The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10
THE CHRISTENING OF THE GEAR.

| THE CHRISTENING OF THE GEAR
Romantic Story of How He Came to He
| Nicholas Instead of Alexander.
The Car of Russia liz suffering from asphasia
and is about to undergoa serious operation from
| which he may not This announcement
| recalls an interesting story about his baptism and
the romance Of the marriage Of the late Gar Alex
ander and the Princess Dagmar of Denmark,
now Dowager Empress of Russia. The story
| comes from did Marquise who a
member of the imperial Russian household. and
| later gave up her title in marrying member
| Of the English Diplomatic Corps
| When the beautiful Princess Maria Dagmar
| daughter OF King Christian TX of Denmark, and
| sister Of the Princess of Wales chosen
the bride-elect Of the Czarevitch Nicholas II was
| looked upon a very remarkable royal match
inasmuch as the Princess Dagmar was more than
fond Of the Crown Prince and he loved her pas
sionatey in return. However so happy royal
marriage was not destined to be. Nicholas fell a
victim TO a malady from which he died In 1895
At this iuncture the heir presumptive the Grand
Duke Alexander second son OF the Gar became
the Crown Prince and it publicly urged that
the alliance of the RomanoIs and the royal house
OF Denmark should still be carried out tho Princess
Dagmar to become the betrothed Of the new Crown
Prince Alexander On this the imperial and tho
royal counsellors and everyone else concerned
Except the Princess Dagmar herself, and the
Crown Prince who didn't way the
otheD were determined, but the Danish Princess
held out obstinately and declared she would never
marry the Crown Prince, and would never cease to
mourn the death of Nicholas. There was much
sympathy for her then as il was known that the
Crown Prince Alexander was not at all like his
brother Nichola a in m ment The Czarovitch
Nicholas had been gentle and thoughtful. manly
fellow, but fond Of the quieter pursuits in life,
although he a skilled huntsman. On tho
other hand the Grand Duke Alexander had been
gruf and abrupt and not particularly fond Of the
things which proved congenial TO his brother,
so there little bond Of sympathy between
them The Marquise afarms that she once over
heard the Princess Dagmar describe him as a
heartless brute Therefore II is not 10 be wondered
at that this beautiful daughter of the Vikings
should hesitate to exchange peaceful life though
one of poverty. for one in which she had every
reason to fear she might scarcely be recompensod
in being Empress Of all the Russas Indeed tho
surly Alexander seemed likely TO follow In tho
footsteps of his forebear, Ivan the Terrible
Finally the Princess Dagmar became obedient
70 the wishes Of her royal father. She made
attempt TO conceal the fact that she bore the Crown
Prince Alexander love. and she had little reason
TO believe he could cherish any love for her. The
alliance was merely regarded affair Of ma
tons regardless Of feeling Of the heart,
At last the day set for the wedding arrived.
uhe Princess Dagmar being already received
into the Greek Church,) and obedient to an an
cent custom, still in vague. tho Crown Prince
Alexander came to the Winter Palace. and, unat-
tended. went through the apartments to seek his
bride To his amazement he searched the grand
salons in vain. AT this iuncture the Marquise
happening TO cross the left corridor before the
east entrance to the gallery in which hung the
portraits Of the Romanoffs Of all times, heard
some sobbing She guessed II was the Princess
Dagmar for she knew that Just beside that entrance
hung portrait of the late Czarovitch Nicholas
Naturally the Marquise moved to withdraw
fearing tointrude upon the presence Of her Royal
Highness, but Just as she slipped back through
the leather portieres the Grow Prince Alexander
burst into the salon.
The Marquise explains that etiquette forbade
her making any further movement SO she
heard what followed. As he entered the long
dim gallery the Crown Prince peered into the
darkness, and there, PROSTATE before the portrait
Of his dead brother, was the Princess Dagmar.
The Crown Prince Alex ander had hidden deep
under his unpleasantries generous nature and
this incident touched him. Softly approaching
his betrothed he knelt by her side and said
Forgive me, my betrothed that am come to
make you 40 unhappy know l am brute for
you have said II, but be patient Bear with me
and teach me so that sometime you may como
TO have little love for me I can never expect
from my rude ways TO take the place in your heart
that was held by our poor brother. but you have
my promise that II ever heaven blesses us with
an heir he shall be named Nicholas in memory
OF our brother"
The heart Of the Princess Dagmar was much
touched when she heard these gentle words, and
she permitted him to lead her forth to whore the
court impatienuy awaited them. wondering at
the delay. Here the Marquise says she discreety
withdrew. etiquette did not seem 10 hinder this
time but she was on hand again after son was
born to the Grand Duchess Dagmar. who had be-
come the wife of the CZarevitch Alexander.
There was much rejoicing at the birth of this heir
presumptive in May 1853, and II was given out
that the name to be bestowed on the little Grand
Duke at his christening was Alexander, In honor
OF his father.
II is custom in the G reek Church when child
is chrstcned for the Patriarch to the mother
and receive from her lips the name TO be given
the child. In this instance. the Marquise who
was present at the ceremony says, the Patr-
arch turning 10 the Grand Duchess Dagmar
said:
And what is the name by which this child shall
be known? Speak that II be given him in the pres
ence OF witnesses"
Then to the establishment Of every one present
before the Grand Duchess Dagmar could open
her lips to speak. although she was about to say
Alexander" the Czarevitch cried out in a
loud voice
Nicholas So let his name be-"
Alexander had not forgotten his promise
and thus II was that instead Of Alexander Alex
androvitch this wee Grand Duke, now Gar of all
he pttaai md aha
10000 souls, came to be Nicholas Alexandra
vitch-Nicholas son Of Alexander