The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-13
SMILES OF BABY
RULE ALL RUSSIA
OLGA. the Cars Eight-Year Old
Girl, Is an Absolute
Monarch.

ST PETERSBURG, Sept. Ia mon
arch in the making is the unvoiced SEN
timent of the Russian people toward the
little Grand Duchess Olga, the eldest
daughter of the car, who, at eight years
of age, is one of the most important
personages in Europe.
This tiny princess, who may play so
large a part in the destinies of nations,
rs already remarkable for characteristics
largely at variance with Romanoff tradi-
tions. In buoyance Of spirit, in the eX-
ercise OF an imperious will. and in the
display of an adaptability which wins all
alike, she shows more resemblance to the
Alustrious, if infamous, Catherine II. than
to any Of her fathers predecessors on the
Russian throne.
Other people may be disappointed at
the sex of the Grand Duchess Olga said
the empress, gazing fondly at the baby
in her arms a few months after her birth,
but to me she is simply the gift Of
Cod
Her Life Without a Cloud.
Whatever disappointment has been felt
from that day to this not a ripple of it has
clouded the joyous existence of the cars
heiress. Confident of the worlds love for
her, she has carried friends and enemies
literally by assault She is the embodiment
of life-the rudy laughing life-to her fin
ger tips She has the whole court at her
feet The discussion of the possibility of
changing the Romanoff law of succession,
which began when Olga Nikolaevna was
born, has increased with her growth, and
the coming of her sisters who have made
the looked-for son seem remote con-
tingency
At first the court scoffed at the sdgges-
ton that the car would contemplate such
step. A woman on the throne was de-
cried by St. Petersburg and Moscow. Be
sides Vladimir AleXandrovitch and Marie
Paulowna remained to be reckoned with,
and the thought of their overthrow rails
ed a smile of amiable doubt on all Sides
vladimir and his consort have reputa-
ton wider than the confines of the Ro-
manor empire, and few care to under
take active hostilities where they are
the opponents.
The czarina's critics spoke Of the grand
duchess as lone of that German Wom-
ans brats, and popular prejudice as well
as private interest seemed bound to defeat
any attempt to make the little one the
heir apparent.
conqueror FROM the Cradle.
But all that is changed. What others
failed to accomplish for her, the blue-eyed
for herself Her baby grace her infectious
good Will, have made her the idol of
people as eXtraVagant in their devotion
as they are in their hatreds
This charming little girl at the Moscow
fair last Easter. with her sisters about
her clapping her hands and dancing with
sheer delight at the wooden dolls that
Were given her. was sight not soon to
be forgotten. The clear-cut features the
big, expressive eyes, the alert intelligence,
and, above all, the irrepreSsible merri-
ment of her nature, drew all glanceS to
her Absolutely simple in her manner, the
richest child in the world her small foot
already on the steps of a throne, might
have been a peasant daughter out on a
holiday for all her consciousness of great
ness.
Grand Duke Michael, the cars only
brother, would under the present law of
succession be the immediate heir to the
throne. His delicate health-so precarious
that any serious physical or mental IA
ugue would endanger his life-make it
improbable that he would oppose the
legalization of his niece's title. OF the
cars four uncles. Grand Duke Sergius is
unmarried and has shown no inclination
to take a bride, for reasons of state.
Grand Duke Sergius, although married, is
childless. Paul is eXiled from Russia,
owing to a reckless life, and there remains
only Vladimir from whom any real strug
gle may be expected: The Grand Duke
Vladimir and his wife would doubtless
fight to the last breath for the crown.
But both the grand duke and the grand
duchess are exceedingly unpopular-an
appropriately that reaches to their three
SonS-and 1t is believed. educated Rus
SLAMS would welcome any course which
should exclude them from royal power.
Mother Holds Throne In Horror.
But near home the little grand duchess
will experience an opposition none the
less intense that it is dictated by a
mothers love. The empress holds that
no greater misfortune could befall a
woman than to rule over the Moscovites.
Olga, however. is close to her fathers
heart, and he is ambitious to see his
daughter rule. The little OIga's horoscope
is said to indicate a troublous life, and
she was born under unlucky stars. But
so far the princess has defied the fates,
and bids fair, if the promise of her child
hood holds good. to deed others the trou-
BILE, while she enjoys the good things of
the world.
Another small princess who is the auto
cratic ruler of her royal parents is Yo-
lando of Savoy, daughter of the King of
Italy. On the first of June she attained
her third year, and is already sufficient
copy of her beautiful mother Queen
Helena, to delight the Italians. The little
princess is learning (insensibly) to ex-
press herself in several languages. One
of these is English, as she is under the
y