Newspaper Page Text
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ROM time to tlmo tho
press of Europe ha ro
corded accounts of tho
allmontB of tho Russian
omprcHS. Tho Russian
press, oven now that
thero Is supposed to no
censorship In Russia, Is
forhlddon to print any
thing concerning tho Im
perial family nsldo from
tho ofllclal reports dis
tributed by tho ofllclnl
news bureau. Prom tho various frag
mentary reports It has becomo known
that tho czarina, who had como to
Itussla with lofty Ideals and a liberal
western education, Is an Invalid and u
murtyr, nlono In tho palaco of tho
czar, mlsundoratood and tormented
with melancholy and fear.
Now a chronicler, Intimately famil
iar with tho homo Ufo of tho Russian
-czar, has described vividly tho suffer
ings of tho woman who "had hoped to
roform tho RuBlsan czar and the Rub
ulan land, and It may be said without
exaggeration, that Alexandra Feodo
rovna Is today tho uuhapplcst of all
qucons.
Princess Alice of Hcsso-Darmstadt,
According to tho biographer of tho
czarina, lived amid Ideal and idyllic'
surroundings throughout her child
tiood. Tho small, good looking prln
oss, dressed as beautifully as her
dolls, waa told that tho flowers dally
presented her woro so beautiful and
fragrant for hor sako, and that whon
ho wns crying, tho Ilttlo flowers woro
lso shedding tenrs, and when sho
was laughing, tho Ilttlo flowers wcro
kind hearted and obodlont, nnd sho
.flld nil eho could to refrain from cry
ing, for sho recalled that overy tear
drop of hern would cause bo much
pain to nil those who loved her.
Out tho tears nho roprossed in her
childhood days hJio Is shedding now
within tho walla of tho palaco, as tho
qucon of tho long suffering Russian
Deoplo. Doing of a sensitive, Iniprca
olonablo and nrtlatlo naturo, tho prln
oso waa deoply Intorosted In tho best
kind of literature Sho familiarized
liersolf with tho most Important
works of tho mastors of fiction In Eu
rope and eho oven ntado somo at
tempts at writing poetry and dramas.
Ab eho waB frail, the phyelclanB
feared that sho was undermining her
health by dovotlng most of her tlmo
to books, and sho waa told that her
hoalth was moro Important than all
the books In tho world, and then for
tho first tlmo sho learned that sho
waa not froo. Tho bookB wero now se
lected for her by phyBlolana nnd aho
was permitted to read only a vory
limited number of such bboks. To
while hor tlmo away aho took up tho
tudy of drawing, and soon showed
considerable talent In that direction,
i Llttlo by little Bhe commenced to
Tiollco tho Ufa beyond tho boundary
of her fairyland; aho saw tho life of
'tho pooplo who wcro suffering and
starving, and alio learned that what
vas now to her was not now to her
t . ' ." . V. V
father to hor mother, to her aunts.
to nil those who lived contented In her
fnlryland of luxury. And aho began to
ask herself tho question which oho
waB for a long time unablo to answer:
"How can thoy all remain caro freo
and ao Bhamotessly cheerful when bo
yond tho windows of this palaco Is
tho moan of an cnttro Buffering na
tion?" Prlnccsn Alice bocamo tho czarina
of Russia. Sho camo to tho Russian
laud at a tlmo whon tho pooplo, ex
hausted by tho burden of absolutism,
wcro roturning from tho funeral of
Alexander HI., and wore hopefully
watting for a moro merciful rolgn on
tho part of tho now czar, Nicholas,
who was reputed at that tlmo to bo a
liberal.
Tho first day of tho new reign waa
tntirked by tho Khodlnka tragedy,
when thousands of pooplo lost their
llvoa amid tho festivities. Tho tragedy
made a profound Impression upon tho
czarina. It seemed to hor a forebod
ing of a terrlblo future
The superstitious Inclinations and
-weakneoBcs of tho czar, manifested In
Ills eagerness for a malo heir to tho
Russian throne, filled tho czarina with
untold grief.
