New-York tribune., 1904-08-21

While the word "Czarevitch' means "son Of
the Gar yet there have been times when II has
been borne by the brother OF the Emperor. al
though the latter has had several living at
the time Like the dignity Of Prince OF Wales
In Great Britain. and that OF Prince or Princess
of the Asturas IN Spain. the title is conferred by
the sovereign as an act OF royal or imperial
favor, instead OF being assumed a right OF
birth and inheritance. and the Gar would have
been at liberty had he seen fft TO appoint some
other prince of his family rather than his son as
Czarevitch Thus Emperor Paul. although he
proclaimed his eldest son Alexander heir to the
throne in 1877. conferred the title OF Czarevitch
upon his second son. Constantine. in 1893. 10 re-
ward his distinguished services IN the Italian
campaign, and Constantine continued TO bear II
not only throughout the reign OF his elder
brother Alexander but likewise during the reign
OF his younger brother. Nicholas. although the
latter had no fewer than three sons. the oldest
OF them fourteen the time OF his (Constan-
tine's) death
The first mention OF a Czarevitch IN the his
tory OF Russia is IN connection with the tragic
tale OF Ivan " killing. in At OF temporary
passion his favorite son. the one object that he
loved in the world; and this Emperor. who was
so Justly surnamed The Terrible" is described
as having become wellnigh insane with grief
and despair when he realized that he had slain
hts Czarevitch Coming down TO more familiar
days we find Peter the Great administering
poison TO his son. the Czarevitch Alexis. nom
inaly as a punishment for treason. but in re-
ality because the prince hated the Western ways
of his father. and openly proclaimed his inten-
ton OF abolIshing. soon as he came to the
throne all the Occidental reforms introduced by
the creator OF modern Russia. There are few
more dramatic pages in Muscovite annals than
those describing the closing scenes OF this drama
enacted by the Emperor and his son in the dun
geons Of the Kremlin OF Moscow. in the pres
ence Of the leading dignitaries OF the realm.
From that time forth nothing more was heard
OF Czarevitches until the end of the last CEN
tury. wher Catherine II conferred the title upon
her son Paul II is almost impossible TO de-
scribe the cruelties 10 which Czarevitch Paul
was subjected by his mother. who hated him.
toward the latter part OF her reign. with such
bitter hatred that his life was in constant dan
ger She repeatedly sought 10 have him put
out Of the way. and left a viii disnheTiting
him in favor of his eldest son. Alexander. who
was her favorite This document. however was
burned Immediately after her death by Count
KuraBiu a friend OF Paul. and the latter as
cended the throne
Alexander | became Emperor without ever
having been Czarevitch. that title. as stated
above having been conferred upon his younger
brother Constantine, return for military
services while the death of Alexander with
out male issue Il was not Czarevitch COnstan-
tine that succeeded TO the throne but his young
er brother Nicholas l. II is said that Constan-
tines renunciation OF his right TO the succession
to the throne in favor of his younger brother
Nicholas was voluntary. But 20 this day
entire affair remains shrouued in the densest
mystery, no one, save possibly some Of the