The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-28
PRINCESS AND CZARINA.
How Two Girls Found Comfort tt

Sethcr iii ffar-Of Russia.
The Czarna of Russia had added to her
already numerous laurels, by the sending
of a very pretty letter Of congrat uation
to Julia Dent Grant, the Princess Can
tacuZene, on the announcement of the
birth OF a baby to the House OF Cantacu-
zene
The American girl was married in Sep
TENDER, OF last year to Prince Michael,
head Of the wealthy and ancient fanny
of Russian Cantacuzenes. The Prince met
Miss Grant While she was visiting in
Rome, with her aunt, and Immediately
fell in love with her. a short engage
ment ended in the marriage Of the pair
at the villa of Mrs. Potter Palmer. in
Newport, last fall. When the Princess
arrived in Russia, one Of the first to well
come her was the Czarina and, during the
holidays, the Princess was much at Court.
She visited the family of the Car il the
Winter Palace and spent many days with
the Czarina. The two young women con-
versed together in Englash and much of
the Inconsistencies of the little American
Princess disappeared when she heard
her native tongue again.
The littlo daughter of the house was
born at the Cantacuzene family residence
near Moscow. Immediately upon receipt of
the news the Czarina sent a very cordial
letter Of congra:utarun ard i handsome
gift.
In thus throwing aside the reservc
which is supposed to hedge the one who
wears Crown. AliX Of Russia has only
endeared herself all the more not only
to her subjects. but 10 the world of wo-
men. Many OF her predecessors, precious
Czarinas. have not been so informal nor
50 cordial. The Palace at st. Peters
burg has been the home of great state
and ceremony. and an almost ridiculous
line of etiquette has prevailed. But the
English Princess who now rules Over Rus
sia has insisted that only the necessary
ceremony be observed toward her; and so
she has come nearer to the people than
any previous occupant of the Russian
throne The Czarina has a family of
three little girls. the eldest. the Grand
Duchess Olga, being five years old. 1t is
a law in Russia that no woman can
succeed to tho throne. SO unless there
are boys born to the Car and his wife
the line of succession will be turned aside.
This is a source of great grief to the
royal pair.
The Czarina is one of Queen Victoria's
many grandchildren. She is the Youngest
child of the late Grand Duke and Duchess
of Hesse-Darmstadt. Her mother, Princess
Alice perhaps the most popular member
Of the English royal family. died "hen
the little Alix was only six years OF age,
! and from, that time the child was cared
for almost exclusively by her grandmother
Queen Victoria. whose special favo-ite she
has always been. She was surrounded oy
nurses, attendants and goVernesses. select
! ed at Windsor AMI Balmoral. with the
| result that the future Czarina grew up
more English in sentiment and training
than many Of her ENGLISH cousins
Princess Alix was called by this curious
modification of her mothers name be-
| cause Queen Victoria found that the name
aoI 1,a
| Germans The little Princess received in
addition the names of her aunts, Helena,
Victoria Louise and Beatrice.
When Princess Alix was about ten weeks
old her mother wrote to the Queen of Eng
| land: ''Baby is like Ella elizabeth. the
nresent wife of the Grand Duke Serge).
| but she has smaller features and darker
| eyes. with very dark eyelashes and auburn
| hair. She is a dear, lively little thing,
| ALWAYS laughing. and has a dmple on one
cheek exactly like Erwin Cher brotherl."
| As she grew I'D this brightness of temner-
! ament remained one of her most marked
characteristics. and for this reason in the
| family circle she was always called the
| s,1nbeam-or "Sunny" as it was usually
| abbreviated Her early training was con-
| fded to an elderly English nurse. Miss
| Orchard. who promised the Grand Duchess
| Alice when she lay dying. in 1873. never
| to leave Sunny and who went to Russia
when her charee-still Sunny to her
| was welded to the present Car.
| After the loss of her mother and father
| the Grand Duke died in 1S02-Princess
| Alix became more serious. From child
hood she was remarkable for distinct
| character and individuality of her own.
! and this was shown six years ago in con-
! nection with her entry into the Eastern
! Orthodox Church For the last seven CEN
turtles nearly all the Cars have gone
! abroad for their brides, who in every IN
! stance have been baptized into the Rus
J sian faith Tn the case Of Princess AK
| a difficulty arose. She refused TO say that
her former religion was accurSed: that
| her conversion to the Russian faith was
| due to her conviction that her own rel!G-
| ion was not founded upon truth" as the
| law of the Russian Church required. New
| er before has the Holy Synod of Russia
| had to face such refusal. Argument was
| in vain 81 merely join the Greek Church
| that may be of one faith with my future
| husband'' she said firmly. And the Holy
| SYNOD Of Enssia bad to mako this niF';''-
| important and unprecedented concession
| to the Young German girl. who. not even
f! for the crown of an empire. would con-
| denim the religion of her forefathers at
| her baptism in Russia she received the
| names Alexandra Feodorovna. and the
| Gar afterward conferred unon her the
RANK of Grand Duchess OF the Emrire.
| The frmnesS of character which the
| Czarna possesses has never overshaGow-
ed the more graceful qualities of her dis
| positon She is not stiff. but lively.
| graceful and .'elegante" in the Partisan
| sense OF the word: she is sensitive. impul-
| sive. sympathetic and witty.