Bho had to obey tho orders of va--rlouB
charlatans who woro welcome
uviuoro oi inu czar, Anu mo in-1
trlguea directed agalnBt hor In tho I
i l"" I corded accounts of tho JkHHPwjIR'V f0m Jlbfe 7?f wN
I I allmontB of tho Russian UBm&?$mW& JHflEI JHl 3F ,.
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UmWcsI press, oven now that BnflBiSHRS BHVlHlflAi KJlBfeL
MErMi there Is ouunoacd to no R21E2kHkh j&HRH.V iHhBR e0!HHP&trM$& I
I QtftjJ 1 cciiHorslilp In Russia, Is BWJBiSpBLBl AHjB JnBt PRffiflBKv
HfflijfWB thing concerning tho lm- bBPhIHHeHe9 JWJwWIISWHMlW MllsllHIl
WiBiMiiW tho ofllclal reports (lis- CflHKH im&wMMf'S fflxS&MSIB&EUHk Jikr$?MmsHmif& m
JjT ''W Vis- 2.
ill ipara jbhhwpi hhhm mr4K
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S '
palace added to the misery of tho
young empress. Sho noticed that ther
czar was angry at hor becaUBo aho
was "endeavoring to Introduce In Rus
sia wostern reforms and that she con
Hldorcd horoclt moro Intelligent than
the eutlro housohold In tho palace."
In the moantlmo Btorms of unrest
had broken out In tho land, and or
ders wero given to pacify the discon
tented at all cost. Tho empress did
not know of tho horrors that wero por
potratcd in Russia, and when Bhe
learned of thorn eho consoled herself
In tho thought that all tho crueltlos
directed against tho Russian peoplo
woro not committed by order of tho
czar. Sho believed that the czar, like
hcrsolf, was ignorant of what was go
ing on in tho land.
Rut fiho soon found out hor error.
Then her suffering grew ever more In
tense. Sho looked with disgust upon
tho cllquo surrounding hor, upon thoir
hypocritical smiles nnd greetings, but
Bho was unablo to change anything
even In tho palaco. It was then that
aho bocamo Borloualy ill.
Whon tho ompreBa had recovered
aho divided her tlmo between her chil
dren and her desk. She turned onco
moro vo mo ruuuing oi uoukb nun aiao
dovot0(1 considerable tlmo to writing.
Nevertheless tho feeling that sho waa
nlono and misunderstood In tho palaco
weighed heavily upon hor. Sho grow
evor more and moro melancholy.
Ono day, after having worked for
Bomo time upon tho tragody sho waB
writing, tho empress entered tho
czar'a study, Sho found him seated at
hiB doBk looking over numerous docu
tncntB. Ilo brightened up when alio
ontorod nnd ho kissed hor hnnds.
"Why aro you so and?" sho asked.
"I am thinking of tho futuro of our
chlldron," he roplled.
Tho emprosB looked at him
prised.
aur-
I do not understand" she began,
looking Into his troubled eyes.
"A plot haB Just been unearthed."
ho aald cheorfully, yet with a ahado of
contusion.
"Oh, I know about It"
"No, I mean another plot a now
ono. Thoy have Juat learned of It to
day." And shaking his head he
added:
"Do you undoratand now?"
And ho described to her. In detail
tho conspiracy of tho torrorlata
against his Ufo. Thoy bocamo more
sad than boforo. Tho shadow of dan
ger waa atlll hovering over their
Heads.
Thoy ondeavorod to calm each oth
er, but Bomehow their words were un
certain. "Thank God, It Is all ovor now,"
said tho emprosB, heaving a deep elgh.
"I had a terrible presentiment during
tho laBt few days. Whcrovor I wont
I could not rid myself of the terrlblo
thoughts thaQiauntcd me."
"Really. Do you know," anBwerod
tho czar, "I alBO felt ill, feverish,
weak. They koep 'me In n constant
state of terror."
Tho empress tried to calm him
again. Ho smiled bitterly nnd hand
ed her n document bearing numerous
notes In red ink.
Tho empress made an effort to ap
pear calm as she read tho document,
for Bho felt that tne emperor was
wntching hor closely.
"What wicked people! Savages 1"
said tho empress as sho looked up to
him.
"That la oxactly what Is troubling
me," replied the emperor with a sad,
forced Bmlle. "I ohould not llko to
lcavo to my boo a heritage In auch a
dreadful state!
