Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-09-16
SKETCH OF rnE EMPEROR NICHOLAS

"Ihe predominant expression OF his conn
'enance is that of a restless severity, which
strikes a behoder ut The frs, glance, and, in
spite of tho regularity OF his features con.
veys by no means a pleasant impression
Physognomis,s pretend, with much rea.
son, that the hardness of the heat iujure.
The beanty Of the counlenance. Neverlhe-
less, this expression in The EmpetoT Nicholas
appears TO be the result Of experience rather
Than The work Of nature. By wha, long and
cruel suileIings must not g man be torturedt
when his councnance excites fear, notwith-
standing the voluntary confidence ha, noble
features nspirs
nevertheless, at times, sume CLEANS Of
soilness temper The impcIious looks Of mou.
arch aud then, the expression of anabiii,y
reveals all the native beauty Of, his classic
features. In The heart Of the husband and
the father, humanity ,riumphs for moment
over the policy OF the prince. When the
sovereign rests from his task Of imposing the
yoke upon his subjects, he appears happy.
This combat between The primitive dignity
Of the man and The affected gravity of the
sovereign, appears 10 be worthy Of The alien
ion OF an observeI: it occupied mine the
greater par, Of the time passed in the cha.
pei.
"The Emperor is above the usual beieh,
by half a head his iignle is noble, although
little stiff he has pIacliced from his youth
the Russian custom Of girding the body above
the loins TO snch a degree as to push up the
stomach into the chest, which produces an
unnatural swelling OF extension about The
ribs lIa, is an injurious 10 health as il is un.
graceful in appearance.
"This voluntary defornity destroys all
freedom Of movement, impAirs the elegance
oI the shape, and imparis nn air Of consiraint
10 the whole person. They say that when
the Emperor loosens his dress, The viscera,
suddenly giving way, in their equilibrium,
which produces an extraordinary pro,traiion
Of strength. The bowels may be displaced
they cannot be got lid Of.
'1he Emperor has a Grecian profile the
forehead high, bu. reccding; he nose
straight and perfectly formed the mouth
very finely cut The face which in shs pe il
a very long oval, i. noble The whole ar
military, and rather German than Scavonic.
His carriage aud his attitudes are naturally
imposing. He expecls always to be gszed
al, and never !oi moment .OrPeis that he
is go It may be even said that he likes
this homage Of eyes.
ole passes The greater part OF his exist
ance in the open air, at reviews, or N rapid
jOnrneys. Duriug sumner. the shade OF his
military hat draws across his forehead al
oblique liLc, which maIks The action Of The
sun upon the skin. II produces a singular
effect but !: not disagreeabe, as The cause
is a, once perceived
''ln examining altenliyely the Gne person
Of this individual, on whose will hsugs the
fate Of 30 many olhcrs, have remarked
with involuntary pity that he cannot smile
a, the same time with the eyes aud the
mouth wari of harmony which denotes
perpetual consifaIni and makes one femem-
Der, with regret, that easy, naiural grace,
so conspicuous IN the less regular but more
agreeable couulenauce OF his brother, The
Emperor Alexander. The latter always
pleasing, had yet AT times, an assumed man
ner. The Emperor Nicholas il more sincere
but he has an habinal expression OF severity,
which sometimes gives the idea Of harsh.
ness and iulicxibilhy. II, however, he is
less fascinating, be is more firm Than his
brother but then, il must be added, that he
has also proporonaieIy greater need Of firm
ness. Graceful courtesy insures authority by
removing lhe desire Of resistance. This iu.
dclons economy in The exercise OF power is
a secret Of which the Emperor Nicolas is
ignoroni he is one who desires 10 be obeyed
where Others desire 10 be loved"