New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-16
Curse Blighted
Boy Czarevitch,
Subjects Believe
Sudden illness Turned
Once Active Heir Into
Puny Cripple

His name is Alexis Nicolaievitch, and
his father placed in trust for him yes
terday one-sixth Of the earth's solid
surface and the supreme lordship over
100 1000, 900 human beings. He is only
twelve wears old and delicate. yet his
shoulders are to bear the weight OF
all the Russias.
Only the highest in Russian official
dom know the truth concerning the un-
happy little prince, upon whose hand
some head descended at birth the
curse of the czarevitch." Few OF
those who have borne that title during
the centuries Of the Romanoff rule have
ever lived their lives unscathed by
physical or mental misfortune. The
little boy. who is now potential mead
Of the worlds greatest empire, has not
been one of those favored few.
The Czarina had had four children.
All were girls, and the people Of her
realm told. whether truly or not, OF
prophecy that she must bear three
more daughters before a son would
be hers. II is said that the Gar
himself believed this superstition. Ger
tain it is. that there was almost hys-
terical relief when a fifth child was
born at the palace Of Peterhof on
July 80. 1904, and IL was announced
that Russia's next Gar had come to
his people.
The child was handsome, active.
healthy and abnormally bright. BY the
time he was four years old he was
ruler in all but name OF the palace
His instructors were disturbed by MS
pranks. The bearded Cossacks. whose
special charge he was, adored him:
The regiments of the Russian guard
were his slaves. All Russia loved the
beautiful child who sometime would
rule. o 40,
curse of the Czarevitch" descended
upon the gay little figure. The nope
of Russia was i'll. That was all IN
outside world knew at first. Presently
news. never since authenticated, began
TO filter ffom the palace where the
little boy lay near to death -
There were a score of rumors, ana
only one, apparently, approximate the
truth. Nihilists had attacked the Czare-
witch while he, his father and the rest
of the royal family were aboard the
Yacht STANDARD. One Of them mad
reached the bright, quick boy and
manned him. 81. :.
Jury are still a mystery TO the OUTSIDE
world Only this is certain, that the
Czarevitch has never fully recovered
Since then he has been ailing and dell
cate For time it was said that he
was incapacitated from ever succeed
ing to the throne.
Protector Commits Suicide
Admiral Chagin, who had pledged
his word 70 the Car that no harm
should befall him and his while aboard
the yacht, made reDaration for his mis-
take by killing himself.
In the last few years 1t has been
said that the boy had recovered, at
least in part, and has even been 10
the front 20 inspect the fighting lines.
physicians from all over the world have
been called into Russia TO ard MN
The exact nature of his illness IS q
mystery. II has been called kidney
trouble, a tubcrculous hip, peritonlus
and hamophilia-an aflctlon whlch
causes the blood TO flow from any
wound without coagulating.
Until lately the Czarevitch has
dragged his left leg while walking
That is as close a description Of ms
ailment as the outside world has been
received. His people believe any one
of the thousand rumors concerning him
Probably not until he ascends the
throne in his own right will the world
know what sort of n person Is this
Alexis Nicolaievitch-th little boy who
Yesterday became head Of the Russian
Empire.