The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-23
THE ezAR|NAs LOVE STORY
HER MARRIAGE TO THE CAR
WAS LONG OPPOSED.
Religious Differences Formed objec-
tons and the Couple Had Many
Persistent Enemies.
young WomanN

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 OBJ
lecuons 10 the match. and the young
lovers had many enemies. The cars
parents opposed the union with all the
emphasis they could command. Princess
AK Was 4 Lutheran, and Nicholas be-
forged to the Greek church. To Alexander
II this was almost a fatal objection to
tnelr marriage. and everything was done
tnat could be done to convince the young
heir TO al the Russians that he must ac-
eept another bride. Even Queen Victoria
the lovers Princess Alix was her favor
Ito granddaughter. and she did not wish
ner 10 change her religion or to face the
pertls 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 q voyage round the world. il be-
Ing hoped that in the constant change os
scene he would forget his love and come
BACK prepared to do as he was told. The
love which had bound Nicholas to his or
phan cousin was not, however. a thing
that could be put off in a new country,
and the heir apparent went back TO Rus
STA moro determined than ever not to
marry unless he loved. The voyage had
greatly improved his health so that part
removed.
But there Still remained the religious OBJ
lection, and Nicholas pressed his suit He
WIS fortunate in securing two powerful
allies-the then Duchess of Edinburgh
and the Grand Duchess Serge. sister OF
the princess. Together these women were
abe 10 overcome the fathers objections.
but Queen Victoria had yet to be won
over II 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 Victor
IA prevailed upon her majesty. Then, as
II 20 compensate the young people for
their disappointment. the queen suggested
that they should visit England. Prince
Louis of Battenberg invited the princess
young man who was to rule a hundred
mihidrs of human beings came 10 win
the hand and heart of the woman he
loved.
One would have thought that now the
task was easy, but the princess was not
easily won. If others had felt that she
should not change her creed, she herself
had felt so even more strongly Years
before when the czarowitch first spoke
of love TO her. she had not listened. be
cause of her horror Of having TO chanse
her creed. ir which she is said to have
deyoutiy believed, and her strong re-
ltgiouS nature had only rooted this OBJ
lection deeper and deeper as the years
went by What happened at Walton, how
pasS.onateiy the devoted Nicholas plead
ed We do not know. But We know that
a year afterward, at the wedding of her
UrOlncT. the LUKE E<IHcSl Ol
and Princess Victoria Melitia of Coburg,
the betrothal was publicly announced.
The cZarowit.h had turned up at Coburg
at the last moment. not having been ex-
pectsd until shortly before he arrived.
II am determined at last to have an an
swer out of her own mouth he said TO
his PARENTS as he started. a day or TWO
before the princess had talked Of her
lover with tears in her eyes. She gave
vent to her religious scruples before her
brother You do not love him then2'
said the Grand Duke Ernest; and the an
swer "Ohf yes. l do. l do" showed how
painful the struggle in her mind must
have been.
The queen was the first to be informed
of the news that the czarowitch had pro-
posed and been accepted. and there was
great joy among their friends that at
last the long wooing was over. Then
came the illness of Alexander III and the
princess was summoned to Livadia 10
nurse the dying czar. When the monarch
passed away. and her lover was emperor
Of Russia. Princess, Alix wore no signs
Of mourning. 1t was happy thought OF
the widowed empress that no needless
pain should mar the joy of the bride, who
was so soon TO share her sons throne,
and the house of mourning was bright,
ened day by day by the beautiful, sad
figure of the future empress. dressed IN
purest white. 1t was thought best that
there should be no delay for form s sake,
and the funeral was quickly followed py
4 wedding On Nov. 70. 1894. at the age or
p Princess Alix became empress OF