"Do not apeak of thU, do not apeak
of this!"
Tho empress advanced to him nnd
took hla hnnd.
"With tho help of God all will bo
well. AH will bo well!" oho repeated.
"And you, would yon want to re
main a widow?" tho czar auddenly
smiled strangely. Hla eyes wero cold
and moist.
Tim omnreas ahuddored at theso
wordB. Sho released hla hand and
looked at him fixedly.
"My dear," sho said In tromulouB
voice, "I havo wanted to Bpcak to you
seriously for Bomo time. JThlB Is lm
poBfllblot Do you undoratand? This
Ufo we aro leading 1b Impossible. You
muat do something to chango It. You
must decldo to do something!"
Tho ompreas' volco quivered nnd
thoro were tenru In her eyes.
"TTor inv anke nnd four yours, for
tho oake of our dear chlldron, do
eomethlngl Even If you have to
even If you have to yield. Do It!"
"What can I do?" asked tho czar.
"Tell mo. Do thoy know what thoy
want? Some of tho people want ono
thing, others wnnt another. Don't you
know that yourself?"
"Will you deny that thoro la a sys
tem of provocation and spying In Rua
ala." she demanded.
Tho empress apoko with firmness
and authority.
"Thero 1b an Infernal machine In
your handB." sho aald. "and ypu look
upon it aa a plaything. I know that
upon ome occasions you apeak with
J&CASW&V S&PCW?
authority, but when a matter requires
energy and determination you yield to
tho first ndvlser who knows how to In
fluence you!"
Then tho omprcss spoko moro softly.
"I understand that you often find
yourself In an embarrassing position.
But you believe everything that should
be repulsive to you. You yield to flat
tery and "
- "My dear, do not talk to me about
these fables. You and I cannot think
of anything that will change all this
The laws of nature cannot be changed
Somo of the peoplo will demand wa
ter, others will demand fire. All I
could do would bo to mako some con
cessions. Otherwise everything must
remain as it is. It muat bo so. Do
you understand?"
The czar seemed pleased with his
words. Ho leanedback In his arm
chntr and added angrily:
"I havo tried everything!"
"But I cannot go on llko this," cried
tho empress. "I cannot. I am going
away. I havo no strength any longer.
I am afraid to look at myself! When
I aco myself In n mirror I am actzed
with terror."
"What can I do? You must consult
the physicians."
The empress looked at him angrily
and shook hor head.
"Perhaps things will run more
smoothly when you will be a widow,"
aald the czar, rising from hla seat and
running back and forth in his study.
"That Is noiiBenso," ho said sud
denly nnd rang the belC pausing in
tho center of the room perplexed.
When tho servant entered ihe czar
shouted and stamped his feet The
empress had fainted. She was taken
to her room and remained for a long
time under tho caro of her physicians.
The czar neglected all important af
falra of Btato when tho empreas was
111. In tho evening tho minister of
the Interior arrived at tho palaco with
an important report. When ho waa
ushered luto tho czar'a atudy the
czar shouted at him nervously:
"For God's sako leuvo mo alone!
The omproBB Ib Hit Do whatever you
llkeL. It Is all tho Bamo to mo."
When the minlBter of tho Interior
offered a few wordB of consolation tho
czar Interrupted him:
"I know you I I know everything! I
know you all!" and ho waved hla
band.
Tho mlnlatcr of tho Interior walked
out of the czar's study confused and
humiliated.
And tho mlnlstor of the Interior
heard tho czar shouting to hlmBclf:
''Monarchy, constitution, anarchy.
Even my nearest are against roe."
The health of tho empress was shat
tered and for a long tlmo she was Buf
fering from a norvous breakdown.
Durtng that illness varlouB rumors
wero spreading In tho palace. It waa
eald that tho czarina was planning to
leave tho palaco and return to her na
tive land. It wns then nlso rumored
that aho wnnted tho czar to abdlcato
and leave Russia. But all knew that
eho rebuked tho czar tor his lack of
will powor and determination.
Reply to Clementine and Danice.
