Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-25
THE UNHAPPY CZAR.


good intentions, but with look of sad
ness and perp)exity in him. His voice,
harsh AZ the grinding of coffee-mil
out of order, for an affection of the
throat, under which he has long suffered,
renders speech painful to him. sic
would have made n very amiable private
gentleman, and could have got far more
ease and amusement out of life il he had
handed all the botheration of govern
ment over to his brother Constantine,
who has taste for that sort OF nonsense.
He himself could hardly have wanted to
reign. 1t was the Schouvaloffs, the
Lamberts, the Bariatinskys, the Adler
bergs, the Dolgouroukys and some
Others who desired he should be firm
ruler OF men. They were forever goad
ing and coaxing him by turns, as beef
Ii driven TO market for those who wish
to roast IL. They must often had diff
cult task, for his ponderous majesty
(good easy man) is slothful and heavy
witted by nature. He must have been
frequently unable to understand even
what was wanted of him. He is sub
ject to melancholy periods of hypocon-
driasis, during which existence seems
but a dreary blank to him. lie is
haunted by fears of sudden death and by
the dread of assassination. At these
times he moons about on apparently
solitary walks with n large dog, but
there is always a policeman handy 10
keep the sacrilegious from approaching
him. When we'll he dcvotes much OF
his time TO tailoring, changing his cos
tune with much stolid perseverance,
and he likes 10 be attended by hump
backed privy councillor, who acts as
foil TO his fine figure and sets it of, for
he is a well-bHilt man, tall and straight,
though rather too German in the rotund-
ity OF certain of his curves.
His father, Nicholas, who was in
many respects n notable sovereign, had
him very carefully brought up, and
foreseeing 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 whenever they are so
minded.
He is a 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 familiars
| He has been known TO sit in his shirt
| sleeves, astraddle on "A chair, hob-a-nob-
bipg with them.
The late Count Strogonoff. who was
a pretIz clieUdlier and n very high-pacing
person generally. once broke in upon
the party thus employed. The en-
peror looked at him with those unut-
! terably mournful eyes of his and held
out a champagne q lass 10 be refilled
from bottle which stood by. Tie old
| soldier drew himself up and answered
sternly. let those who love you less
than I do perform that service" The
czar showed no sign of displeasure. but
within 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 humor he
| plays n good deal of cards with his own
chums. and il is rather good thing for
these gentlemen. for when any of them
is In want the GEAR will lose TO him the
sum Of which he stands in need, as n
delicate way of giving 1t. and this
method OF bestowing substantial favor
is perfectly well understood among
them.
The czar is n good shot. and has done
some grand things on bears. He some
times wears a pelisse which once COW
cred fine bear he brought low with
his own hands. and IL has been so cx-
quisitely dressed that 1t is valued at
about SlO,O 900, which is even more than
is ever paid either for the cable or the
black fox. He can ride, too, though
not in the English fashion, and he
would be puzzled by a sharp burst
across the country. Lately his ply
sicians have recommended him to walk.
His personal department is excellent.
He stands and marches well. He shows
to advantage in uniform. though for
several years he has willingly clothed
hii1self In mutt. His manners are those
Ola gentleman, and there Is something
extremely sympathetic about him. He
produces the impression that one would
like TO know him better, II only he were
not an emperor. II Is this unfortunate
circumstance which takes the amiability
cut ofhim, sets him upon his dignity and
gives certain funniness 10 his aspect.
His father really could be dignified, hut
he can't. There is a chubbiness and
nerve usness in his proceedings upon
great occasions which reminds one of
drum major or fugleman OF Landwehr
than an autocrat.
Formerly the emperor, as might have
been expected from one of his lethargic
temperaments, was averse To moving
about; latterly he has been troubled
by perpetual restessness. He lives
very plainly, and his table Is sparsely
served. A becfsteak for breakfast,
roast gelinotte and salid for his dinner
form the staple of his fare. His appetite
Is not robust and he sleeps badly.
The first fault of his reign was the
common blunder of heirs apparent when
they come into power. He had been
much courted by the discontinued, and
he made far too much haste TO undo all
the work OF his father. He was emo
tional. pitiful, generous, all In = head
long, precipitate way. When he re-
SOLVED suddenly to abolish serfdom
several of his genera and mobiles threw
themselves bodily at his feet. and be-
sought him TO manage so great q chance
VERY Oin uarlv II wau M staa. ha ~ M