, 1880-05-10
The Czar Of Russia and His Per-
sonal Perils.

Inc CZar o. huSsla anu Ills f0r-
sonal Perils.
The feeling which comes uppermost
in the mind of any one who sees the
Czar for the first time is opo of sincere
pity. He is large. ox-eyed man, evi
IDENTIFY of good intentions, but with
look of sadness and perpiexity in him.
His voice is harsh as the grinding of a
coffee mill out of order, for an affection
of the throat, under which he has long
suffered, rerders speech painful to him.
He would have made very amiable
private gentleman, and could have got
far more ease and amusement out of life
If he had handed all the botheration of
government over to his brother Con-
stantiDe, who has taste for that sort of
nonsense. He ehimself could hardly have
wanted to reign. 1t was the Schouva-
lofts, the Lamberts, the Bariatinskys,
the Adlerbergs, the Dolgouroukys, and
some others who desired he should be
a firm ruler of men. They were for
ever goading and coaxing him by turns,
as beef is driven to market for those
who wish to roast it. They must often
have had difficult task, for his ponder
GUS Majesty (good, easy man) is sloth
full and heavy-witted by nature. He
must have aeen frequently unable to
understand even what was wanted of
him. He is subject to melancholy
periods of hypocAondriasis, during
which existence seems but a dreary
blank to him. He is. haunted by fears
of sudden death and by tae dread of
assassination. Al these times he moons
about on apparently solitary walks with
a large dog, but there is always a po-
liceman handy to keep the sacrilegious
from approaching him. When we'll he
changing his costume with much stolid
perseverance. and he likes to be at
tended by humpbacked Privy Coun-
cilor, who acts as foil to his fine figure
and sets it off, for he is well built
man, tall and straight, though rather
too German ia the rotundity OF certain
of his curves.
His father Nicholas, who was in many
respects notable sovereign, had him
very carefully brought up, and fore
seeing that he would want support,
perhaps devotion, in after life, to coun-
teract his apathy, surrounded him with
some select young men who could be
relied upon. This little band of cronies
have hung together ever since. They
have lived with and on the Emperor
without interruption from the time of
his accession until now. He provides
for their wants they dip their fingers
into his purse wheAever they are so
minded.
He is loosely hung Emperor, more
like the good fellow of free and easy
than the despotic master of millions,
when in the midst of these his familars.
sleeves, astraadle on chair, hob-a-nob
bing with them.
The late Count Strogonoff, who was
a preue checaIier and very high pacing
person generally, once broke in upon
the party thus employed. The Emper
or looked at him with those -unuttera-
bly, mournful eyes of his and held out
a champagne glass to be retilled from
bottle which stood by. The old sol
dier drew himself up and answered
sternly, Let those who love you less
than do perform that SERVICE" The
Gar showed no sign of displeasure,
but within a few months Strogonoff
was deprived of his Offices, though he
was nearly connected with the imperial
family, his son having married the
Grand Duchess Marie.
When his Majesty is in the humor he
pays a good deal at cards with his own
chums, and it is rather good thing for
these gentlemen, for whenever any one
of them is in want the Gar will lose to
him the sum of which he stands in need
as delicate way of giving it, and this
method of bestowing substantial favor
is perfectly we'll understood between
them.
The Gar is good shot and has done
some grand things on bears. He some
times wears pelisse which once ccv-
cred fine bear he brought low with
his own hands, and it has been so K
quisitely dressed that it is valued at
about 50 600, which is even more than
is ever paid either for the sable
or black fox. He can ride, too, though
not in the English fashion, and he
would be puzzled by sharp burst
across country. Lately his physicians
have recommended him to walk.
His personal departments is excellent.
He stands and marches we'll. He shows
to advantage in uniform. though for
several years he has willingly clothed
himself in multi. His manners are
those Of gentleman, and there is some
thing extremely sympathetic about him.
He produces the impression that one
would like to know him better, if only
he were not an Emperor. 1t is this un-
fortunate circumstance which takes the
amiability out of him, sets him upon
his dignity, and gives certain funni-
ness to his aspect. His father really
could be dignided, but he can't. There