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Show LIGHT UPON EARL! LIFE OF THE CZAR Early Love Affair Caused Great Pain and Suffering to Number Num-ber of Persons. BY GEORGE FRASER. Special Cablo to The Tribune. ST. PETERSBURG. March 10. The well-known Russian author, M. Sydakoff, has Just published the first volume of a scries of books dealing with Russian contemporary con-temporary history, and this first Installment Install-ment throws an interesting light on tho early liro of the present czar. The author au-thor deals at some length with an early love affair, which is said to have causod great pain and suffering to all parties by reason of Its unfortunate nature. Iho lady concerned was a girl of Jewish descent named Rajssa Kagan. the daughter daugh-ter of a government contractor. At tho ago of 17 she was celebrated as a beauty, and courted bv some of the highest in the land, including the Grand Duke Paul, uncle of the present Czar Nicholas, lno grand duko on ono occasion took his newphew to one of tho lady's receptions, and no sooner did the lad sec her than he fell violently In love with her. Tho girl ovldcntly reciprocated tho sentiment, and the same evening tho young man succcedod In meeting the beautiful Jewess Jew-ess In the conservatory of her fathor's house, whero ho frankly doclarcd his passion and swore that ho would never many anyone else. At about that time tho Empress Mario Feodorovna was attempting to secure a suitable bride for the future czar, and her choice fell upon tho Princess Alice of Hesse, but when the matter was broached to tho young man ho refused lo hear of anv such match, declaring that, his troth was already plighted. A stormy Interview followed between the czar and his son. as a result of which, alarmed at tho turn events had taken, tho lad agreed to respect his father's wishes, his last rcmonslranco being silenced si-lenced by the threat that If the affair were not Immediately dropped tho contractor con-tractor and his daughter would bo sent to Siberia In oxlle. When news of what had happened reached the young Jewess she made a desperate attempt to commit com-mit suicide. Hearing of this, tho young man hurried hur-ried to her house, and a heart-rending scene ensued, tho girl again atlonipllng to take her life. A violent scene followed fol-lowed between the czar and his son, and It was eventually doclded that the young man should travel for a year, on tho condition con-dition that during his absence no stops should be taken In tho matter of his lovo affair. Scarcely had ho left Russia, however, how-ever, when a compact was entered Into by which the Contractor Kagan arranged ar-ranged to marry his daughter to a certain cer-tain stato official of Importance, and when the unhappy Prince Nicholas returned re-turned from his travels he found the marriage already a "fait accompli." Ills marriage with the Princc.su Alice was celebrated some little time afterwards. The author vouches for the details of tho affair. In many Instances quoting his authorities au-thorities at length. |