European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                              By John Neumyer staff writer one of the most moving of real life Royal tragedies is that of thelast of the romanovs the russian Imperial family which fell from its pin Nacle of Power to imprisonment and death after 300 years of  Czar Alexander Joi died unexpectedly in 1894 at 49, his son nicholasj3 inherited a fabulous but ramshackle Empire a glittering world of Jig palaces and incomparable luxury Nln Olas found himself filler of one sixth of the world and 120 million russians who were on the Brink of  tragedy of this Young ruler and his czarina Are told in Nicholas an Alexandra a fabulous and fantastic. Study of history by Robert a. Massie athenaeum. It is an overpowering tale told in thoroughly absorbing tones. 1_ " Tricky at 26 was t ready for the throne. Everybody had hoped for at least another 20 years of Rule from Hister besides Nicky was madly in Job of Alfh Alix a courtship blessed by the match making old matriarch Queen Victoria of England who had paired up half the reigning families of  Victoria Helena Louise Beatrice was Princess of Hesse Darmstadt named after her Mother Princess Alice of England the youngest of Victoria nine children. Alix was the nearest euphonic rendering of Alice in  had accepted russian orthodox beliefs to keep peace in the Romano Corner and the wedding took place two weeks after Alexander s  the lives of the Imperial family the gentle charming Nicholas an the Beautiful tormented Alexandra became a Stormy arid tragic epoch entered around a struggle with disease the hypnotic charlatan Rasputin revolution and the disintegration of a dynasty. Nicholas the new Czar of Russia was Bead of the House of Romanov my of. .,jhel36t of the Czar Nicholas with ailing son Alexis and daughter Tatiana in 1916. And manager of vast Imperial lands. His income was $12 million in Gold rubles annually and the lands were valued at$50 Jno Uon. Another 80 million was tied up in jewelry such As the fabulous russian Crown the 194.5-Carat Orlov Diamond the Moon of the Moun Tain Diamond that weighed 120 carats and the Polar Star a Superb 40-Caratruby. But Nicholas Wallet was not Well padded. He had to keep up seven pal aces feed clothe and pay salaries to15,000 officials and servants maintain the Imperial yachts and trains and sup port the Imperial theatres academies of arts and the bulletin addition Nicholas had to give a substantial allowance to every member of the Imperial family. Each grand Duke Drew $100,000 a year each grand Duchess a dowry of $500,000. Despite this the Early years of Nich-olas1 reign were a period of such glittering cultural and intellectual achieve ment that they Are known As the rus Sian Renaissance and the  Nicholas had t the surest hand a politics. He was a Loving husband and devoted father of four daughters outlived in a toy world behind a High Iron Fence. He was protected by 5,000 guards men but he took bad advice from All  to was t Long before Russia was at War with Japan. In 1904 japanese naval ships torpedoed two russian battleships and one Cruiser without a declaration of War because russian troops were in the process of invading  1905 the russian Fleet was demolished in the Strait of Tsushima be tween Japan and Korea. From Berlin Kaiser Wilhelm who had promoted the disaster by advising Nicholas watched and was not displeased. With a sullen Defeated army no Navy and a disillusioned and bitter people the Czar Wasno longer a neighbor to fear. By now Nicholas was a Little smarter but too late. In 1905 he lost a War and his country was sliding into revolution. During those months of War Nich Olas and Alexandra had one Brief moment of a shadowed Joy. The Czar wrote in his diary a great never to be forgotten Day when the mercy of go has visited us so clearly. Alix gave birth to a son at one o clock. The child has been called  six weeks later Nicholas again protein his diary. A Haemorrhage be Gan this morning without the slightest cause from the Navel of our Small Alexis. Months passed. When Alexis began to crawl and walk he bumped into thing Sand the bruises grew to dark swellings. Beneath the skin the blood failed to clot. Doctors confirmed the terrifying suspicion oif the parents that Alexis had Haemophilia inherited from his great grandmother Queen  spread through the ruling continued on Page 12 he lives of  Alexandra shows strains of 1916 revolt. Thursday april 18, 1968 Nicholas As prisoner in bolshevik Camp before his murder. The stars and stripes Page