Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-03-04

ready to be removed, though it wi,
be some time longer before the bern
cha is hard enough to be stripped
from the tree. Slowly the rubber
by exposure to the air. turns black
as yon generally see it.-E. P.Luu
in 81. Nicholas for March.
1.Sz..zLa1ExS.x
A PEN AND INK SKETCH OF ALEX.
ANDER OF RUSSIA.
His Virtues. Faults and FLANDERS. His Mood
asd Uncasy d the Head thai
Wears the Russian Crown.
London Truth The feeling which
comes uppermost in the mind of any
one who sees the Gar for the first
time Is one Of sincere pity. He is a
large, ox-eyed man, evidently OF good
intentions, but with look Of sadness
and perplexity in him. His voice is
as harsh as the grinding Of q coffee
mill out OF order, for an affection OF
the throat, under which he has long
suffered, renders speech painful to
him. He would have made very
amiable private gentleman, and could
have got far more ease and amuse-
ment out Of life if he had handed all
the botheration of government over
to his BROTHER Constantine, who has
Q taste for that sort of nonsense. He
himself could hardly have wanted to
reign. 1t was the Schouvaloffs, the
Lamberts, the Barlatinskys, the Abel
bergs, the Dolgouroukys, and some
others, who desired he should be a
firm ruler Of men. They we're 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 a difficult task,
for his ponderous Majesty (eood, easy
man) is slothful and heavy witted by
nature. He must have been fire.
quently unable to understand even
what was wanted Of him. He is sub
Ject to melancholy periods of hypo.
chondriasis, during which existence
seems but dreary blank to him. He
is haunted by fears of sudden death
aad by the dread Of assassination
AT these times. he moons about on
apparently solitary walks with large
dog, but there is always policeman
handy to keep the sacriligious from
approaching him. When well, he
deyotes much of bis time to tailoring,
changing his costume with much
stolid perseverance, and he likes to
be attended by humpbacked Privy
Councillor, who acts as foil to his
fine figure and sets it off, for he is a
well built man, tall and straight,
though rather too German in the no.
tundity Of certain Of his curves.
His father Nicholas, who was in
many respects notable sovereign,
had him very carefully brought up,
and foreseeing that he would want
support, perhaps devotion, in after
lite, to counterfeit his apathy, sur.
rounded him with some select Young
men who could be relied upon. This
little band of cronies have hung to-
gether ever since. They have lived
with and on the Emperor without
interruption from the time of bis &C.
cession until now. He provides for
their wants; they dip their fingers
into his purse whenever they are SO
When his Majesty is in the humor
ne plays a good deal at cards with
his own chums, and it is rather a
good thing for these gentlemen, for
whenever any one of them is in want
the Gear will lose to him the sum of
which be stands in need, as . deli.
cate way of giving it,and this method
Of bestowing a substantial favor is
perfectly well understood among
them.
The Gar is good shot, and has
done some grand things on bears. He
sometimes wears pellsse which
once covered fine bear be brought
low with his own hands, and it has
been so exqaisitely dressed that it is
valued at about $4,000, 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 fash
ion, and be would be puzzled by q
sharp burst across the country
Lately his physicians have recon-
mended him to walk.
His personal department is excel.
lent He stands and marches well.
He shows to advantage in uniform,
though for several years he has viii.
lingly clothed himself in multi. His
manners are those of gentleman,
and there is something extremely
sympathetic about him. He produces
the impression that one would like
to know him better, if only he were
not an Emperor. It is this unfortu-
nate circumstance which takes the
out of him, sets him upon
bis dignity, and gives a certain fun
niness to Lis aspect. His father re-
ally could be dignified, but he can't.
There is a chubbiness and nervous
ness in bis proceedings upon great
occasions which reminds one more Of
a drum-major or fugleman Of Land.
wehr than an autocrat.
Formerly the Emperor, as might
have been expected from one of his
lethargic temperament, was averse
to moving about; latterly he has
been troubled by perpetual restless
ness. He lives very plainly and his
table is sparsely served. A beefsteak
for breakfast, roast gelionette and
. salad for his dinner form the staple
Of his fare. His appetite is not re.
lust and be sleeps badly.
The frst fault of his reign was the
common blunder of heirs apparent
when they come into power. He had
been much courted by the dlscon
tented and be made far too much
haste to undo all the work of his
father. He was emotional, pitiful,
generous, all in q hcadlong, precipi
tate way. When he resolved suddenly
to abolish serfdom several of his
generals and mobiles threw them
selves bodily at his feet and besought
him to manage so great change
very gingeriy. 1t was of no use be
gave everything he had to give,
knocked down the great farmers