The Washington herald., 1914-03-16
Europe Guessing on Possible Husbands
For -Four Daughters of Russia's Car
Rumors Have Been Swirling
Especially Thick Around
the Proud Olga, Eldest
Princess. May Inherit the
Throne.

once upon a time there was king
and he had four daughters. And the
king was much perplexed where he
should find suitable husbands for them.
For he was a kindly man and they were
beautiful girls"
We can well imagine this as the open
ing paragraph of an old thine fairy tale.
But in this -ase II is an actual, acute
situation staring in the. face that much
harrassed man, the Gar Of all the Rus
sias.
Several years low the sc3ndal-mongers
of Europe have oeen explaining the mar
riages of expediency arranged for the
charming quartet. Perhaps they have
been right. At least none Of the stories
have fallen yet by the fact of the girl 5
wedding some one else than the scandal
monger's choice.
The cloud of rumors has swirled most
thickly about the proud Olga, the eldest
daughter, because there is great Likelihood
of her inheriting the throne by the de-
mise of her tubercular little brother.
Here is, indeed, a fitting subject for
the romancer. Sweeping, imperial. with
a curl OF her lip SO cold and naughty
that it would almost belle her reputa-
ton for good nature, she is every inch
a queen. There Is magnifcence about
her youthful carriage rarelv attained,
even by royal blood.
Romance with Cousin.
Yet she cares nothing for the throne,
the ermine, the crown, diamonds and the
sceptre. It is well-authenticated that she
tried to throw herself away upon her
young cousin, Prince Dimitri Paulovitch.
oNnd M "a
Paul.
For years a romance developed be-
tween them. There were clandestine
meetings and the royal girl concealed in
her bosom a diamond pendant which the
young prince had given her. The revela-
tion of her infatuation to the Car and
Czarina precipitated several fearful
scenes. The Grand Duchess stamped her
foot like any common girl. She would not
be sacrificed as a wife for any pin
headed princely weakling. She would
marry the man Of her choice.
The Gar is said at last to have con-
sented. It was decided that the be-
trothal be published to the world. And
then the Grand Duchess Olga had the
Tudest shock that ever came TO any
Young princess of the blood. Prince
Dimitri confessed that he loved her sister
Tatiana more than Olga!
I1tiana Is Attractive.
Where Olga is stately. Titiana is ire
sistibly attractive. Where the elder sis
ter is magnificent. imperial. capable of
gracing throne, the second daughter is
winsome, magnetic, capable of becoming
a great actress and taking captive the
heart of a nation with her magic smile
If there had been turmoil in the Cars
household before. it was as nothing COM
pared to the storm now. The Czarina,
always neurasthenic from the many
nameless terrors that surround her fam
lily, collapsed completely and retired to
her beautiful retreat in the Crimea. The
prince who was the cause OF the trouble
left the country. His exile was complete
absolute. He seems now to have been
shut out Of the list of eligibles entirely
This list of eligibles is not a long one
and the daughters of the Car have a
way of turning up their pretty noses at
almost every name on it. Heading the
list is the young Prince of Wales, a
school boy, thin-faced, weakly given to
overmuch cigarette smoking. perhaps too
greatly coddled by a foolish mother
Accustomed TO the viTile if dissipated
society of St Petersburg, the grand
duchesses are not so much impressed oy
the British heir apparent. He is said to
admire much the beautiful Titiana, but