It will seem to you that your letter
has been long unanswered, but each
must tako their turn as tho spaco for
."Questions nnd Answers" is very
limited. Sweet apple cider la good and
perfectly proper to servo r did you
over try freezing It and serving llko
sherbet, with small cakes or wafers7
I think It Is best to sign your own
namo besides the ono you wish used
in tho department. I like to see girls
,of your ago friendly with moro than
one boy. Thero 1b safety in numbers
and you are both too young to make a
tcholco now. I would keep tho kodaks,
no reason why you should return
them. School ban probably started
now and I am Buro you will havo a
good year.
The Invitation List.
I intend giving a bridge party for
a September bride.
ivuuiu juu Hiuuijr iui mu, io if umj
nlncn or hnra to mako un tho invita
tion list. M. JiJ. Jj.
I fear my answor Is too lato to help
'you, but your letter was delayed In
'reaching mo and now September Is
nearly over. I will just say to you
and for the benefit of others that tho
hostess makes out her list and politely
asks tho honored guest If sho has any
spqclal friend whom oho would llko
to include in tho invitations.
For a Girl's Club.
Would you pleaso suggest somo suit
able names for a class of girls about
.fourteen or fifteen years of age, who
wish to organlzo a club, also motto's
nd colors.
I What sort of amusement could you
'suggest at a meeting? Beo. L.
I wish you had told me more about
tho club, for what purpose it is to bo
organized and whether It is a Sunday
Bchool class or a day school and
whether for amusement only. Write
me again.
Reply to "Rosemond."
I am truly grateful for all tho nlco
things you wrote mo regarding this
column, for it makes me feel as if
I was accomplishing a wco bit, if I
help even ono girl.
Regarding tho "old maid" proposi
tion, thero aro no old maids in tho
sense that you moan, and no ago limit.
Thero is no reason for not marrying a
man a year younger, the differonco 1b
very slight. You may tako a man'8
arm if necessary. It seldom Is, how
ever, unlesB tho night is vory dark or
over a dangerous crossing.
Questions from Brown Eyes.
How long Bhould a girl of sixteen!
wear her dress, what color is becom
ing to brown eyes and dark hair.
Thank you for tho help I havo got
ten from your department; I llko it so
much.
'
A girl of your ago should wear hor
dresses about 'to tho Bhocstop, of
course much depends upon tho height
of tho person.
All tho red and rose shades, navy
bluo, yollow and tan aro becoming to
the b run otto type.
Reply to "Nancy."
Tho room in the hotel in which tho
wedding ceremony takes place would
seem far moro attractive if it con
tained flowers and palma whero tho
couple aro to stand. When a bride la
married In a traveling suit at a morning
chcurch wedding it la perfectly propor
for her to carry a bouquet (hot tho
"Bhower kind") or Bho may wear a largo
bunch of violets with a roso or orchid
In the center. I think tho latter is
preferable
Falth'a Answer.
Perfectly proper for you to rldo
horseback; Why not? You may rldo
astride or sldo saddle, Just whichever
you prefer. You aro rather largo for
your ngo, but thoro are malry others;
it is true though that for somo reason
lnrgo persons whon very young aro
apt to bo taken for older than thoy
really are. You should wear your
dresses down to tho shoo tops.
Reply to I. M. N.
I cannot give remedies in the de
partment or reply to "Beauty" ques
tions. I bco no reason why you
Bhould not go occasionally with boys
If they aro the right kind, and much
dopcndB upon you girls whethor they
aro tho right kind or not. I should
not call you homely nnd not a bit too
email.
Tho'.Proper Thing to Do.
Will you) pleaso toll me what is tho
most apprpprlate for a bride wearing
white satin nnd veil to rldo to church
in, taxicab or hack. Mother.
Either a taxicab or carriage may bo
UBed by tho brido in any garb.
Much depends upon tho distance and
tlmo necessary,
MADAME MERRI.
Whon a girl cornea to tho lovo of
cosmetics, those supremo luxuries of
womankind, sho may bo called grown
up. Her delight In dellcato powders,
fragrant perfumes, creams, toilet wa
ters, lino Boapo nnd nccnted hatha di
vides her forovcrmoro from tho care
Icsb habits of childhood. Henceforth
the prettlnesB of her skin nnd tho
glossy softness of her hair aro sacred
trusts, and all she asks is that eho
may be able to replenish her llttlo
store of beauty materials every now
and then. This is a normal and per
fectly legitimate stato of things, and
thoreforo It behooves parents to sup
ply young daughters who Jiavo no
money of their own, with tho simple
mediums required for beautifying tho
complexion and hair.
