GRAND DUCHESS OLGA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10683, 1 February 1913, Page 1

GRAND DUCHESS OLGA.

May One Day Ssisrn Over Russia. (St Petersburg Correspondent, New Orleans " limes-Democrat.") Undoubtedly the recent mysterious illness of the Czarevitch has given all true friends of Russia a bad scare..But, it has served one good purpose in exposing the broad outlines of a Court intrigue that involves the Grand Duke j Michael—the Czar's bold, bad brother --and the Dowager Empress Marie; and which aims at the placing of Michael on the throne of Russia upon the death of Nicholas and, the sweeping away of all the Liberal reforms for which the present Czar really has worked more than he always gets credit for. Happily the coming of this black day in Russia's history lias been set back bv the recovery of the Czarevitch; but even now only two lives stand between the unhappy country and a return to terrible days. Nicholas himself is frail and puny, and goes in constant fear of the assassin's hand; the Czarevitch is none too strong, as his recent illness showed, and, until he reaches age, can hardly be counted upon as an effective barrier between the throne" and the ambitions of a strong man like the Grand Duke Michael. There are those who do not . hesitate to declare that the recent illness of the Czarevitch was really due to an almost successful attempt to kill . him. Substance is lent to this opinion by the secrecy with which air the Court surrounded the affair. There is, however, nothing to oonnect THE INTRIGUING DOWAGEE EMPRESS and her son with the affair, and everything points to the assurance that they .are content to await the natural course of events or, at any rate, decided to await the death of Nicholas before striking. The Czar, however, is already making plans to foil the arch-conspirators. A dozen years ago, before the birth of the Czarevitch and while he was still completely under the influence of the Dowager Empress, Nicholas proclaimed Michael the heir to the-throne. Under 'law' of succession promulgated by .• Emperor • Paul, Michael was the natural heir-presumptive, followed by the other grand dukes, to the exclusion of the Czar's daughters. But the Czar all the Russias is not an absolute autocrat for nothing; and he can at any time alter the law of succession in such a way that his oldest daughter, the Grand Duchess Olga, would ascend the throne in the event of the Czare-vitch's-death. And that, in short, ia said to be his plan to thwart the reactionaries. Part and parcel of this scheme to place his oldest daughter on the throne is the Czar's present unwillingness to consent to her marriage to anyone. Obviously, her marriage to the Prince of Wales, for instance, would effectively bar her from the throne of Russia. At the present moment tlie Russian court is arrayed in two hostile camps. On the one side is Nicholas, trying in a feeble way to put through his various Liberal reforms. He is supported by a small army of ardent but powerless : souls- who see in him their country's only hope of salvation. On the other side is Grand Duke Michael, a strong, robust, ruthless, iron-handed man, who openly preaches A RETUIfN TO THE ' ABSOLUTE AUTOCRACY that trampled under an iron heel the ignorant, suffering population. Standing with him is the sinister figure of the most powerful woman in the whole world to-dav, the Dowager Empress Marie, the leader of the reactionaries and anti-Liberals of Russia. For many years she exercised a tremendous influence over Nicholas, but eventually he threw her over, thanks to the influence of his liberal-minded wiff Behind Michael and his mother are arrayed almost the entire court, most of the grand dukes and the great official class. For years these reactionaries have succeeded in thwarting most of the efforts of Nicholas and the Liberals who are working with him. It is this all-powerful class that has put its money on the Grand Duke Michael and which will stop at nothing to gain its end. Michael and his fellow-plotters have even won over Rasputin, the Czar's | latest pet priest, who is said to have had the courage to urge upon his royal patron the claims of Michael in preference to those of the Czarevitch. He is said to have suggested, cautiously, I the promulgation of a decree setting aside tht> son in favour of the brother, , on the ground; of the former's " poor j health." j Meanwhile Michael is directing his : intrigues from his estate in remote Oriol, whither he was banished by his brother Nicholas some years ago. For years Michael lived up to the reputation of a Russian grand duke by leading tho wilde-t kind of life St. Petersburg society. Eventually he fell m love violently with the wife of Sergius Mamont-off, a Moscow millionaire. She was the daughter of ■ a Russian senator, and had previously gained an undesirable reputation because of the frequency with which she changed her lovers.

Even a Moncow millionaire does not care to oppose a Russian srrand duke and a, possible Cznr of the future. When Madame Mamontofr heard from the lip-«. of Michael that he loved her, 3ho immediately told her husband. Accordincly, a divorce wr* arranged. This was not entirely to Michel's liking, as he had no intention at that time of marrying the woman. So he prevailed upon an obliging cavalry officer to inarrv her, and then separated the couple by using his influence to have the officer's regiment . TRANSFERRED TO A DISTANT POST. "But Michael reckoned without the clever woman who had him in her toils, 'b was not long before he was so niadlv " fa Hinted that ho was calling upon her o divorce her officer husband. Ac•irdingly the Moscow charmer went .hrough her second divorce, and a -;hort time afterwards was legally married to the Grand Duke. Nicholas had kept his tongue tightly between his teeth during the earlier

stager, of his brother's infatuation. After all, lie reasoned, it was only what was expected of a Russian Grand Duke. But when Michael married the former Madame ManiontoiT Nicholas flew into a rage and immediately prepared to banish the culprit to some foreign clime. When the Dowager Empress heard of tho Czar's intention she hurried to his side. Exact information as to what passed between tho Czar and his mother is wanting. No one knows just what threats the strongminded dowager used, but Nicholas emerged from the private cabinet in which they had their historic meeting a much subdued man For appearances sake naughty Michael-was sent to live on his estate at Oriol and told never to sliow his faca again in St Petersburg. Michael has never forgiven .Nicholas for his interference in his affairs.' Not that lie minds being "exiled" from St Petersburg, because lie comes to the capital quietly whenever he pleases. He has THE UTMOST COXTEJirT FOR HIS WEAKLING BROTIIERj and makes no attempt.to mask his dislike. During the interview in which Nicholas told his brother of his banishment to Oriol the latter is said to have declared openly . that the Czarevitch would never reign upon the throne of Russia. Nicholas has always stood in great fear of his stronger brother. Even as a boy the Grand Duke Michael displayed extraordinary strength of will. His father, Alexander 111. brought his sons up with an iron hand, but he had all lie could do to keep Michael in control. Several times, to the amazement of Nicholas, he openly defied his old tyrant of a father and never stood in any fear of the many threats of repressive treatment with which ' the Czar threatened to break his spirit. He was early taught all the tricks of self-defence, and has often declared that he would rather die at the hand of an assassin, with his boots on, than in bed. Because of his high , position the greatest care is taken of, Michael. All the attentions of his watchful attendants, however, have not prevented him becoming -one of the most reckless riders in the Russian army. "When he was in St Petersburg he frequently took - part in regimental steeplechases, and elaborate precautions were taken to prorent the breaking of his precious neclc. High army officers rode on either side of him, but he soon demonstrated that none of them was fastenough to stay with him to the finish. Hence the Czar finally forbade his participation in races. .