, 1881-05-08

week, and none but the head officer Ct the chase
knew OF the intended rendezvous, Or the nonr Q!
departure. III the midst Of 2 ball or 1ete, q.
the end Of theatrical solrce' u aae rfan5 his
invitations. Hts principal companions IN q the g
chase, besides the officers OF his house. were MS
s; streli1z, tn the Dukes Of o.donbrg and Altcnburg
and the Military Ambassadors or the Gfeal
Powers,-Gens. Fleury, chanzy, the trince .as 70
I'll those invited were comfortably installed in u
large pnrlor-cag, having double windows ana y
stove. The Journey to the designated stanon
was made in a Jovial manner, as The Emperor
always abandoned his official decort1m Ga suca
occasIons, and, being charming companion ana
gay eonversatonstt the hiiarity became m @ genesnt:
die Of the night, and slelghs were nWa'ting tne 10
Emperor, hts suite, and those invned;-siesns a: !:
arranecd to hold but single person. Each one
seated IN his vehicle ul started in trnin, FORM
ing gigantic furrow. which left ITS dark traces
on the immaculate SNOW. under the heavens ali
can be Imagined thun this race over p!ntns ano
through forests, in which sometimes there would
be an upset-without much dalnase. however.
on arriving At their destina tiot., good cheer 1ee
always awaited the guests. whether III IN I'M
perlal palace, in pavilion OF ne cnase,
+ 90 seutns te ae % ,So
ssssi' good wines s Of Frsnee.-nordeaux and Cham.
@ be- generously fe offered to his neighbors on his
t3rEt and left After plentiful repast, the
Emperor played two or three games OF whlsc
and retired to his chnmber,-hls guests gener-
ally following his example.
At O'Clock next morning. after the report OF
tho head officer OF the chnse. the e. company p;n,,
started eli route for the designated place. Inc
departure was bOisterous and merry.
0u coming from his den, the bear alTays To-. fol
lows the path BY which he entered = and It = nGre
Car stundlng un beur-skin which has been
spread to keep him from contact with the snow.
The chief officer is plnced as bis right,
nrt} hahu1 XuACI3 FURNISHED
with long pike and carbine. rue
company are placed in line, and each one prt,, ~,
pens.nts, armed with sticks, surround the in
closure. On signal being given by the director
OF the chase, the den OF the bear is surrounded
by the guards. who discharge blank ctrtridges
and set up hdeous cries. which soon bring tho
animal out OF Its shelter, when, provoked 70
fury by the cla1nors- he commences bis assault
which Is ITS dangerous Us. IL not more so than,
that Ut the lion. The Car was 0uod marks-
man, and tho savage animal. being IA direct
range Of his Majestys gun. was senesaliy ktilsa
was supported ny the head glitter, which, how
ever. did not always exempt the Emperor from
danger, and Alexander has at times been obliged
to defend himself in u hand-to-hnuu fight,
as it we're, With the wounded animal.
Independent OF the renl dnngcr Of these con.
occnsions @f the chase. IN ISL Count feFsen,
then chief ot1iccr Of the Crown, while support
ing the tirc Of tho Car, accidentally killed II the
second officer OF the chase SkAriatine- This
event created great excitement at the Court.
und tho Emperor, to his grent regret, was obliged
to disgrace the high dtgnitary. Since that period
the Count FerSen has been wandering through
Europe. mourning his country, and maintaining
Il devotion TO the sovereign WHO imposed on hitn
Il dsgrHcG so cruel and s0 little merted. We met
him recently OH tho Houlesartls. sad, aged. walk
Ing a. If weighed down under the burden Of bis
sorrows and tho thoughts of his exile.
l{After the death OF the bear BREAKFAST Is
served. OF which borrow Il description fron my
friend Pertuiset, who was present In l6 ut :u
* curious spectacle presented itself to our
view. On the snow an Immense table was ar
ranged covered with the most delicious viand5
and tho most exluisit Wines 4 dazzling serv-
ice Of silver and sparkling crystal was arranged
by servants in graud livery. 1t seemed rs though
u tairy's wand bad transported tho table from
the impcria! palnce 10 tho forest. This winter
landscape would have charmed II painter. Great
trees extended their leafless branches, covered
with hoar frost, towards the heavens; u carpet
Of SHOW Of Incompatible whitencs5, on which
gleunlcd the solubre ctlors Of tho costumes,
formed ii picture which 1 shall never forget.
The managers Of the fcte had. however, neglected
to provide seats; we were oDlgedto stand while
justice to tho repast. The principal officer
tno4Ehlshe mument tay9rnhe TO present % S 1e
in h1nd. Monsieur snu tho sovereign, III the
lnost courteous and friendly manner. Il you'd
explosive bulls bulls. Would you do me the pleasure
to discharge some of them t,fore me:.''
:. It may ensly be in.s ginetl that hastencd to
around us. and soon lodged one of my balls in
the trunk Of designated tree. All were
amazed al the effects produced by the explosion.
The Emperor then pointed to lAT2e tir-tree.
situated ahont l5u metres distant. and requested
NC 10 experiment. on that: | aimed ut
the sum1it which the bal re reucse tac
split and flew into eplintcrs.. His Majesty. was
enchanted with tho result, and congratulated
persons Of his suite surrounded me TO question
and compliment me. l answered everything to
the best of my ability, but not without glanctng
which were rnpidly diminishing from the table
Tantaius could nor have suffered more. The
Marechni of the panGe Of the @ .o
| forget to cat! 0 irony! thought Of nothing
but that. Monsieur le Marechal; and, thanks TO
your intervention, proceeded to satisfy. my
hunger. had scs.rcely reached out 10 seize
know, not what. when the Emperor gave the sig
null OF departure. This was a second edition OF
the dinner Of Sancho PanZa.
- accepted the situation courageOusly. The
chase was about commencing, and was nor ths
MIN to remain in the rear tighteued tny belt
and started OFT with the corttGc. We halted, |
after having reuchcd distance Of scarcely two
'sr bear Tho same @ arrnnsetnents m @ we're repeated
Ms previously, and the animal soon came from |
his retreat. Tais WIS an old fellow Of Il 2iganti;
tully to comprehend the fute that awaited Him,
turning to the right and the left. and conclud-
ing to make his way in our direction Atone
In order not to dsobey orders, seized my cstr-
bil1e by rho barrei, with the determination to
strike him, or ut least prevent bin forcing pas
sage. Ny gesture frightened him without
uonbt, for he changed his course aud
passed within range of the Emperor, who killed
niin with one of my explosive balls. The AMI
NAL was carried to tue feet Of his A1mjeSty. who.
utter having examined it IL moment, and per-
ccivcd how curioi1sly it had been killed, turned |
10 tho invited guests, and, opening little box,
presented to each one of n5 Il chocolate bun-
bon,-we bowling our recognition Of the fnvor.
This ceremony always terminates tie Imperial
chase.
1t was after this hunt that Alexander H..
i.tr I'd the cul1Sed hI TIE 4.xDInsi1E