Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1910 — CZAR'S EARLY LOVE. [ARTICLE]

CZAR'S EARLY LOVE.

After Stormy Scene Infatuation for Beaattfnl Jevreaa Broken Off. A story of the Czar’s early life, which has long been known to eertain members of the Russian court, has recently been published. It Is the history of a love affair of his youth from which it is said he never really recovered and for the breaking of which he has never altogether forgiven his mother. The girl concerned in the story was of Jewish descent and the daughter of a government contractor, a New York Sun correspondent says. Her name was Rajssa Kagan. At. the age of 17 she was celebrated as a beauty and courted by some of the- highest in the land, including the Orand Duke Paul uncle of the present Czar Nicholas. The Grand Duke on one occasion tooi his nephew to one of the lady’s receptions, and no sooner did the lad* see her than he fell violently in love with her. She reciprocated the sentiment and that same evening they met by appointment in the conservatory of her father’s bouse and he declared his passion and swore he never would mairy anyone else. At about this time Marie Feodorovfia, thegliupresa, was trying to get a suitable bride for the futtfre Czar, and 7 her. choice fell upon Prln&gjs Alice o£ Hesse. The young man refused to hear of the match, saying his troth already was plighted. A stormy Interview between the Czar and his son followed, as a result of which, alarmed at the turn affairs bad taken, the lad agreed to respect his father’s wishes, his last remonstrances being silenced by the" threat that if the affair were not immediately dropped the contractor and hfa daughter wonld be sSat to Siberia in exile. , > . . . When news of what-had happened reached the young Jewess she made a desperate attempt to commit suicide, but was saved. Hearing of this, the young man hurried to her house and a heartrending scene ensued, the girl again attempting to kill herself. After another violent quarrel with the Czar,,

Prince Nicholas finally agreed to travel for a year on the condition that during his absence no steps -should be taken in the matter of hia love affair. Scarcely had he left Russia, however, when a compact was entered Into through the management of the Empress by which the contractor agreed to marry his daughter to a certain state official of importance, and when the unhappy-Prince returned the wedding had taken place. His marriage with Princess Alice was celebrated some little time afterward.