Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-03-26
THE GRAND DUKE ALEXIS BOOK.
HIS Impressi ON OF A Amerfeans-The
Beautifui Cuban Women.
Translated for Appleton's Journal

Translated for Appleton Journal
The St. Petersburg correspondent Of
the Baltic Gazette furnishes an interest
ing synopsis of the second and third vol.
umes of the book written by or for the
Grand Duke Alexis of Russia Oh his
recent voyage around the world.
The second volume of this superb
book, perhaps the most magnificent that
was ever issued from the Russian press,
opens with a general criticism Of Amer
ican institutions and popular manners
1t is refreshing to hear what an Imperial
Prince has to say about the former. He
believes that the soil of America was
destined for Republican institutions
There is an astonishing self.reliance
about Americans" he writes, not with
out genuine enthusiasm; and this, to
the most casual observer, together with
their wonderful, unparalleled informa-
ton Of the general principles of govern
ment, accounts for their fitness for Re-
publican institutions. The smallest
school boy in the United States knows
the names of the eminent Presidents of
this country. No one can convince any
body that General Washington was not
the noblest man ever placed at the head
of any nation. Of their war with Mexico
they are very proud, as well they may
be, according to my opinion; for they
routed large Mexican armies, we'll
armed ana lntrepsuly eomma9aeo' WIN
mere hnnuiuls OF soluters. ! was re,
iuctant TO converse mucn on tne recent
clVii war; as 1 sun ,ounu e9nsiuerasie
ieeiing on either side; ana 1 princl-
paIiy conversed WIN some lntlmate
military lrlehas on tne great events III
wnicn they pore conspicuous parts;
Notning eoulu De more toucnlns anu
thrililng than the modest accounts
wnicn the anciehts wouid nave lmmor'
tallzed IN tapiets OF oronze' -
Inc infantry 0, America seems y 10 suner
from some OF lne 9eiecls OF tne I rehcnI
100 mucn eiah ana 100 mucn lnoepeno
ence OF tne privatesT very aulnlIa-
oie material DuV l ulo NOT hno" why
they were uniformed In SO unattractive
a manner some OF the militia regl-
mehts IN new ork' ana even IN tne
west iook proueer ana nicer Il, Lnan tne u,
regular troops Oh .ne hhe. me ar'il-
lery Is wen armeu, Altnougn sohe y,
tne guns saw seemed 70 nave just issued
from a pr9traeted campaign Inc cav
airy is spiendidly mounted ana, from
what l saw, consists mostly oil capital
fellows. 4
The Grand Duke is not very enthusi-
astic concerning his impressions OF
Cuba. He had looked for a climate OF
balmy mildness. and in It's stead he
found one of extreme and most disa.
greeable changeability. He declares
that during a day Of rain and storm in
Havana, be was more chilled than dur
ling any of his protracted bear hunts in
Russian midwinter on the frozen banks
of Lake Omega. But he speaks very
highly Of the beauty of the Cuban ladies
some of whom. he thinks, entirely real
ize the most idealistic dreams of female
beatty. The men, on the other hand
looked to him puny. and as entirely un
worthy physical representatives of the
Castilian race. There is a striking
difference" he writes, between tht
Spanish battalions from the BASQUE
provinces which | saw in Havana ant
Matanzas. and the crowd of male Cubar
spectators who with me looked at them
| The former were tall, slender erect with
l,u haa. de- loN