The Russian Czarina.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4193, 24 November 1883, Page 8 (Supplement)

The Russian Czarina.

The visit of the Czar and Czarina to Copenhagen brings about an interesting family reunion, tlio Czarina being a daughter of the King of Denmark and a groat favourite with the Danish people. She grew up with her sister Alexandra, now the Princess of Wales, at tho Danish court, with very modest surroundings. The Queen was an excellent mother and nought to develop in her daughters the woman in preference to the princess. It used to bo said at tho capital that tho Princesses were mado to help in making their own drosses and that tho furniture in their common bedroom was covered with inexpensive calico. A story of tho naive admiration expressed by Princess Dagmar, as she used to bo called, on being shown tho wedding trousseau of one of tho noblo ladies at Court, and her longing wonder whether she would ever herself own "such tilings," was told with a touch of symiiathotic pride by tho pooplo of Copenhagen, with whom the two Princesses wore great favourites.

Sho was originally betrothed to tho Into Czarowitz Nicholas, at whoso bedsido she stood whon ho breathed his last. When ho died thoro seemed to bo no prospect of tho daughter of King Christian ever recovering tho clianco which had slipped from her of one day wearing tho crown matrimonials of Russia. However, Prince Gortschakoff and her father managed to hand her to tho Czarowitz Alexander, to whom sho was married in her nineteenth year.

Her marriage did not givo promise of domestic felicity. Tho Czarowitz had formed an attachment for a maid of honour to tho Empress, nee Motehcrski, and daughter of a noblo poet. Tho Princess was highly gifted with beauty, intellect and delicate sonsibilitios. Ho proposed to marry tho beauty and* told his parents he would never marry any ono elso for a wife. Thoy sent him from St. Potcrsbu rg with his regiment. When ho was absent she was obliged to accept an offer which I'rinco Paul DomidofF had been instructed to mako her. Hor Highness oboyed. She, believing tho Czarewiteh had forsaken her, went with a breaking heart to tho altar, and directly the coremony was ovor, sho waa taken abroad. Within a year she died at Vienna, leavine an infant son behind her.

When Princess Paul Demidofl' was no more, Alexander yielded to la raison d'etat and became reconciled to the Princess Dagmar. He soon forgot his groat disappointment. At his wife's entreaty ho consented to study and took lessons, always with her at his side, from professors of history, mathematics and political economy. Ho and sho becamo insoperable companions, and, indeed, comrades. She went with him in his hunting excursions. When the state of her health admitted she rode out with him, mounted on a fleet and powerful horse. Ho, on his side, always accompanies her on her annual visits to Denmark, where thoy cast state asido and livo a natural, burgeois life.