, 1874-04-12
BEAR.uUNTISG WITH ALEXANDER II

|
very clever associations. Haywood.
BEAR.uUNTISG WITH ALEXANDER 1
Translated .for ~1t1'9ttons' journal.
/ The present Emperor of lsussin, Ale1ande
H., Is IN most respects unlike tho rost OF Enro
pean sovereisns. He is neither fond Of militar
pageants, ike his UNCLE William [. Of Germany
nor does he like to occupy himself with Stat
Affairs, like Franc,s Joseph Of Austria. Vicso
EmmanueIs aGablitT toward the lowly is for
eign to his naughty, reserved nature: and his oW1
people even Charge him with being more O
| German than one OF their own rlce. Blu
in one respect Alexander II. shares the predi
| lcctions Of his brother soye1aigns: he is y pas
| sionate hunter. And in this respect he is true
Russian, too; for his favorte sport, like that OF
the true Muscovitea, ia neither devastating mol
fo1-huntns, neither spearng the wild~boar nor
following the swift-footcd ibcx and chamois tc
| theiz Alpine Businesses, but boarding the brown
bear in midwinter in the sombre pine forests
extending for hundreds of miles in the level and
sandy country northeast of the Gulf Of Finland.
] An lnteresting account OF q recent boar-hani
| in that desolato country il given BY o Russian
correspondent Of tho Unipcrs Inustre. Is His
| Majesty" writes the correspondent, French
1nan, who had long been in Algoria. "a was great
] ly interested, Rs I Was sitting with him in Lis
private cabir, at THarkoe-Soo in my narrative
about our lioi1-hunts in Africa, He said he had
read Gerards book on that subject, years ngo,
Will GALIG1uG pIGESuEo, AQQ HQueQ That. GG10To
he had assembled the throne, he had frequently
felt greatly tempted to go to Alseria for three
four montha for the sole purpose OF hunting the
terrible monarch Of the desert. ''Would you like
to hunt bears with me?" suddenly asked the Gear.
Whom an Emperor asks such question, you can
never answer it in the negative. oven though you
were not, like myself, an ardent sportsman. And
SO consented. The Emperor dismissed me-
saving that he could not exactly appoint tho day
when the hunt would como OF, but promised to
er1C rr1{ {fs13nf fJ ,eff
A week passed BY, and did not hear from His
Majesty. But on tho morning Of the 10th OF
November IN imperial hickey woke me up in my
rooms at the Maison Teleschoff, and handed mo
equeEries, in which I was politely requested to
repair ut an early hour on tho morning Of the
18th Of November to tho Emperor's hunting
CASTLE kortije, on the banks Of Lake Omega.
| was up long before daybreak on the appoint
ed day. The morning was bitter cold. At 6
O'Clock an Imper,al Abiltka drove up to tic door.
Wrapped III my fur robes, and armed with my
repeating rifle and hunting pouch, entered the
curious vehicle. On We went at lightning speed.
The ground Was frozen, our TWO small horses
whom VIC nrriyed at tho Imperial ecastlo. Nortiia
hardly deserves that name. 1t is low, one-sto-
ried Tooden structure, panied dark-broHn, with
singular round windows. In the courtyard were
four other kbitkas. At the door stood half
dozen tail representatives OF the mounted body
guard OF the Emperor, looking more Asiatic
than European in their long, fur-lined coats,
with their Caucasian caps, their Circassiau cime-
teEs, and curious poinard~holders On the b1easta
Of their coats.
An equery nshered me into the Emperor's
presence. The Gar was seated iu front OF an
immense wood-fre in an open stove, in large
room, the walls OF which we're decorated with
bear-heads, antlcra, and various huntington
uaents. He was dressed in short fur robe
tight deezskin pantaloons, and looked, without
fa1terY, like the beau ideal Of Nimrod. With
hlna were sl1 or seven gentlemen, similarly nt-
tired-ah of them noble specimens Of tho Rus
siau aristocracE. They were slipping hot, strong,
handed to mo. The Emperor made me ait down
tSa Us eoae. sa ho said saod to ns asat be 1e
air is cold, and IT will keep you warm." Then
caviar sandwiches we're served up, and was
tite, although tho rest Of us, to tell the truth,
owing no doubt to the long ride in tho sharp mir,
did likewise ample Justice to the simple meal.
