Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-21
THE UNHAPPY GEAR.
A Pen.and.Hnk sketch Of Alexander
of Russia.
London Truth, Feb. 9Th ]

A Pen.and.ank sketch Of Alexander
of Russia.
London Truth, Feb 9Th
The feeling which comes uppermost in the
mind Of any one who sees the Car for the first
time is one OF sincere pity. He is a large, OK
eyed man, evidently Of good intentions, but with
a look of sadness and perplexfty in him. His
voice is harsh as the grinding OF a coffee-mill
which he has long suffered, renders speech
PAINFUL TO him. He would have made very
amable private gentleman, and could have got
had handed all the botheration of government
over to his brother Constantine, who has a
It "'O was H the sehouvaiofrs the Lam.
horts, the Ba:iat.nsfys, the Aderbergs, the
DolgGuroukyS, and some others who desired he
should be firm ruler Of men; They were for
beef is driven to market for those who wish to
roast it. They must often have had difficult
task, Tor LiS nonderous Majesty (good; easy
He must have been frequently unable to under
stand even what was wanted OF him. He Is
subject to melancholy periods OF hypbchondria-
sis, during which existence seems but dreary
blank to him. He Is haunted by tears or sud-
den death and by the dread OF assassination.
At these times he moons about on apparently
solitary walks with a large dog, but there Is
always policeman handy to keep the sacri-
leyious from approaching him. When well he
devotes much Of his time to tailoring, changing
ard he likes 10 be attended by hump-backed
Prtvy Councillor, who acts as foil to his tine
figure and sets 1t on, for he is a well-built
man in the rotundity OF certain of his curves
Ills father Nicholas, who was In many re-
spects notable sovereign, had him very care
want support, perhaps devotion, in after life, to
counterfeit 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 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 chair, hop-a-no5-
bling with them.
chera1ier and a very high-pacing person gen.
orally once broke in upon the party thus en-
plOyed The Emperor looked at him with
those unutterably mournful eyes OF his and
held out champagne-glass to be retilled from
a bottle which stood by. The old soldier drew
himself up and answered sternly, LET those
who love you less than do perform that ser
vice" The Car showed no sign Of displeasure,
but within few months Strogonof was de-
prived of his Offices, though he was nearly con-
nected with the imperial family, his son having
married the Grand Duchess Marie.
When His Majesty is in the humor he plays
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 70 him the sum Of which he stands In
need as adelicate way of giving it, and this
method Of bestowing substantial favor is per-
fectly well understood among them.
The Car is good shot, and has done some
grand things on bears. He sometimes wears a
pelisse which once covered a fine bear he
brought low with his own hands, and it has
about 60, coo, which is even more than is ever
paid either for the sable or the black fox. He
can ride to- though not In the English fashion
the country: Lately his physicians have rec
commended him to walk.
His personal department is excellent. He
stands and marches well. He shows to adyan-
tage in uniform, though for several years he
has willingly clothed himself in multi. His
manners are those of a 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. 1t is this unfortunate circumstance
which takes the amfability out of him, sets him
upon his dignity. and gives certain funniness
to his aspect. His father really could be digni-
fed, but he can't. There is a chubbine5s and
nervousness in his proceedings upon great oc-
casions which reminds one more Of drum
major or fugleman OF Landwehr than an auto
crat.
expected from one OF Ills lethargic tempera-
ment, was averSe from moving about; latterly
he has been troubled by perpetual restlessness.
He lives very plainly and his table is sparsely
served. A beefsteak for breakfast roast CELL
notte and salad for his dinner form the staple
of bis fare His appetite is not robust and he
sleeps badly.
Tie first fault OF his reign was the common
blunder OF heirs apparent when they come into
power. He had been much courted by the dis
contented and he made far too much haste to
undo all the work OF his father. He was emo
ttonal. pitifu], generous, all in headlong, pre-
cipit ate way. When he resolved suddenly to
abolish serfdom several OF his generals and no
bleS threw themselves bodily at his feet and
besought him to manage so great change
very gingeTly. 1t was OF no use he gave every
thing he had to give, knocked down the great
pins, upset monopolies for the discreet sale of
vodki. closed the free port OF the Black Sea ac-
cording to the latest principles of political
press and laughed at comic newspapers. There
was cartcature published in st. Petersburg
shortly after his accession which represented
droschky drivers usually are after dinner. His
hat was pulled over his eyes and his horses
were galioping wildly on the road to Reform"
Behind him was the Grand Duke Constantine,
saying: "Gently, brother. 1 am the fare"
Still the Emperor laughed he laughed too
when piece was played In the Court Theatre
exposing the corruption Of his officials, and a
him and shattered his nerves forever. He fell
into sort OF panic, trying hastily to undo all
he had done. He had new gives put on writers;
tried to Win back his sulky MOBILES 1t was all
in vain, and row he is thoroughly clustered
and frightened right out of his senses. His
only chance OF peace and happiness would be
papers. At present he is worried into a fever
every morning by summary of all the IN
pleasant things which have been printed about
him for the last twenty -four hours throughout
Europe 1t is prepared by a special D,ects
writer appointed for the purpose, and His
Majesty takes care that it shall spare him no
paDg Of this Self-infiicted torture. for he will
not trust professional dipomatist to do it lest
he should gloss over the truth and endeavor to
make things pleasant for promotions sake A
b Baen her o on OF dsheg the
service, and perhaps does so still. The King of
Yvetot was happy monarch; the Emperor OF
Russia is not. Surely, times must be strangely
altered.