Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-02-22

The rumor comes from England that
the Grand Duke Michael, heir to the
car of Russia, will shortly plight his
troth to the charming little grand
daughter of Queen Victoria, the Prin-
cess Margaret of Connaught.
AS seen by European eyes this be-
trothal is one of the most important,
II not the most important, which is
likely to take place in years among
the imperial and royal families. And
this Importance lies in the fact that 1t
is hoped thereby to provide for the fu-
ture succession to the throne of Rus
sia.
Nicholas H.. the present ruler OF
Russia. has three daughters, but no
sons, and as the Russian imperial fam
lily law excludes women from the
throne. 1t seems very probable now
that the succession will not fall to the
lot OF descendant of the reigning
monarch.
1t was only last summer that MI
chaei became czarewitch, an honor
which fell to him upon the death OF
his brother, the Grand Duke George,
who died of consumption.
The Princess Margaret of Connaught
is the oldest daughter of the duke OF
Connaught, the third son of Victoria,
queen of England. She is really a very
pretty child. and 1t is not too much to
say that she is the most Attractive of
the on Gems prapddauohtarc prinoocc
Margaret was born in January, 1882,
and is just Is years old this month.
In royal families it has come to be
considered that from Is to- 20 is a
very reasonable age for a princess to
be married, since through a marriage
mus early she learns to accommodate
herself to those peculiar conditions I'M
der which queen must live.
The girl princess is of slight, grace
full figure, has hazel eyes, brown hair,
and features extremely pleasant and
refined. Albeit her nose is slightly re-
trousse, this fact does not retract from
her one bit-rather adds a dash OF
piquancy to her pretty features writes
Mary l.. Stevens in the Boston Home
Magazine. 1t was only during the
present year that Margaret put on her
first long dress-a creation which has
been described by one writer as a gar
ment that would not excite the envy of
American heiresses.
The father of the princess. the duke
OF Connaught, is one of the generals
in the English army. The duke is one
OF the most popular Of the queens sons
and a loyal, patriotic Briton to the
| core. Indeed, SO true is this that he
absolutely refused short time ago to
accept the heirship to the duchy of
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a sovereign state
in Germany, because the acceptance
would compel him to leave the English
army and the country ne delights in
calling home"
10 indulge in generalities, it Is
claimed in some quarters that every
unmarried princess in Europe would
be envious if the Grand Duke Michael
should win the affections of the little
English girl, scarce yet out of short
dresses. AS cZarina she would come
into possession of the greatest collec-
ton of precious stones and jewels in
the world; the wife of the most alb
solute ruler of the largest empire in
the east and in addition have the OPP
portunity, dear to full many wOman's
heart, to absolutely rule the absolute
ruler of this immense kingdom.
Michael, the grand duke, was born
Dec. 4, 1878, and is just little over Il
years of age. He is large, well knit to-
gether, and of exceptionally robust
| health. his father, Alexander Ill,
was man of remarkable physical
| strength, it may be recalled, but his
health was exceedingly poor. He died
In the prime of life from complica-
ton Of diseases, which seem to have
been transmitted in some form to each
Of his children except the Grand Duke
| Michael.
The future ruler Of Russia is at pres
ent In Scotland at the home OF the
| duke OF Connaught, and everywhere
has been received with acclaim. 1t