The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-21
Remarkable Work Throws New
Light on History Of
Europe.
EMPEROR NOT FREE AGENT
Nicholas, Like His Predecessors.
Dcfcrs to Popular
Sentiment.
-. MAnnr1sr ne rnNrENoY.

, Grand Duke Constantine, accords TO the
drama, especially to Shakespearean
lore and to poetry, has just published
a remarkable work, based on informa-
ton derived fr'om the imperial ar
chives of the sovereign house of Rom
anoh, and forming memoir Of EN-
press Elizabeth, daughter of the Mar
grave and Margarine of Baden, ana
!consort of Gar Alexander |. 1t con
tains much of interest. throwing new
light on many hitherto clouded pages
of the history Of Russia, and of the
other powers of Europe at the begin
ming of the nineteenth century.
But what is perhaps most import
ant for all is that it sets at rest for
ever the widely credited story &C.
cording to which Alexander /. survived
his alleged death In 1875 for many
years, in the sarb of a monk, as a
voluntary mmilte of the AieXieffski
Monastery, near Tomsk, in siberia.
/ where lie is alleged 10 have actually
succumbed in 1864. at the age of over
ninety after having been visited more
or less secretly by nearly every prince
! of the imperial family of Romanoit, the
last one TO make the pilgrimage dur
ing his lifetime having been CzHrevitch
Nicholas Aexandrovitch, the gifted
elder brother of Alexander III. II is
certainly true that since the old hermit
was laid to rest within the precincts
of the monastery under the name OF
Feodor kosmitch, no member of the
through Siberia without kneellng in
PRAYER at his tomb.
AleXanders motive in thus with
drawing from the world and abandon
ing his throne is said to have been the
profound remorse which overlook him
in mis- later years for his share in the
. responsibility for the shocking muir
der OF his crazy father Emperor Paul,
in 1901. Since feelings of an analogous
character are known to have caused
his next brother. the czarcvitch Con-
stantine Paulovitch, to waive his rights
of succession to the throne in favor of
a still younger brother, Nicholas
Paulovitch, who. having been only i've
years old al the time of his fathers
assassination, was entirely innocent
of any connection with the tragedy, 1t
was thought only natural that En-
peror Alexander should have consider
ed II necessary to make atonement by
surrendering his sceptre to this young
or brother Nicholas. and by becoming
dead to the world, so as to be able TO
spend the remainder of his days in
penance and In prayer.
All this popular and widely believed
| tradition has now been shattered by
the new book of Grand Duke Nicholas
| Michaelaiovitch. who publishes in fac
| beth wrote to her mother in November,
! 1928 day by day, regarding her hus-
bands Illness at Taganrog,. during
which she nursed nm iron from rs be con- an
| scribes the various phases and the pro-
| gress of his malady and relates how he
| hnally expired with his head resting on
| her shoulder and clasped In her arms.
| are so grief stricken in their tone and
! convey such an Impression of profound
| sincerity as to leave no possible doubt
as to the truth of the story which they
! difficult for his widow to bear was
| that some months previously. after
| having treated her with neglect dur
| ing a portion of their married life, he
! had returned to her, DeSought and OBJ.
tanned her pardon and become so en-
| tirely reconciled that her happiness
was complete and all her sorrows
| forgotten, 1t was during this species
snatched from her by death, after q
sudden illness, lasting not more thar
ten days. The Empress. who was com
| pletely broken-hearted, was so pros
trated by sorrow that she was not able
to leave Taganrog until three month.
later, when, while enteavorins to reacf
] st. Petersburg ny easy stages, she wa,
overtaken by death on the way
/ Kalouga Her letters to her mother
the Margarine CT Baden. that are re
produced in tile book Of Grand Duke
Nicholas, continue up to within weei
of her demise.
The compiler OF, this valuable add az, q,
ton to the histony Of the soverei ig.
of old Grand Duke Michael Nicholaio
witch, who died the other day, is IN
married, is president of the Imperia
Geographical Society of Russia, and tn
ONLY member OF any reigning house
besides the Prince of Monaco, to belong
to the Institute of France The Primo
of Monaco was elected TO the latter b.
: reason of his services to the science Q
, oceanography and Grand Duke Mich
olas in recognition or his immensel.
valuable historical researches.