New-York tribune., 1905-04-12
Grand DUCHESS LOVES RoULETTE

GRAND DUCHESS LOVES ROULETTE
The Grand Duchess Vladimir has never got on
vel with her sster-in-law. the widowed Empress
But her relations with The younger Empress have
from the very first been even sf5ll more strained.
The Two women having not one point Of character
81 common with each other. The grand duchess
S. IS worldly as the young CZarina is serious and
domestic and playing the ieacing role IN 81. Peters
burg society which hurnors her passion for ca-ds
E for roulette has contributed in no small degree
70 the unpopularity OF the young Empress in the
Russian grand monde IN facI, most Of the sto-
ries circulated about The Young Empress. especially
PRIOR 70 the birth OF her boy. and destined TO rid
scule or harm her the eyes OF The people OF the
land Of her adoption originated In The Vladimir
palace, 8 fact OF which nobody was better aware
thar the Empress herself
Three years ago. on Christmas Eve. Grand
IDcchess Vladimir became q convert 10 the Rus
sian Orthodox Church. not from any spirit Of
Ggious conviction. but 10 prevent any obstacles
being raised 10 the elevation Of her husband. or of
her sens 70 supreme power, in connection with
that statute barring from the succession the hus-
band and sons Of any grand duchess not q mem
Der Of the national church OF Russia, and which
had been devised by Alexander II with the es-
pscisl OBJECT OF frustrating her ambitious designs
Ee7 conversion naturally served to stin further
Intensity the dis1ruEt OF Nicholas and OF his con-
sort toward the Eladimtrs.
IL word. there IS love whatsoever lost
between the VlRdiInirs and the Car and Czsrina.
and Tie cable dispatches Of Two days ago from
Berlin. intiEnating that there was question OF
establishing a regency 81 81. Petersburg by means
O. coup d'etat and OF investing either Vladimir
one of his sons with the powers OF a dictator.
owing 70 what Is declared 70 be the ''nerveless-
ness" OF the Emperor. indicate not what is likely
70 happen. but what the VIadinirs and especially
their friends, would wish 70 occur.
Another cause OF 81 VIII Is the hesitation OF the
Car 70 give his sanction 10 the marriage OF
Grand Duke Cyril 10 the divorced Grand Duchess
of Hssse- The Emperor not only considers himself
barred from doing this by the fact that the Ortho
dox Church strictly forbids unions between FIRST
cousins. but IS filed. ike his eonsort, with seni-
1neuts of intense aversion toward the divorced
grand duchess which date from the time OF her
clarrels with her former husband, the CzaItnas
brother.
DIssENsIONs OF THE REIGNING HOUSE.
The Tladi1nirs are likewise at daggers drawn with
the Grand Duke Alexander Aichaelovltch. the
Cars sailor brother-in-law and translator OF Cap
tain Mahsus works while this prince is the partc-
EleT bete noir OF Grand Duke Alexis. the Lord High
Admiral OF the feet Alexis has repeatedly urged
upon the Emperor the necessity OF dismissing Alex
ender from the navy. owing 10 his reforming ten
dencies and subversive views. Then there is Grand
Duke Pau. who on account OF hts mesaIliance was
eEiled from Russia until the other day. and whose
VIE stil remains excluded from the dorninions OF
the Gar by whose orders she was turned back the
other day at the frontier by the police. As re-
lated the other Day n these letters the Grand Duke
Nlcho-as AlchaeloV1tch, popularly known as the
Red Grand Duke owing 10 his alleged revolutionary
Affiliations. has lately returned Russia in defiance
of the Emperors commands that he should remain
Ebroad. and Is believed 20 have some hand in the
grave disturbances that now raging In the Cau-
casus.
Much more could be related IN this connection,
bet imagine II VIII be sufhcient TO show that the
imperial house OF Romanoh Is not and indeed
never has been. very dnited family. and that as
Hr Donald Mackenzie Wallace's Russian friend
says there car be such thing as Grand Dueal
party IN Russian politics owing 20 the dssens.ons
among the various grand dukes and the entire abb
henoe Of solidarity between the scons or the reign
ing family.