The New York herald., 1873-08-18

'This was the favorite seat" he said. "of my
aunt the deceased Empress Alexandra. She used
to sit In this small easy chair and would for hours
gaze at that her favorlte tree. the weeping BIRCH
She really loved this tree, and used to say, Il
have much moro beautiful apartments In st.
Petersburg. which are magnincently furnished,
but no decoration In this world can give me such
Wow IS this tree which the Almighty has planted
cut there Poor Aunt Alexandria what sgonies
did she sometimes suffer while sitting in this chair.
regarding the tree and the neighboring noun
tainsn
pointed in reverent silence to the portrait
hanging above tho writing table on the wall, whose
only ornament 1t Is, to the large Photographic
likeness OF the Empress Alexandra which the pro-
pretor OF the hotel had procured out Of attention
to the Emperor know the original painting from
which this Photographic copy was taken. 1t is
mastery executed water color painting, standing
on the writing table Of the late King Frederick
william Nv, In Sans -Soucl-a beautiful and at the
same time terrible picture.
HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES.
VINO would believe that this deadly pale. corpse
like face. with the sunken cheeks and the great
lustreess eyes-ths head, which at the back was
covered by close veil resembling shroud more
than anything else-represented an Empress
All but this Empress was but poor human being,
tormented by acute surerlngs who. as it is whis-
pered. had the same maiaay which slowly brought
Philip Second, King OF Spain. to the grave. The
proud Empress had for years the courage to con.
ceal the sufrerlngs she had to undergo and the
ravages which the illness indicted on her body,
and when she at length gave 1t up there appeared
from beneath the artificial color, the lace veil and
the artificial cheeks the face Of corpse, and the
blooming, rosy and healthy-looking Empress OF
yesterday was to-day but q mortaly sick. deadly
pale. decrepit woman.
MEETING THE LATE IMPRESS OF RUSSIA.
Some years age met her here in Ems. and can
never forget the terrible impression she made
upon mo. Here was the weeping birch, which.
as look up from my writing table, Is now before
me. There saw small invaltd's carriage. whose
wheels glittered like gold. and which was covered
with purple satin. The pretty little chariot looked
more like the car o: Roman conqueror than
the couch OF q human being af1icted with q fatal
disease. While was yet standing there regarding
1t there appeared under the door OF the hotel
singular group. In the centre Of 1t there was q
tall woman, dressed In lowing black robes,
the features emaciated, deep black marks in
the hollow cheeks, the large eyes lustreless,
and the thin, whitish lips nrmy pressed together,
to repress, perhaps cry OF agony; the hair
combed back from the wrinkled forehead, envel-.
oped In q large lace shawl. On either side OF her
was Russian, short. squarely built figure, with
q fierce, shy face. The suffering woman had an arm
around each one Of these men, and thus was
pushed forward, while behind her walked another
Russian, with broad shoulders and powerful arms,
. very giants form. Arrived at the chariot,
they stop. and the giant steps forward
to the woman, takes her In his arms
as he would child, and lifts her
into the carriage, where he arranges the cushions
for her tenderly and carefully The two other Rus.
SLAMS pushed the chariot gently forward, the giant
following as body guard, and thus the singular
procession went over the yellow, cracking sand
towards the Park.
"who Is thats Who is this living corpses" de-
manded OF my companion. who solemnly replied
"She Is the most powerful and the weakest. the
richest and the poorest woman in the world. She
Is the hopelessly sick Empress of Russlal'
The picture Of his mother hangs over the En-
peror's writing table. while the Photographic like
ness Of his wife hangs over the divan in his bed
room. Does 1t sometimes remind the handsome
and majestic Emperor OF schiller's words:-
Die Traucr ist doch kcn leercr wahn
Und der Mensch soil sic uben i'm Leben
LADY LAMENTs THE GREAT RUSSIANS DE-
PARTURE.
have just received call from handsome and
spirited lady, who arrived at Ems some weeks be-
fore me.
lately occupied by the Emperor and as her eye fell
on his portrait she smiled, and. signing softly. she
remarked
"Ahi he was fascinating, the Emperor Alexander
And how gay and elegant life was here during his
sojournl There is not the shadow Of 1t left as 1t
was four weeks ago. Now Ems is tiresome and
sober, whereas then it was amusing, fascinating
and attractive. host of the most distinguished
wealthy and gay gentlemen surrounded the En-
peror; splendid ladies. glittering with diamonds
and dressed in silks and velvets belonging to the
highest aristocracy, yet without prejudice and
every ready for amusement and enjoyment, were
to be seen and made the promenade look enchant
ing. joyful laughter and joking well as nirtation
wsro to be heard and seen everywhere. Every one
wished to please and to make him or herself agree
able. The most beautiful and lovely women tried
to obtain one glance from the Emperor, and were