The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-11-20
THE CZAR.
Miseries of the Russian Autocrat.

We have received from source OF
which the authenticity is beyond ques-
ton the following curiously interesting
information respecting the present per-
sonal condition of his Majesty the Gar
of Russia. Our information is not Sec
ond-h hand. It comes directly from one
thoroughly informed in his own person
of the facts which he has communicated
| to us. The Car, for some time past, has
been prey not only to constant appre-
tensions for his life, but to feelings of
remorse for what he has done, and of fear
for the punishment that awaits him after
death. He has endeavored in vain, by
the study of modern philosophy, to free
himself from the belief in the immortali-
ty of the soul and in the punishment
that awaits the wicked in the world
to come. His mind has refused to accept
| the negative conclusions of the modern
skeptics whose works'he has read or with
whom he has conversed, and he is to-day
even more than he was in, his; earlier
years a thorough believer in the othor-
dox doctrines Of Christianity held in
common by the Greek and the Roman
Church. He believes that he has led a
bad life, an extremely bad life; and he de-
| spairs of finding means for the atonement
of his evil deeds, even had he the moral
strength to accept these means which he
does not possess. The thought of abdi-
cation often possesses him, and at times
he seems to have madeup his mind to
cut the fatal knots which surround him,
and to make his escape to England or to
France, leaving Russia to such fate as
might befall it after his departure; but
the irresolute elements in his character
always counteract this impulse, and he
remains drifting on from bad to worse.
Within q recent. period he has sought
relief from his anxieties and fears by ex-
tcessiye,indulgence in strong wines and
Fin. spirits. Not Iunfrequently has his
Majesty been so intoxicated at an early
hour of:the day that he was incapable of
Itransacting any business. and could only
be takenycare of and induced to slumber.
Upon awakening from one of these un-
natural sleeps the Gear presents pitia-
| Bile appearance; his cheeks are sunken
and haggard, his eyes are bloodshot; his
expression is that of one who anticipates
ia terrible calamity which may fall upon
him at any moment.
The precautions taken for his safety,
not only when he goes outside of the
walls Of one of his palaces, but even
while in the supposed sanctity of his
OWE apartments are curiously minute
and counter-checkiug. There appears
to be no absolute trust reposed in any
one. Every one about his Majesty's per-
son is watched by some one else, and
even his most confidential attendants
feel that they are under the most vigi-
lant, unceasing, and suspicious espionage,
When the Gar chooses to drive through
the streets of his capital, when he makes a
railway journey, and even when, as now,
| he is supposed to be enjoying himself at
Liyadia, he knows that he is surrounded
by corps of persons specially detailed
to watch over his safety and yet he fears
that in any one of these he may find an
assassin thirsting for his blood.
/, When'the Gar visited London imme-
diately after the marriage of his daughter
to the Duke of Edinburg, it was remarked
by ithose who came closely in contact
With him that more sorrowful and ,anx-
| ious person had rarely been seen. In, the
midst of all the festivities which had
been arranged for his delight and honor,
he sat like ghost at the banquet, or ap-
peared as criminal who was awaiting
the moment when the executioner would
appear to lead him to the scafold.-
Every subsequent month has deepened
the anxieties, griefs, and remorse which
produce upon his Majesty's conntenance
these signs of a restless and fearful soul.
There are some reasons for believing
that his mind has given away under the
terrible pressure which it has been COM
pelled to undergo, and that at times, he
is scarcely responsible for his actions.
sHe takes Tie most extraordinary likes
and dislikes for persons and for animals.
His favorite for the time being, be it man,
woman, dog or bird, is petted to an. ex-
| tent that is at once ludicrous and melan-
choly to observe. When he was last in
Paris, he heard a young pianist whose
execution delighted him. He at once
took measures to have this young man
return with him to his Capital, and there,
for long time, nothing charmed the
Gear so much as to listen to the playing
of this youth, to converse with him, and
to caress him, and to load him with every
imaginable mark offavor and distinction.
Again, he concentrated his affections
upon spaniel-dog, for which he con-
ceiyed violent and uncomfortable pas
tsion. The Car and his pet dog were
for while inseparable, and his Majesty,
at the most inconvenient moments,
would demand that the animal should
be brought 10 him. 1t was at this time
q dispatch was received announcing that
| a son of the Gar was on his deathbed,
and that if the father wished to see him
the greatest haste was necessary. A
special train for the Emperor was imme-
diately ordered; everything was arrapg-
ed; but as his Majesty was about to en-
ter the cars, he discovered that the dog
was absent. The animal had taken an
| exceptional freak; he had escaped from
the grounds of the palace, and had gone
off to amuse himself elsewhere. The Car
Notwithstanding that he knew his favor.
tite son was at the point of death, and
that every moment Of delay might prevent
him seeing him before he expired, re-
fused to stir from the palace until the
dog was found. The palace was in up
Eroar; servants, soldiers, civil officers,
and volunteers were sent in hot haste
after the missing beast; but four hours
elapsed ere he was found, captured and
returned to the embrace of his Imperial
master.
The relations between the Gar and
his wife have long been of an extremely
melancholy character. They live as fa,
apart as possible. When they meet it is
only as foes between whom exists an
armed neutrality; and, while the EN-
press for herself has preserved the yir-
! tues with, which she was adorned when
she became the wife of the Car, she is
not at all ignorant of the numberless and
i xubio1, har