Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-02

His Private Life aud Oh aracter.
IL,Onfon News.


The late Emperor OF Russia was not only a
| wellmeaning monarch, who erred rather
| through hesitation as TO what he ought to dc
! than from any reluctance to do what was right;
| he was also the most finished gentlemi an VINO
| has sat on the Russ ian throne The Cars and
Czar1nas have, as a rule. been remarkable for
| other qualities than good manners. Even Alex
ander l.. though he charmed Napoleon |. by his
uIoanity al Dresden. was addicted 20 mOrose.
ness which made him shun company Nicho-
las was soldier Paul a mailman; Catharine
L., Elizabeth and Anne were Empresses who
could be generous and good-natured st times,
but whose tempers were never to be depended
upon. Alexander H., On the contrary, was
never capricious or sullen In private life. He
had KIND, even temper he was aa indulgent
1ather. gentle master, and he loved TO De sur
rouLCtd by friends. Solitude made him sad
ana ne Courted cheerful company as some do
DIacihs air Tor the sake OF their health. Even
%ne9 The Whilst agitatious had begun. and
one dastardly attempt after another was made
against his life. the late Car could never bear
10 shut himself up and avoid all society but that
OF his faHlily and intimate friends, as ne had
bten advised TO do. The very hustle OF the
streets was pleasing to him. Though no SOL
der, he loved military pageants; and playgOing
was almost passion withhlll. He submitted
with sort OF Impatience to the precautions
that were taken TO insure his SAFETY after the
attempt mace 10 blow up the Winter Palace last
Year; and the circumstances OF his death Grove
aside as too irksome He was often hear1 To
say With unaffected piety, though with a sad
ness which was but too natural, that his fate
was In GODS hands; and he could NOT he nre
vailed upon at this season of the wear 70 live
elsewhere than In the Winter Palace which
continued 10 DE his favorite residence. not
outstanding the sinister associations whicn
mad become connected with It.
This Winter Palace is q huge oblong building
nVe stories high, and painted In a staring red
nrfck color. On one side it borders quay
tne NeVa, on the other It fronts the enormous
square which Is adorned with monolith
granite column erected to the memory OF Alex
auder /: To the right OF the Palace stands the
Admiralty and little further on the same side
Inc BarTa ks OF the Chevaliers GardeS; to the
left are the Museum Of the Hermitage and the
Imperial printing Office. Facing the Admiralty
runs the NeWski Prospect, which Is the prin-
M eo ss IN 81 h SO ahaf
the animation OF the city. The Winter Palace
15 said TO have cost hundreds of lives In the
erecting, for when the old one. which stood on
the same site, had been burned, Nicholas
ordered that the new one should be built within
six months. This neceSsitated the employment
OF thousands OF worknen day and night through
the winter, and many OF these unfortunateS
were frozen. AS fast as The lower stories were
completed the walls were dried with roaring
fires while the works were carried on above;
and the uph0lstererS and decorators had CON-
pleted the Furnishing OF the principal rooms
before the attics were rooted. Within ten DAYS
after the workmen had left the building it was
Inhabited by the Car and his Court; and
Nicholas s first care on arriving was TO go the
round OF the whole place with the architect
and contractors to see that none OF the work
had been "scamped." Being satisfied with
what he saw, he paid the oIll-anout a million
sterl1ng-w1thout murmur.
III was In this palace, so strangely erected,
that the late emperor always spent the six
winter months; and before the Nihilist troubles
began the life be led there was a pleasant one
Alexander H.. as above said. never affected the
Spartan simplicity OF his father Nicholas. who
used 70 sleep on camp bed eat OF the most
fragal fare and spend most OF tie time he could
spare from state business IN inspecting his SOL
dleFs. He (Alexan1eJl was addicted TO conYlvI-
aliiy and home pleasures. He had a few vary
Initiate frienGs-thc Bariatinekies. Adlerb rrS
Schouvaloffs. Bl0ndoffs, and Others -With whom
he spent good deal OF his time, and from
whom he Beard all that Went on Ia the world.
