The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-13
RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.
The Health Of the Emperor-His Private Life-An
Imperial Family Jar-The Marriage Of the Grand
Duke Alexis-Attempts to Annul N-Count Shou.
valOf's Mission.
Correspondence of the New York WOrld.l

| lCOfTo6pOQQo0Ce OF the new 1OTk NOTlu
| ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. ~.
The old report that the Emperor is insane
is again in circulation, and several anecdotes
are told to confirm the statement. 1t is well
known that his Majesty is subject to fits OF
melancholy; in other words he becomes ILL
tempered and for days together possesses the
amiability of a bear with sore head. As the
Emperor grows older in years he grows worse
in temper, and it is just possible that he may
MAKE himself SO disagreeable that many we'll
meaning persons will set him down as insane.
That he is at times exceedingly morose is no
secret: his fits of temper are uncomfortable,
or at all events uncontrolled.
| 1t is matter of gossip that the Emperor
and Empress do not lead lives Of happiness
and peace. The cause of these rows is like
the cause Of similar Irregularities in humber
life jealousy. If Alexander sees pretty face,
he falls in love with it at once and embraces
the first opportunity to embrace its owner.
The Empress has frequently objected to this
tendency of his Majesty. Last winter the
Countess -, one Of the Empress's ladies of
honor, happened to attract the attention of
the Emperor at one of the court ceremonies.
Etiquette forbids an Emperor going about
afterward to make calls at the lodgings of
young ladies'. So he intimated to his conf
dental friend that he would like to see the
Countess at the palace, and forthwith she was
brought to his private apartments. History
does not record the manner in which he de-
clared his passion. He was not loved in re-
turn, and the Countess grew indignant, and
threatened to tell his wife.
There were tears and hot words between
ruler and subject, and then the Countess
went and told the Empress, as she had
threatened to do. The Empress was very in
dignant, and gave her husband lecture,
compared to which the best efforts of Mrs
Caudle were of little account. An endeavor
was made to hush the matter up, but it
couldn't be done. The story got abroad, and
people talked about it in quiet way. 1t
didn't get into the paper , for the reason that
the editors here do not consider it judicious
to publish imperial scandals and go to Siberia
the next day. The Countess was interviewed
by an officer of the imperial staff, and the in
terview resulted in the payment of sufficient
number of roubles to cover the expense of a
years absence from the capital. She went
abroad, and has been enjoying herself in
Italy, Switzerland, and Paris ever since. She
may return this winter, but l am inclined to
the opinion that she will stay away for some
time. Possibly she may marry an Italian
Count and settle in Rome or Florence.
The popularity of the Emperor among the
peasants is well known. His ukase abolishing
serfdom and his efforts to improve the condi-
ton of the lower classes have endeared him
to the populace, and whenever he appears in
public he is loudly and heartily che red. Not
infrequently a peasant will kiss the ground
over which the Emperor has walked, and by
many of the people he is regarded as more
than half divinity. Alexander's devotion to
his subjects is exhibited in special as well as
in general ways. In several instances when
he has seen pretty peasant girl and admired
her face he asks her name and expresses de-
sire to talk to her. She is sought and told of
the honors that await her, and before her sur
prise is over she is brought to the palace and !
ushered into the imperial presence. In his |
mild, paternal way the Emperor greets her, |
and soon convinces her that she has nothing |
to fear from her august sovereign. From time |
to time in the moments that he can snatch |
from the perplexities of official duty he talks |
with her and learns how his humber subjects
live. When he wearies of her face he sends |
for her brother, and says:
"lOur sister has attracted my attention,
md take deep interest in her welfare I
earn that she is about to be married hope
she will have a good husband, and 1 should
ike to be informed of the wedding, so that /
,an send her handsome present" The
brother goes away delighted, and breaks the
Welcome news to Mary Jane. As soon as the
Emperor's proposal is known, she has plenty
If offers from desirable bachelors who wish
% indulge in matrimony. A candidate is
elected from the crowds of suitors, the we'd
ling is fixed for an early date, and the EN-
,eror is duly informed. On the happy day
he bride receives liberal dowry from the
overeign, accompanied by his blessing, and
n injunction to love, honor and cherish her
husband and be good and faithful wife; and
he money that he thus uses in making these
Dir Ic honv o,1A |
marry well, comes not from the treasury of
he country, but from the Emperor's private
urse. In this way he is constantly using his
ersonal funds for the advancement of his !
objects, and seems to be never weary of
Ding good. |,
You remember the vague rumors concern
1g the marriage of the Grand Duke Alexis, i
ae handsome youth about whom so many
ociety bellies in New York went half wild &
the time of his visit to the United States ,
he story has never been told in print except
l very fragmentary way. Among the demoi-
slles dhonneor of her Majesty the Empress !
aere was pretty and attractive girl, the '
aughter OF a high official, who was a men, ,
lember of the Council of Empire. She was i
ttached to the imperial household, and lived {
l the palace Alexis fell in love with her I
I'll in love over head and ears-which was t
cry wrong for Grand Duke He declared
is passion and found it reciprocated, and
18th the headstrong imprudence of youth, he :;
roposed to elope with her and be married.
he, poor girl, did not weigh the consequent !;
IS, and probably was not aware what mess
1e would make by accepting his offer. One
ay, while the court was at Moscow, the twain
Jet by appointment, sought priest and =
ere united.
The marriage was kept secret for two or !.
Tree months, but marriage, like murder will !
ut, and this case proved no exception to the y
lie. When it became known there was a :
'ene such as does not often happen. The :
mperor swore and the Empress CRIED and :
.e whole imperial family was in funk. !,
lexis was talked to in very plain, old
shioned way. 1t was determined to send =
IN on long journey in the hope. of curing =
m Of his love, and SO he was started on the ;.
'yage that brought him to America, and 4
ok him home by way OF Japan and 9
IBERIA. Mrs. Alexis was ::ent out of the en- 2
re by special train, and the eye of the l.
'lice was not taken from her until she was Il
fe over the frontier. G