The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-13


 The responsibility for the wreck or the Russian monarchy, says the veil ed historian, lies with the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, whom he calls "the most fatal of all the consorts or Russian sovereigns." The Car Nlcho- las IT., in his opinion has been one or the most unlucky of men and ill-fated of monarchs.
 Fortune frowned upon him from the first day of his ascending the throne. But the most calamatous dav If his existence was his marriage day. 7,he Empress Alexandra brought only ' trouble and dissension into ms nIe' and has been the evil spirit who mas led him to his doom."
 The first year of his reign passed |ouietly enough, for the court was still in mourning. The young soverelgns led a. quiet life, and the general pub lie saw little of them.
 I'm rumor began to spread, how ever, that the young Empress repelled every one by the stony haughtiness Of her hearing. It soon became nolseo abroad, too, that relations between the two Hussian Expresses (the Czars wife and his mother) had become strained.
 ---. "Alexandra had not the gift of in- gratiating herself, or even inspiring sympathy. It soon became known that she was very difficult to get on with; her temper was marsh and Vlo- le-zt, ana she treated her immediate entourage with such disdain that 1t became difficult to get any young lady to accept the hitherto coveted position of lady-in-waiting."
 Interfered in Everything
 Such a woman gave little promise of proving an effective helpmeet. But faithfulness, according to this chron- icler, is one of the chief characteris- tics of the ex-Emperor, and when he married his heart belonged entirely to his wife.
 Loving his Empress as he did, trust ing her blindly, and having a high opinion of her superior judgment, he gradually became entirely subject to her influence. If anything, he was rather in awe, not so much of her as of the hysterical fits she developed These attacks were formidable instru- l ments in Her Majesty's hands, and she used them unscrupulously to enforce her will.
 The general opinion that Nichola: is not a clever man this writer flatl1 contradicts. His greatert defect, ht says, is a want of will power and self kreliance, which renders his vacillating and has prevented him from enforcing his own wishes.
 His first opinion is always correc and his first decision right. If he haC been more spontaneous in his resolve all would have been well.
 "But the Empress interfered in ev erything. Her influence continued t' Increase until it became unlimited During recent years she has been tn all-powerful ruler of Russia's destin ies"
 Believing as he did, in her superio wisdom and her integrity, it neve struck Nicholas that the country h T was ordained to rule did not trust her and strongly objected to her domina tion.
 Longing for Son
 Four daughters were successivef born to the imperial couple. The em press was desperate. Her excitemen on each occasion was such as to caus serious anxiety, and those about he feared to let her know the disappoint ing sex of the newborn child. Thi intense desire to give birth to a so became her fixed idea, and she ha recourse to all sorts of expedients enable her to give an heir to Russia
 Everything was tried. Occult sci ence had always attracted the CZa and his consort, and spiritualistic sit tings were continually arranged, eitt CT in Tsarkoe-Selo or in the palace ( the. Grand Duke Nicholas in Italianis Although the sittings were kept pro found secret, still every one knew ( them, and the most amazing tale were spread"
 In the summer of 1908 the cert nony of Saint Seraphim's canonizs ton took place in the monastery Saroff,s and the Car and his conso took part in all the processions. passionate appeal was addressed God by the imperial couple to ser them the blessing of son and hei
 The ill-famed Rasputin was pre- ent, at that time an obscure trampir pilgrim, called in Russia "Staretz He was heard to prophecy to the a sembled crowd that a new mirac was aDout to take place, ana that year would not elapse before the birt of the long-awaited heir. The Car witch Alexis was born on July 8 1904.
 Believed Her Mad
 Until the birth of her son, the Er press had held herself under son restraint; ''but now she asserted he self in a way she had not previous attempted. Against her mother-i
 2