Ny repeatine-ritls attracted the Emperor's ct
teution. He examined it carefully, and admired
it's neatnesa aud elegance. But he said, with q
emile Tilis weapon, monsieur, will not do for
a bear-hont: You need much stronger gun,
onh which H. in a9 y:S can use as
sometimes our sport leads us into very
close quarters with our game aud the
bear, ! can assure you, Is not only very
rough fighter, but it requires very hard knocks
This, however, was no great misfortune: for
there we're plenty OF heavy, long, double bar
relied rifles, such rs arc used for hunting the !
bear in Castle Nortije; and in q few minutes I !
Esas armed with ono and also with tremendous
hunting knife, sbnrp as razor and weighing
pearly three pounds. Tho Emperor gave the |
Elgnal to start, and We re-entered our kibitkas,
this time, however, only for o short drive, 10 I
az opening OF the donse pine-forest We nlighted
There NO were met by dozen Imperial pique1irs |
uOE-EHHDnrH hnf Hr<Yn cf% %cY
moDHe blnck Russian bear-doge. ugly, tlercc-look-
ing animate, who greeted the Emperor's appear I
ance with joyous barkin3s.
The Emperor chose the Baron Won Hols:ein
and me ns his companions. Tic othor gontl1- |
men set out immediately, walking at IL rery rapid |
rate, to meet us again by circutous route Ut . |
certain spot and 10 drive towards us such baaxs !
rs might be started by o.d Nico1ni, the veteran
said lew words in Russian to tho Emperor. who
told me that tho veteran hunter had assured him
That ne would dud one OF mora OF the bvu;u |
family before long, rs it. had been very cold for
Ihe past ton days, and the bears would be about,
looking for food.
our party, accompanied by four riq,.e,trs
who held tho dogs by st1i,1ss, started OF
very slow pace through tue tkcket. The En-
2eror was very tacitnrn, and kept his eyes
liked on the ground. Every now and then he |
stood still aud examined the frozen ground. On !
'uch occasions one OF the piq,re,trs would step |
1p to him and do Lkewiso. Tho man vas eyit-
lsnily an experienced hunter; for tho Emnerpr ]
ooked at him, aud, when he shook his head.
moved On again. Thus ne walked for perhans
~ hour and half. It was growing colder and
'older The Emperor beckoned to one ct the
'ttendants, who produced q Inrge wicker flask
shich he handed to His Majesty. The latter |
frank q deep drarght from it and the1: handed It
Q me. Things must have cnangca greatly in ]
tuss!a, thought to myself; for who would have
Jared to drink from the Bane flask with lie ter
lble and magnificent Emperor Nicholas? As it
Tas I eagerly accepted the pronercd flask.
nd drank some excellent cognac. The t1ety
lquor had never tasted better to me. II, Won
tolste1n drank next and then ne wont for
ard again.
Another hall: hsur passed by, when all Of a
hidden We heard, at great distance, a long
q They have found i bear!" exclaimed the {
.mpeEor, big eyes frightening with the eager
1t.cPatlon OF 3 true sportsman. .. Listen !" ;
1le distant bugle sounded four sharp notes in :
0ick succession 49, !
The 70 Emperor understood the signal. :
1his WaE, gentlemen !" ha cried. and startad !
TO the left almost at run.
We followed at the same gait, and the dogs, T
toHe tie 17i4neurs had let loose, r4o, barEinr T
.-.~::i';n ri 11a |
~ * .:-:---4. suo bngte Of the other party !