The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-19
Grants Talk About Russia

New York, March lS.-General Grant, dur
Ing his European tour, says Gazette special,
visited ST. Petersburg twice, and was received
with marked courtesy by the czar aud czSre-
witch. or those dignitarcs he said: The czar
was then about sixty years old, and though
said to be In delicate health, he did not look
to be. In fact, his yenrs had not told on him,
and be presented the appearance of
very much younger man than he
really was. lie was full ak feet In
height, was perfectly erect, and In his military
uGilorm he presented commanding figure.
tie showed remarkable familiarity with the
history and affairs of our own country and
much OF our conversation was devoted to
that discussion. No reference whatever was
made to nthilism, or 10 the trouble concerning
which so much was being published, With
European, and especially the English news
papers, ] noticed TO such unusual pre-
cautions for his personal protection as one
might naturally expect 10 find, after hearth &
In other parts of Europe the ruGors GoDcern-
Ing the troubles In Russia. IL was evident,
however, that the czar was somewhat nervous,
as one would naturally be after 50 many at
iempts have been made upon his life, My
visit to him was an agreeable one. IL was the
only time l ever saw II m. The next day
visited the czarevltch at his summer palace,
which salso some distance out OF ST. Peters
burg, though IN more foutherly direction.
Mrs. Grant accompanied me. She was ushered
Into room, wher9 she was received
by the wife OF the czarevitch. met
the czarevitch in an adjoining room
lie spoke English perfectly, and we spent
some time in conversation He interrupted
| 1t with the remark that his wife was In tue
next room, and would he pleased to .see us.
| They en- ertaned MIS-. Grant and myself in
| the most agreeable manner. 1t was more like
| meeting with Anne ricans, and our visit was
| all the more agreeable on that account. Ih0
cZareyItch is very domestic In his hnbits, and
| evidently deeply devoted to his family. He
appeared TO be about forty years old though
| 1t may be he Is considerably younger. | found
| that he wss very much esteemed by the Rus
| sian people. visited Moscow and Warsaw.
and made many excursions into the country.
| | have visited every corner Of At. Petcrsburg
alone and on foot, and probably saw greai
many thin2s OF which even many residents art
perhaps ignorant, for went about for the ex-
| press purpose of observing the people ant
study ing the objects II interest. The greater
part of my visit to 81 Petersburg, after tn,
| iormalities of the reception were over, wa,
| spent in these trips. Not only In st Peters.
| burg and other Russian cities did J adopt thi,
| course Of informing myself but also In every
other European and Aslatio city or town which
| our party visited. could see nothing iudicatiy,
of nihilism or popular discomfort, Here, yoC
know, II the people wan anytoinE Of The
mombers cf any particuar trade, or are de-
| mandipg something from their employers, as
IN q strike, we generally see some indication
| In the shape ofG street parade or collections o
| men on the corners, something pointing TO thI
| existence ofa disturbed feeling, l saw moth
| Ing Of the sort in Russia, aud could learn %
nothing. Returning TO the violent dsatl
of the car, General Grant said he cou'C
n 1t see what the people of Russia woult
ssG sSsGn Sys by fac. TrS'N'Ps ,hs His oanst he aa
| Ia more moral man may have an influenc,
for the better upon the politics of tne country
The czar has been greatly harrassed by hi
| subjects. and had inueed led mi 'erablc life
yet he seemed to have had au interest In hi
people. as evidenced by his freeing the serfs
| lie has for u number OF yeara, ns Is general,
known, been willing 10 sbdicate In iavor q
| his son -
al seems to me, "sad Geaeral Grant, "If
had been In hls place / would have taken
| such q step come time Rgo, and retired alto
gether from the manegementof affsirs."