Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-10-05


deep sympathy of the civilized
world, for although she is a victim of
that system of government that still
prevails in her husbands dominion,
she is an innocent sufferer for the ter
rible wrongs perpetrated by others.
The Empress Alexandra Is said to
be high-souled, liberal-minded, gen.
eroua and loving woman. She is in
deep sympathy with the progressive
movement in Russia and she abhors
the crimes that have been committed
during herr husbands reign and still
are being perpetrated in Russia day
by day. Yet, far from being able to
terminate them, she herself has been
struck down and her happiness de-
stroyed by that very system which
she would gladly abolish in the inter-
est Of others.
After the long summer cruise in the
Baltic sea, undertaken primarily in
the hope of restoring her health, the
czarina was so weak that she could
not walk ashore, but had to be carried
In an armchair. Now she rarely ven
lures outside the palace, but generally
is wheeled about the private grounds
in bath chair. She is only thirty.
six years old. but she is a complete
wreck. Much of her time is spent in
fits Of depression, during which she
lies motionles in epathetic despair.
Misery in Royal House.
Her life at the Russian court, which
has lasted for period Of IA years,
has been one long series of ruthless
Establishments. Her childhood and
girlhood were spent in the happiest
possible circumstances. Her mother
was Princess Alice, the favorite daugh
ter of the venerable Queen Victoria oil
England, and her father was the royal
crown duke of the little state OF
Hesse. Her earlier years were di
vided between the delightful parenta
aoms In the vicinity of Darmstadt II
the genial atmosphere OF southern
Germany and in the refreshing air o.
English liberty at Windsor. She was
brought up with perfect simplicity
and IS a child she was encouraged tt
Forget the fact that her grandmother
was a queen and her father q ruling
sovereign. She played games and she
rode and enjoyed with hearty goot
spirits all the pleasures in which {
healthy girl can participate. Up tt
the age of twenty-five her happines.
was unclouded.
The Russian government In IT.
search for suitable bride for Mich
olas, the heir to the throne, deCidet
that Princes Alix of Hesse was th.
most eligible young lady to be fouat
among the royal families of Europe
Formal proposals accordingly wer,
made to the court of Hesse and n,
end of pressure was brought to bea
on the reluctant Princess Alix to &C
cept the future car as her husband
Nicholas came to visit her family a
Darmstadt, and created most unfa
vorable impression on his futur,
bride. She found him dull and unin
teresting and rather unsympathetic
He did not appeal to her interest i,
any way, and it seemed to her tina
| llIe3 Will ILLS 4uAAAI A4lL4c uldu dS uG
husband offered no charms at all.
But finally her opposition was over
come. Reluctantly and against he
own will she became the wife O
Nicholas, and no sooner were the.
welded than the death of Alexande
III. elevated her husband to the thron'
Of all the Russias.
Prophecies That Came True.
When the storm of revolution burs
over Russia four years ago, warning
which the czarina uttered were just
fed. Her prophecies had come true
She alone among the statesmen an
magnates Of Russia had realized tn
consequence of systematically oppres
sing q great nation. Her relative
outside of Russia, including some q
the most influential members Of tn
English royal family, and her ow1
brother. now the reigning grand duk
tof Hssse. urged her to turn her bac
on the country and to seek safety &
h.saTetsn refuge. but the csarina. Nh