News article on whether or not Olga might become Empress and her and sisters' marriage prospects, year 1914

This news article discussing the question of whether or not Olga might become Empress of Russia due to her brother Alexei's fragile health, the exact nature of which was still not known to the public at this time, and her marriage prospects as well as those of two of her sisters was published in the Indianapolis Star Magazine Section on March 29, 1914.

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The article:

Shall Russia's Next Ruler be a Woman?

How the Pitiful Condition of the Boy Who Is Present Heir to the Throne Has Made It Necessary for the Czar's Advisers to Debate the Possibility of Some Day Crowning a Daughter

SHALL a woman succeed to the throne of Russia? This question is being discussed throughout diplomatic Europe, and on its answer hangs that which is of tremendous importance to the progress and well being of the great empire.

To those who have even a small appreciation of the great undercurrent of modern thought in so-called "medieval Russia" and the struggling spirit of democracy, whose passionate espousal has caused banishment and death, the thought of a progressive, broad-minded woman taking up the reins of power makes a fascinating picture. This is especially so when a possible successor to the present Czar is indicated in his eldest daughter, 19-year-old Grand Duchess Olga.

The son of the Czar is in an alarming state of health, and the best medical authority that money can command has declared that he will never live to reign over Russia. His actual ailment is a jealously guarded secret.

One explanation generally accepted in the European capitals is that he has been crippled by an injury to his hip — due to a Nihilist outrage, it is whispered — but his condition is now more generally ascribed to tuberculosis. The poor little Czarevitch is usually wheeled about like a confirmed invalid. He is a pathetic little figure, a veritable child of sorrow.

Love Plays No Part.

In the matters of high state, like arctic ice in the coldness of its calculations, the love that makes the world glow in the transforming light of romance has no part. Princes and princesses are usually the uncomplaining pawns in the game. Thus Olga, debated as the coming Empress of Russia, is also, according to plans long-made, to be the bride of Prince Alexandria of Servia. And yet the exigencies of statecraft might readily set this plan aside.

There was talk of arranging the succession for Olga up to 1904, when four daughters had been born to the royal house, but in that year the Czarevitch first saw the light. And now the possibility again comes sharply to the front. It is a problem in which all Europe is interested. A recent cable tells: "Strong representations are being made to the Czar to have him issue a proclamation reversing the Salic law, declaring the Grand Duchess Olga heiress to the imperial throne, according to a report current in diplomatic circles in Paris."

A Princess With Ideas.

Olga is an accomplished young woman of a thoughtful turn of mind, and an incessant reader in the widest fields of thought and instruction. Abounding in health, she loves outdoor recreations, but is gentle and sympathetic. This tender, human side of the grand duchess makes her beloved of the people. She has developed unusual aptitude for the management of affairs in the palace, and is direct and practical in her method.

And she is the princess of a thousand dreams. As a child of 12 she showed talent as a story writer, some of the creatures of her imagination revealed amazing precocity. Even at this age she was intensely interested in America, stories of which she had listened to with eager attention, and of which she had read with the interest aroused by a real fairy story.

This story of America, secretly written by the imperial child and forwarded to N. Tolstoi, asking his opinion of her as a novelist, is a remarkable document in many ways, and gives some idea of how such a mind might develop to the governing of a vast empire.

Thousands of subjects at home and thousands who are refugees in foreign lands look to the possibility of Olga's eventual assumption of power as the coming of a long-delayed and long-prayed for blessing, for, in view of the semi-anarchical conditions in Russia, they say, "by enforcing constitutional humanitarian measures she would have a superb opportunity of outshining Catherine the Great."

It is curious how this rumor has persisted for years in view of the decree of Emperor Paul in 1797, which established the succession to the throne forever by primogeniture, with preference of males over females. Prior to this decree each Czar nominated his successor, which accounts for the three women rulers in Russia, Catherine I, Elizabeth and Catherine the Great. But it is unofficially reported there may be an additional grand duchess or a grand duke some time this [illegible].

In event of it being a male child the Salic law will not be called upon to smooth the d[illegible]. If it proves to be another little grand duchess, the possibility of a modern empress will be greatly increased.

Olga's sister, Tatiana, two years her junior, is to marry the Prince of Wales. Both of the grand duchesses look older than they really are. The Czar's third daughter, the Grand Duchess Marie, is to wed the eldest son of the King of Bulgaria, Prince Boris.

And yet all these wedding plans may give way to the expediency of statecraft, and when big forces are at work in nations and the relations of nations, there is no telling what may be planned for the human pawns. But in all this speculation the figure of a kindly, just and strong woman ruling over a land of injustice makes a vision of beautiful promise.

Story of America by Grand Duchess Olga When Twelve Years Old

IT was a wonderful warm and quiet summer morning when I arrived on a big ocean steamer in the harbor of New York. The Statue of Liberty, with its high uplifted hand and burning torch, was the first thing I saw of the great city.

The [illegible] the city and [illegible] meant so much money that I felt [illegible] all my pockets would soon be full of laughing [illegible] dollars.

The ship stopped and I landed. The first Americans I met were the newspaper reporters. They came around me with their curious faces, and my heart (?) shook. I thought they would interview me. And they did.

"Are you a Russian grand duchess?," one of them asked me.

"Yes."

"What do you think of America?"

"Oh, it is a great and free country," I answered.

"Are you married?"

"No," and I laughed at the foolishness.

"Where are you going to stay while here?"

"In the best of your hotels."

I took a carriage and ordered the driver to take me to one of the best hotels. I got a nice room on the tenth floor, and felt very happy. But I could not sleep because every one seemed so nervous and I was nervous too.

....

I closed my eyes at last, and at six o'clock in the morning by the ringing of my telephone. I was informed that twenty reporters were downstairs calling on me, and that I ought to make an appointment to meet them. The maid brought me up the morning paper and my picture was on the first page as was also my whole interview. The American newspapers print everything with a picture.

I made me ready for the reporters, and they asked me about all the foolish things. I talked with them hours and hours, and they never got tired of me.

The maid presented me with three cards of gold with swelled letters. They were the [illegible] of Rockefeller, Gould and Carnegie. I asked the servant to first (?) call Mr. Rockefeller, the richest of all, I thought to myself.

Mr. Rockefeller met me very frankly.

"Grand Duchess, are you interested in gold?," asked the richest man in the world.

"I hate it," was my short reply.

I soon became tired of him and he of me. I bade him good-by and asked the maid to invite Mr. Gould.

"Have you been in our theatres?," asked Mr. Gould.

"I have fine theatres in St. Petersburg, and come not to see them [illegible] I am interested in different, other beings," I replied.

Mr. Gould left me soon, and I asked to invite Mr. Carnegie.

"[illegible] Mr. Carnegie to ask you if you would like a lot of books."

I replied that I had all the books I wanted, but Mr. Carnegie kept on asking me questions. Then Mr. Rockefeller and Mr. Gould came back, and they made me afraid and I ran away from the hotel. After me ran Mr. Carnegie with his books, Mr. Gould with his lawyer, and then Mr. Rockefeller with his [illegible]. All the visitors and people on the street laughed. They began to taunt me. The Russian Consul and Ambassador insulted me in Russian. I cried (?) out and opened my eyes.

That was the end of my adventures. It was not reality, but a dream of America. I was sleeping in the writing room of my father, and his three dogs were jumping around me.