The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-01-30
Cars Brother Refuses to Re-
linquish His Right of
Succession
IGNORANT MONK RULES
HOUSEHOLD LIKE DESPOT
Rasputin Has Own Way In All
Family Affairs of Mighty
Monarch

car has To begin the year with the
prospect OF d deep feud IN which the
many indictments among the Russian
monarchists arc espouslng the side or
mis- brother. MIcnael Alexandroyitch.
This unhappy condition OF things
tfor the car ald the empire) became
apparent when the Empress DoWaBer
Marie Feodorovna returned, after ~
months absence abroad, to take her
place by the side OF her son. the car,
at the traditional religious celebra-
tions OF the Russian Orthodox New
Year. She brought a message OF great
import TO the future OF the Romanon
dynasty. Her younger son, Michael
Alexandrovitch, who has for time
uomiciled himself In England, abso-
lately refuses 10 sbdicate from his po-
sition as next To the hopelessly Grip
pied cZareyitch III succession TO the
Russian throne: and in his refusal
he Is strongly supported by his mother.
The situation absorbs the attention
OF the ruling spheres in 81. Petersburg,
| more especially since it is now finally
| realized that the little czarevitch can
not In any case. ascend the throne
lie has been under the closest medical
observation for oyer a year now, ana
ais ailment Is diagnosed as disease or
he bone and CT 4 tuberculous nature,
and that the utmost SIKH makes no
Roadway towarG its eradication.
Until the coincidence OF the little
,zareyitch's aftictiOn and Michael
Alexandroyitch marriage with the
= ady who now styles herself the Coun-
tess de Brassow-the name being tax
IN from the estate OF Brassovo In the
province OF Orel. which Michael Alex
hndrovitch presented 10 her when he
as half banished by the car for en-
fe,ing into the diaison-he was wholly
dey~d o. ambition.
TIE Gowager. ia particular, Is openly
gratifie az the improved demeanor VI
her your ger son. who was formerly
painfully shy and unified Tor state
appearances He has now, FOR the
lrst time In his life. taken "A decision
rom which he refuses TO be moved.
Those ladies Of the imperial family
no are not on aItcctionate terms with
ne reignng emp 'ess-and they IN
Jude the dowager aDetting him
II his refusal 20 Gb6icate.
The grand dukes infatuatlon for the
divorced wife OF a subGltern oiiieer
$ now an old story 1t was nearly
ssociation with the woman was first
noticed. and at the time the car sent
aim out OF St Petersburg 20 the re-
note garrison OF Orel. where he did
bot remain long He disobeyed the
zar's orders and returned 20 st. Pc
ersburg and 10 Moscow Ills pres
nee there was intolerable owing 10
he manner In which he was boycotted
~ his fellow officers. Then came the
announcement OF his marriage, fol-
owed by the intimBtion from the car
hat he would better live In England,
where he joined the growing colony or
russian emigrIs.
Just before the announcement or his
marriage q Russian writer wrote OF
i'm: He is not a dissolute rake, as
re some OF his cousins but Is merely
ery susceptible 10 feminine CHARMS,
what the Germans call 'scharmer-
sch'-that Is TO say. disposed TO De
sentimental and romantic; In worN.
O seek forget-me-nots In every anaire
e coeur.'
This ia the man who may be the
Emperor of the Russians. At any rate,
his mothers word may be taken Tor
{ he has grown In firmness, even IL
q has not lost mis- keen eye for fem
nine charms.
The only thing that the car dare
Dot do even as an autocrat, Is TO
trike off the name OF his next linear
uccessor without the latter's consent
his being found mentally incap-
BILE
Michael Alexandrovitchs position Is
trenethened By the dissipated life OF
"a cousin, Grand Duke Dmitri Paylo-
itch. whom the car would prefer TO
ucceed him II he married his eldest
aughter. Dm.tr Pavlovitch Is even
ow installed an the inner circle OF
no imperial household since he was
rdered back from Paris at the IN
lance OF the Russian ambassador,
kTr Isyolsky. for leading life there
-bich was bringing scandalous motto
iety on the Russian imperial FANNY
n any case, the strong orthodox ira
ition ia not allowing Michael Alexan-
rovitch TO be passed over.
The royal family VIII stop some
;me Mt Ilvadja as the air suits the
zarevitch. Rasputin the monk, Is
gain in high favor. having found a
vav of worsting all his enemies al
ourt. AT one mystic meeting wheh
a called up the spirits or dead no
nanoffs he declared that he alone
,eld the secret OF the czarevitch )
,ealth 80 long as ! am with him
10 will live; when | leave MIN TOT
GOD he will die" was his pronounce
nent.
Nv a strange coincidence the czare-
itch has always fallen III as soon as
Rasputin leaves. the court; when ne
: recalled the child rallies. HIS po-
it,on Is now stronger than anybody
round the car.
The sudden death OF Marshal -Diedu-
in IS now attributed to an attack OF
poplexy which he got when the car
colded him for saying Rasputn Is q
barlatan\ All these old friends OF
Nicholas are appalled, at the everin.
reasing mysticism that reigns, ana
baron Diedulin, who had known MN
ince childhood. tried To remove the
1ouk-Fhc- results were such that
no courtier died saying, MY heart Is
lroken. The car. my master mas
O use for me"
When the car heard OF II he was
much distressed. but he cannot part
Vim Rasputln. fearing for his sons
life. ~
The more superstitious people ABOUT
no court firmly believe the illiterate
monk has cast some sort OF spell on
he heir TO the throne.