Every evening Ole Or other OF these families
attended tie private court dinner, and AFTER
wards charades or coIdediettaS used 10 be per
formed either by the ladies' and gentlemen OF
the court or oy comedians from the French
theatre. During the daytime when 1t was Tine
the emperor would take walking exercise in the
public garden Of the palace the gravel walks
OF which were boarded over, and his only atten-
dant was usually big dog; or he would ger
into his sleigh and drive about the city without
escort. Sometimes he alignted and walked all
down the NeWski Pros ect, looking into the
SHOPS; or he would stroll into some friendly
house and pay visit He was known TO eyery-
body, but IL was not the ctiqu;tte to salute
him, still less TO acCOst him; unless he courted
recognition b. one OF those good natured mods
soLal acquaintance.
All THIS easy style OF living, however, came
10 az end last year, ana the precautions taken
10 guard the CZar made his life for time all
sOlutely 0aTden5ome. Re was scarcely allowed
TO 90 out, and Wben he did SO was closely fol-
lowed by detectives with loaded revolvers and
by an armed CosSacs hetman. who walked be-
SIDE him or sat opposite him IN his carriage
The Vehicle IN which the Emperor rode
WHITTIER lt were coach or railway carriage
was eased in iron. ard ii had nothing about
ID attract attention. Thus, In the streets
when several court carriages passed together
the one which looked ike the Cars was neye
mat which contained His Majesty: and. on the
railroads, the most brilliant saloon car re
NAMED empty. While the Emperor travel!ed In
what appeared TO be second cIass complrt-
ment or baggage van. AT one time the ca
VAS va, pTeyal.ed upon to wear chain breast
pate uEGer his tunic, but though one OF the
iignttst klnd was made for hin, he could not
bear It's weight. so the 6XpCdenu vas adOntei
or causing his TUNES TO be padded with cotton
wool STEPPED In preparation which hardened
1t, ana rendered it,, Il not bullet proof at least
knife proof, and difficult for even bullet TO
fierce at a long shot. At attempt. was
Car 10y sending him a petition GOV.
cred with some DOy0ua powder since which he
has ceased 10 receive letters. papers or peti-
tioIs- For a similar reason he gave up sIlok-
Ing, though he used TO like cigar and he
drank no wine out from bottles uncorked In his
presence. II The Imperial kitchen the Cars
iG i5 az, was prepared by French cook. VINO piled
al his ay0cationS under the eyes Of two police
guaTds-n0t that the cook himself could incur
any suspicion, but because some coDsDirator
m'ght have got at the ingredients he was pre-
pairing. The food was always cooked In the
simplest way, without sauces and it was tasted
o. Two Officials before it vas served O. the
cars table. EEeryt thing that Alexander l.
ale or drank VAS tasted III his presence, aad all
Tue attendance in the GipiBg- room was per-
Formed by servants OF tried iidtlity. As regards
sleeping aTr3ng3 1t."nfs. the Gar usnd to iutt-
mate La-I an hour neIOTc geing TO rest IN wha.
I'OIn he would steep, ana Sometimes he vent
o. 70 SPtH1 tLH hl at It tie house OF one OF Bis
Iiniiy. wherever he slept he was guarded 10y
a lusstin AID by hia C0ssacb nctman. Yussaf
10 Say rOthing OF she ordinary .nHu3r, cunri
In bis palace, under The command o. two ON.
GERS. who we're stationed SO as u guard every
approach 10 the Imperial chamber. X ruuors
u uHc, more attempts were ia j5 10 asS4s.!-
Late tho Gar than 1Le word ever beard ~
ald The guarl5 II the palace en- IJyed 10 sine
cure.
During the last two years aIexanlerIT. found
hlIr sell Placed IN Such position by tie crimes
OF tie niAiiiatS that he could take no action ar
al, nom the fear lest he should seem 10 be
llcGlIg 10 intimidation. Those who saw his
OiCc idi dscu-e lace p-tmatUICiy aged and
plhcae1 with care, his large eyes grown hug
ghfo, HIS glance unsteady, in!actHcd that MS
nerves were unstrung and that liz HAD become
prey 10 the terror CT death. But this was
ntytF Iue TOT u Moment. TIE car did Eot fear
ot+t,hi nut he was saddenei by the uucert a,nty
OF his life, and oy the prospect wlf.n would con
'front.' LIS cElIdTel when lie was gore IL had
IIeus UP us mind that he should die murdered
at Ie;tst ne was fuilyIrepaTci for such death
TaLu NJ somewhat pTtcipttatad marriage with
IfH CtSS 10 -JiCCEi - scUu at.or The F-nnrpss'
utai = va caused by his desire 10 make tna