National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-16
BE1R-BuyTzse V17HA1ExAyDERI III

Translated for Appleton's Journal.I
The present Emperor of Russia, Alexander
Il, is in most respects unlike the rest of Euro
pean sovereigns. BE is neither fond of military
pageants, like his uncle, William l. of Ger
many; nor does he like to occupy himself with
State affairs, like Francis Joseph of Austria.
Victor EmmanuePs affa6ility toward the lowly
is foreign to his naughty, reserved nature; and
his own people even charge him with being
more Of German than one Of their own race.
But in one respect Alexander II. shares the
predictions of his brother sovereigns: he is a
passionate hunter. And in this respect he is a
true Russian, too; for his fsvorite sport, like
that of the true Muscovites, is neither deer
stalking nor fox-hunting, neither spearing the
wild boar nor following the swift-footed ibex
and chRmois to their Alpine Businesses, but
boarding the brown bear in midwinter in the
sombrej pine forests, extending for hundreds
of miles in the level and sandy country north
east of the Gulf of Finland.
An interesting account of a recent bear-hunt
in that desolate country is given by Russian
correspondent of the Uniuers IHustre. "His
Majesty" writes the correspondent, French
man, who had long been in Algeria, s'was
greatly interested, as was sitting with him in
his private cabin at Tsarkoe-Selo, in my narra-
tive about our lion hunts in Africa. He said he
had read Gerard's book on that subject years
ago with extreme pleasure, and added that, be-
fore he had assembled the throne, he had fire.
quently been tempted to 90 to Algeria for three
or four months for the sole purpose of hunting
the terrible monarch of the desert. "Would
you like to hunt bears with mef suddenly
asked the Gar. When an Emperor asks such
question you can never answer it in the mega
tive, even though you were not, like myself, an
ardent sportsmen. And so consented. The
Emperor dismissed me, saying that he could
not exactly appoint the day when the hunt
would come of, but promised to give me timely
notice.
week passed by, and I did not hear from
His Majesty. But on the morning of the 10th
of November an Imperial lackey woke me UP
in my rooms at the Maison Teleschoff, and
handed me Q letter from Baron Holstsin, one
of the Imperial equerries, in which I was
politely requested to repair at an early hour
on the morning of the 18th of November to the
Emperor's hunting castle, Nortije, on the
banks of Lake Omega.
Twas up long before daybreak on the ap-
pointed day. The morning was bitter cold. At
6 o'clock an Imperial kibitka drove up to the
door. Wrapped in my fur robes, and armed
with my repeating rife and hunting pouch,
entered the curious vehicle. OF we went at
lightning speed. The ground was frozen, our
two small horses wonderfully fieet-footed, and
it was not yet when we arrived at the In
perial castle. Nortije hardly deserves that
name. 1t is low, one-storied wooden struc-
ture, painted da-k-brown, with singular round
windows. In the courtyard were four other
kibitkas. At the door stood half dozen tall
representatives Of the mounted body guard of
the Emperor, looking more Asiatic than
European in their long, fur-lined coats, with
and curious poinard-holders on the breasts Of
their coats.
A equerry ushered me into the Emperor's
presence. The Gar was seated in front of an
immense wood fire In an open stove, in large
room, the walls Of which were decorated with
bear heads, antlers, and various hunting imple-
ments. He was dressed In q short fur robe,
tight deerskin pantaloons, and looked. without
iattery, like the beau ideal of Nimrod With
him were six or seven gentlemen, similarly at
tired-all Of them noble specimens of the Rus
sian aristocracy. They were slipping hot, strong
black coffee from large cups, one OF which was
handed to me. The Emperor made me sit
down by his side. "Drfnk good deal of
that coffee" he said to me; ''the air is cold,
and I. will keep you warm" Then caviar
sandwiches were served up, and was amused
at the Empcror's extraordinary appetite. al
though the rest Of US, to tell the truth, owing
no doubt to tho long ride in the sharp air, did
likewise ample justice tothe simple meal.
Ny repeating-rife attracted the Emperor
He examined Il carefully, and ad- |
mired it's neatness and elegance. But he said,
with smile: This weapon, monsieur, will
not do for bear hunt. You need much |
stronger gun, one which, in an emergency, you |
can use as club, too; for" he added, laugh |
ingly, sometimes our sport leads us into very |
close quarters with our game: and the bear,
l can assure you, ID not only very rough |
fighter, but Il requires very hard knocks TO get |
the better of him."
This, however, was no great misfortune; for
there were plenty OF heavy, long, double bar
relied ri1es, such rs are used for hunting the /
bear In Castle Nortije; and in few minutes /
was armed with one, and also with tremen-
oous hunting. knife, sharp as o razor, and /
weighing nearly three pounds. The Emperor
gave the signal 70 start, and we rc-entered our |
l<ibitkas, this time, however, only for q short |
drive, In an opening of the dense pine forest 1
we slighted. There we were met BY dozen
Imperial piQHsurs and dog-keepers, who had
charge of ten immense black Russian bear
logs. ugly, ferce-lookipg animals, who greeted