Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-20
The Unhappy Czar.


 place of safety, when he thus delivered himself: II know'd it; there's pair of shoes gone !"
 The Unhappy Czar.
 A Pen-and-Ink Sketch of Alexander of
 Russia.
 From the London Truth
 The feeling which comes uppermost in the mind of any one who sees the Czar for the first time is one of sincere pity. He is a large, ox-eyed man, evidently of good inten- tions, but with 6 look of sadness and perplex- ity In him. His voice is harsh as the grinding of coffee-mill out of order, for an affection of the throat, under which he has long suf- fered, renders speech painful to him. He would have made 8 very amiable private gen. tleman, 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 Constantine, who has taste for that sort of nonsenfe. He himself could hardly have wanted to reign. It was the Schouva- loffs the Lamberts, the Bariatinskys, the Ad- terbergs, the Dolgouroukys, and some others who desired he should be 8 firm ruler of men. They were forever goading and coaxing him by turns, as beef is driven to market for those who wish to roast it. They must often have had a difficulty task. for his ponderous Ma jesty (good, easy man) is sIothful and heavy witted by nature. He must have been frequently unable to understand even what was wanted of him. He is subject to melan- choly periods of hypochondriasis, during which existence seems but dreary blank to him. He is haunted by fears of sudden death and by the dread of assassination. At these times he moons about on apparently solitary walks with large dog, but there is always a policeman handy to keep the sacrilegious from approaching him. When well he de- votes much of his time to tailoring, changing his costume with much stolid perseverance, and he likes to be attended by hump-backed Privy Councillor, who acts as foil to his fine figure and sets it of, for he is welI-buiit man, tall and straight though rather too German in the rotundty of certain of his curves.
 His father Nicolas, who was in many re- spects notable sovereign, had him very care fully brought up, and foreseeing that he would want support perhaps devotion, in af- ter life, to counteract 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 inter- ruption 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 loosely-hung Emperor, more like the good fellow of free-and-easy than the des- potic master of millions, when in the midst or LQ6S0 HIS IdmlllhTS. ne naB been RnOWn to sit in his shirt sleeves, astraddle on chair, hob. 8 nobbing with them.
 The late Count Strogonoff, who was preux chevalier and a very high-pacing person generally, once broke in upon the party thus employed. The Emperor looked at him with those unutterably mournful eyes of his and held out @ champagne glass to be refilled from 8 bottle which stood by. The old soldier drew himself up and answered sternly, 'Let those who love you less than do perform that service" The Czar showed no sign of but within few months Strogo- noff 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 plays 8 good deal of cards with his own chums, and it is rather good thing for these gentlemen, for whenever any one of them is in want the Czar 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 well understood among them.
 The Czar is good shot, and has done some grand things on bears. He sometimes wears 8 pelisse which once covered a fine bear he brought low with his own hands, and it has been so exquisitely dressed that it is valued at about e2, ,OOO, which is even more than is ever paid either for the sable or the black fox. He can ride, too, though not in the English fashion, ana he would be puzzled by a sharp burst across the country. Lately his physicians have recommended him to walk
 His personal department is excellent. He stands and marches we'll He shows to ad- vantage in uniform, though for several years he has willingly clothed himself in multi. His manners are those of gentlemen, and there is something extremely sympathetic about him. He produces the impression that one would like to know him better, if only he E. k1-s- which takes the amiabilty from him, sets him upon his dignity, and gives 8 certain funniness to his aspect. His father really could be dignifed, but he can't. There is chubbiness and nervousness in his pro- oeedings upon great occasions which reminds one more of a drum-major or fugleman of Landwehr than an autocrat.
 Formerly the Emperor, as might have been expected from one of his lethargic tempera- nent, was averse to moving about; latter y he has been troubled by perpetual rest essness. He lives very plainly and his table s sparsely served. beefsteak for breakfast, roast gelnotte and salad for his dinner form he staple of his fare. His appetite is not .obust and he sleeps badly.
 The first blunder of his reign was the com non blunder of heirs apparent when they ,ome into power. He had been much courted y the discontented and he made far too much taste to undo all the work of his father. He ffso OLAoSAOhnAs EOACAOuo, uAA HI o ACnA- ong, precipitate way. When he resolved uddenly to abolish serfdom several of his gen. rals and nobles threw themselves bodily at lis feet and besought him to manage so great change very gingerly. It was of no use; he ave everything he had to give, knocked down he great farmers general of taxes like so many ,ine-pins, upset monopolies for the discreet ale of Vodki, closed the free port of the Black Sea according to the latest principles of po- itical economy, dashed of the shackles from he press and laughed at comic newspapers. There was a caricature published in St. Peters 'urg shortly after his accession which repre- ented him as droschky driver in the state hat droschky drivers usually are after dinner. lis hat was pulled over his eyes and his lorses were galloping wildly on the road to Reform" Behind him was the Grand Duke Constantine, saying: "Gently, brother. am he fare" Still the Emperor laughed; he aughed too when piece was played in the Court Theatre exposing the corruption of his 'mcials, and very fine piece it was. Then omebody shot at him and shattered his nerves orever. He fell into sort of panic, trying hastily to undo all he had done He had new yves put op writers he ordered some awful ,ruelties in Poland. He tried to win back ,is sulky nobles. It was all in vain, and now le is thoroughly fustered and frightened right ut of his senses. His only chance of peace md happiness would be abdication and 7ear's yachting without newspapers. At present. he is worried into fe- Ter every morning by summary If all the unpleasant things which nave been printed about him for he last twenty-four hours throughout Eu- ope. It is prepared by special precis wri- CT appointed for the purpose, and His Ma esty takes care that it shall spare him no ,ang of this self-inficted torture. for he will lot trust professional diplomstist to do it est he should gloss over the truth and en- leavor to make things pleasant for promo ions sake. A Baron Herder, Q connection if Stieglitz, the banker, not long ago per- ormed this delicate service, and perhaps loes so still. The King of Yvetot was & happy monarch the Emperor of Russia is lot. Surely, times must be strangely altered.
 The relief fund for Ireland collected inWaser- ,ury by Rev FatherWalsh amounts to $6, 176.-