The San Juan Times on Alexandra's life, dated February 7, 1896

Source:

Written by David Halford for The San Juan Times, published in Farmington, New Mexico on February 7, 1896

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86063590/1896-02-07/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1894&sort=relevance&rows=20&words=czarina+CZARINA&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=17&state=&date2=1918&proxtext=Czarina&y=14&x=13&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=5

The article:

THE LITTLE DUCHESS.

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WHO MAY YET RULE OVER ALL THE RUSSIAS.

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Named Olga by Her Mother — Beautiful Character of the Czarina — America Feels a Friendly Interest in the Progress of Russia.

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THE mother of the little grand duchess of Russia has given her the name of Olga. If the Romanoff dynasty continues to reign Olga will one day become empress of all the Russias. That country is now the largest empire in the world ruled by one government. Americans will take great interest in the progress of the nation that emerged from a state of semi-barbarism at the same time that this nation was born. The first act done by civilized Russia was to materially assist the United States in subduing England in the war of the revolution. In all our wars Russia has been our friend. And in turn this country has been Russia's friend. When her treasury was empty we gave her gold, we have given her soldiers and railway builders. Now Russia is about to adopt our common school system. So it is quite natural that Americans feel a friendly interest in the progressive strides being made by Russia.

The czarina is one of Queen Victoria's many grandchildren. She is the youngest child of the late Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse-Darmstadt. Her mother, Princess Alice, perhaps the most popular member of the English royal family, died when the little Alix was only six years of age, and from that time the child was cared for almost exclusively by her grandmother, Queen Victoria, whose special favorite she has always been. She was surrounded by nurses, attendants and governesses, selected at Windsor and Balmoral, with the result that the future czarina grew up more English in sentiment and training than many of her English cousins. Princess Alix was called by this curious modification of her mother's name because Queen Victoria found that the name of Alice was so badly pronounced by the Germans. The little princess received in addition the names of her aunts, Helena, Victoria Louise, and Beatrice. In her childhood she was called "Sunny," from the brightness of her temperament, but after the loss of her mother and father — the grand duke died in 1892 — she became more serious. From childhood she was remarkable for a distinct character and individuality of her own, and this was shown last year in connection with her entry into the Eastern Orthodox church. For the last seven centuries nearly all the czars have gone abroad for their brides, who, in every instance, have been baptized into the Russian faith. In the case of Princess Alix a difficulty arose. She refused to say that her "former religion was accursed; that her conversion to the Russian faith was due to her conviction that her own religion was not founded upon truth," as the law of the Russian church required.

Never before had the holy synod of Russia had to face such a refusal. Argument was in vain. "I merely join the Greek church that I may be of one faith with my future husband," she said firmly. And the holy synod of Russia had to make this highly important and unprecedented concession to the young German girl, who not even for the crown of an empire would condemn the religion of her forefathers. At her baptism in Russia she received the names Alexandra Feodorovna, and the czar afterward conferred upon her the rank of grand duchess of the empire.

The firmness of character which the czarina possesses has never overshadowed the more graceful qualities of her disposition. She is not stiff, but lively, graceful, "elegante," in the Parisian sense of the word; she is sensitive, impulsive, sympathetic, and witty. She is beautiful, of the refined, fair-haired, blue-eyed type of beauty, with finely chiseled features, a clear complexion and large, bright, laughing eyes. Her accomplishments are more than ordinary. She is an admirable linguist, expert at needlework, very musical, a good player on the pianoforte, and an excellent artist. She is a skillful rider, and, after the fashion of young Englishwomen, was devoted to outdoor sports, delighting in tennis, boating, and skating. In Darmstadt, the Hessian residence, her popularity was unbounded.

Krasnoe Zelo, "the red hamlet," where the czarina now lives, is a village some fifty miles from St. Petersburg, on the borders of Finland. It is full of little toy cottages, which recall memories of Trouville and Dieppe. There is a military camp there, and in the village is situated the Imperial School of Pages, where the scions of Russian nobility are educated, and from which they pass as officers into the guard regiments. The imperial palace was built by Catherine II. It stands in the midst of a magnificent park, and in its general appearance is suggestive of Versailles. It is one of the most magnificent palaces in the world, and is full of the most costly art treasures.
DAVID HALFORD.