The sun., 1880-08-01
THB csAR AbExAEDrR.
Recoilections Of nm Ex-AttRehe Of M Enibns,y
60 the Russian Court.

Foreigners are easily misled by tho polish
ed manners OF the Russian Court. Its represen-
tatives have such charming Jonhomnie that II
is readily mistaken for real good nature. At
times l found mysolf regarding tho Carbon
as sort OF paternal government. q blessing to
the country. and its opponents as wanton agita-
tors. There ore no marks Of tho tyrant In
Alexandors personal appearance. His man.
ners are refined and chvalrlc. Ho is a prince
to tho tips OF his fingers. His countenance ex-
presses majesty and genteness. at times lighted
| by gracious smile. Gautier says that his fea-
| lures "eeem modelled for the gold or bronze Of
the medal" His eyes are blue. His face is
tanned by exposure to the open air. and his
mouth Is a model for Greek sculpture. His
short hair shows his smooth. full. wel-rounded
forehead. He is modest. An occasionally as
sumed haughtiness seoms to bo mask used
merely TO conceal his timidity. On State ocoa-
sions he wears an elegant military uniform
showing his tall figure and FREQ and graceful
bearing to full advantage. The uniform Ia
long white military jacket with gold bran
| deboTos. trimmed around the edge with Sibe-
| rian fox. and starred across the breast with
decorations. The trousers are light blue and
| closely ltted A pair OF narrow boots COM
pletes his attire.
| Alexander I. and his brother Con stantine had
no descendants. All the hopes OF the dynasty
| were centred upon Nicholas The birth OF his
son Alexander Noholaiewitch tthe present EN-
peror) was hailed with enthusiasm.
In his infancy Alexander was petted In pro-
portion to the hopes and ambitions dependent
upon his life. Nicholas an iron soldier. who
never followed the advice OF physician where
| his physical welfare was concerned. We'd with
| his wife In care for the child. Fearing that the
boy might take cold. he kept him 30 thoroughly
wrapped In furs and woollen blankets that 1t is
awonder that he was not suffocated. Had he
| not been endowed with q remarkably str ong
constitution he would certainly have died. He
| was not good baby He passed most Of the
time on the floor OF the nursery. crying. kicking
| the air and scratching those around him. His
temper. however. gradually abated ns he began
to walk and to use his tongue BY this time his fa-
ther's fears yielded to considerations OF higher
order. Tho life OF the child was mainly precious
| because he was the future Emperor OF Russia.
| He must be trained even at the risk OF impair
ing his health. In the estimation OF Nicholas.
| discipline and military life were everythi ng,
| and Alexander was subjected to severe disoi-
pline and hard military training. His father.
the German General Moerder. Gems. Frederics
and Kaveln were his early teachers. His
education was intrusted to the Russian poet
| Joukofski. Alexander showed no particular
talent. but he fairly learned all that he was
tho princes OF his family. His main failing was
his indecision. Perhaps Joukoffski's senti-
| mentalism and romanticism weakened his
| pupils mind and Invested 1t Of that clearness
OF perception. energy. and judgment which
ought to be the fundamental qualities OF a SOW
ereign. The hesitation and changeabeness
| characteristic OF Alexanders Government can
be traced 10 the influence Of this poet. Poets
make bad tutors. especially for princes. Such
| lie
should be taught to think and act.
Aloxander's FIRST dignity was the High Chan
cellorship Of the Helsngfors University. He
was five years old when The was thus hon.
ored. The little fellow took 1t very seriously.
Up to this day he has the most friendly feeling
for the Inhabitants OF Helsina;ors and OF Fin
land At tho age OF II he entered the army.
When 16 years old he was appointed Colonel in
the Grenadiers OF the Guard. The years passed
in the Imperial Guard were years OF active
service. To-day the Car looks back upon them
rs the happiest moments Of his life. Low
theatres, night restaurants. boudoirs Of dis
reputable W women-those were the places which.
quented. More than once his father punished
him Tor the scandal aroused by his reyels, But
cations OF morality. and the latter made no
strong 81 impression uponithe mind of.the hered
In 1910, accompanied by the Princes OF
tieven and Orlof. Alexander started through
Europe In search OF n wife. The Princes OF
the Imperial House OF Russia are left measura-
bly, free in the selection OF bride. Their
choice however. is limited to certain number
Of German Princesses who may be willing TO
ablure their religion and embrace the Greek
orthodox faith. Alexander received from his
dozen Prncesses from whiohto select his bride
while on his way to Carlsruhe. to inspect two
of ,hs Grand Ruk q
paRS pae RSks S asSS mn n a the
aria
Of the Grand Duke. He received an introduc-
Sn and Is charmed By her beauty and
f. SSher's r. list but on the next day he declared
wife, Alter a. prolonged and d lively @ I0SaH cor.
Eespondonco Nicholas, gave his. consent and
TheS 1so Grm on Apr asfsS her hand
The marriage created a revolution In court
circles N BY their tormality the E%peror and
sSxandTowna and the lyeliness, Of Alexandsr
Grand Duke began to take an active inter,lt in
public affairs. He opposed many OF his fathers
seems to have been Influenced by her noble as
pirations. He became the centre OF attraction
pion OF the emancipation of the serfs. His ac-
hearts OF the Russian, people. His accession TO
evils that affected Russian Government and so.
ciety His life. IL not altogether exemplary. was
his uncle. the Grand Duke Michael, he was in
trusted with Michael's military commands. He
displayed uncommon activity and sound judg-
ment IN reorganizing the military schools. OF
which he was Superintendent General. In
1851. while In command Of the Caucasian army,
he gained the highest military distinction. for
defending himself, sword in hand against a
band OF Circassians. who had treacherously at
dlate orders. He opposed Nicholas in his de-
signs OF war against France. England, and Tur-
key but when tho war broke out he threw him
solf body and soul into It,.
At the death OF his father on March g. 1865,
Alexander succeeded to the throne, and was
crowned Emperor Of Moscow on the 7th OF
September. 1856.
What he meant by making the welfare OF
the empire his only object" his recent treat
The beginning OF his imperial career could
hardly have been marked by greater patriot
ism. After the disasters OF the CrimeAn war
he made an honorable peace. Russia lost
nothing except the right to keep fleet in the
Black Sea. He devoted all his energies to in
ternal reforms. The whole system OF govern
ment underwent rad ioal changes, He did not
fancy tho services OF the Third Section or Sc
cret police. On one occasion he threw into the
basket rODOrt submitted him by the Third