
yore no signs of mourning. 1t was
Apply thought of the widowed Empress
hat no needless pain should mar the |
~ of the bride, who was so soon to !
hare her sons throne, and the house of
was frightened day by day /
Y the beautiful figure Of the future !
Impress, dressed in purest white. 1t :
'as thought best that there should be {
0 delay for forms sake, and the funer- 4
was quickly followed by a wedding. :
n November rs, 1894, at the age Of c
venty two, Princess Alix became En-