THE CZARINA.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2679, 6 January 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CZARINA.

(Woman at Home.) It has been told that the Czarina of Russia is not as popular as she deserves to be among the people of her adopted country. For all her gentleness, the Czarina is a woman of strong character, and she does not hesitate to show her likes and disnkes, or express her disapproval, where disapproval is due. And there is, to tell the truth, much that may grieve her spirit in the atmosphere of society in St Petersburg. Like her mother, the Grand Duchess ot Hesse, and her aunt, the Empress Frederick of Germany, before her, the Czarina is somewhat of a reformer, and a Princesses adopted people are always apt to resent the newfangled ways of a foreigner. There are those Russians who speak of her impatiently as “ The German,” and others who call her “The Englishwoman.” Fortunately, the Empress finds every happiness in her home life. The Emperor is simply devoted to her, and knows no happiness away from her side. To see them together you might imagine them an engaged couple. Their three tiny girls are very dear to them, and much of her time is spent by the Empress in, the nursery. The flower of the flock, as far as looks are concerned, of the babies, is Grand. Duchess Tatiana, the second child. She is a real beauty, with dark, pathetic eyes, and wistful little mouth. But the Grand Duchess Olga, the eldest, is such a hearty, merry child, everybody loves her. One wonders, whether she is destined to he our future Queen Consort. It is said to be tme that when she saw Prince Edward of York playing about the gardens of Balmoral with his Russian^,cousin, the Queen expressed some wish that a belle alliance might be made in; years to come! The Empress has furnished her rooms at Peterhof in English style.' Not long ago she gave an immense order for an old-fashioned chintz to one of our best-known firms in London. ’Of flowers; she is passionately fond, her boudoir, like that of the Princess of Wales, is always a very bower, and she likes to arrange the flowers with her own delicate fingers.