Good Powders. ,
In the matter of powder, good tasto
domands something very simple for
tho schoolgirl, a pure white powder.
BUch
as talcum or rico or wheat
starch, very lightly perfumed. The
talcums for nursery use, prepared as
thoy aro for tho tender bodies of baby
hood, aro tho best of these ppwdcrs,
but girls Bhould keep their powder
boxos and puffs freo of dust, for tho
soil that gets it will help to encour
age blackheads. However Bimplo tho
powder is, too, it should bo taken off
at night with a cleansing face bath,
for, If left on the- face, It is bound to
stop up tho pores. A French nursery
powder of Indescribable fineness is
often used by women as well aa young
girls, this being almost Impalpable
when put on, and possessing the frag
rance of liiresof-the-valloy. This
cluslveness of scent should bo a fea
ture of all beauty materials used by
young girls, for strong odors do not
caem to go well with the mode3ty and
freshness of girlhood.
Face Bath Needed.
But far moro enhancing than the
powder is tho cleansing face bath,
which is required to freo tho skin of
Id cuticlo, stale oil, dust and persplr
.Hon. So when you come to tako a
face bath rcmomber all tho wastes
you must get rid of, and don't mako a
pretense of thinga with llttlo daba oi
cold water and an indifferently clean
face cloth. Hot water and a bland
aoap must bo used, several rinsings
must bo dono with plain water, and
in tho event of any oruptlvo condition
wash rags and towels should bo kept
apart from those used by tho rest oi
tho family, and be washed by them
selves and sterilized. That apparently
innocent thing, tho wash rag, by the
way, is responsible for many a bad
stato of things with tho skin. It la
only safe to use it onco, and if exam
ined by a strong mlcroscopo when
very dirty tho reason for this will be
discovered. Wash raga should always
bo hung in tho sun after using, aa
tho shady corner of tho bathroom is
tho very placo for the developing ol
tho germs that infest them, and sun
la death to germa. Never uao a
apongo for a bath of any kind, aa tho
sponge holds tho body soil and so can
never bo cleansed properly. A soui
bit of bathroom linen of any sort is
an abomination and vory injurious tc
tho beauty of the akin, conveying tc
it Bomettmes a llttlo fungus growth
caught from tho Invisible mold on the
rag or towel. Ringworms may" be
propagated in this way, and if tho of
fensive linen is used by other mem
bers of tho family this really dreadful
skin affliction may spread through the
wholo household.
In many a bathroom not yet educat
ed up to tho elegancies of tho toilet
common laundry Boaps are put for
tollot purposes, and these tho girl oi
tho family often ubcb on her faco and
hair, entirely Ignorant of tho fact that
she Is doing her looks incredible
harm. Such soaps aro atrong with al
kali, and if they do not bito the skin
to tho point of torment thoy yellow
nnd roughen It. When washed with
them, tho hair is robbed of every drop
of natural oil, made brittle and color
less, to say nothing of tho great dlfll
culty of getting tho strong adhesive
suda out of the locks and from tho
scalp, where tho hard soap seems to
lovo especially to cling.
Soap for Toilet.
Fino toilet soaps and shampoos are
dear, of course, but a liquid soap can
be mado of a twenty-five cent cako of
castllo which would be just as dell
cato for washing the faco and hair as
tho finest soap on thp market. Shavo
tho Boap to a powder, and then boll
this In a pint of Boft water; keep the
resulting jelly In a wldo-mouthod bot
tle, working tho Jelly into tho skin
when using, but only making n thick
Buds for the hair. If tho hair Is very
oily and soiled, add a tiny pinch of
bicarbonate of soda to tho suds. As a
tonic and feeding Bubstanco for
scanty hair raw eggs aro unrivaled, as
I have said many times ,theso supply
ing the iron and sulphur tho anemic
scalp needs. For dandruff or any
scalp or skin eruption ubo green Boap,
which is tho purest mado and highly
antiseptic.
