, 1881-05-08
THE LATE GEAR.


Alexander II. az Hunter.
Translated from Paris J'nrM for The Chicago Trib
| 1nt ~ Eh!htH Stanley.
| The Emperor Alexander II. was Il great hunter.
| will not rctrace here the portrlit Of the
I sovereign which has been drawn By master
hands and eloquent writers, but shall restrict
/ myself 10 giving Il simple sketch Of tho hunts
! Nun.
| That which afforded Alexander II. especial
/ delight In this sport was tho excitement OF fuc-
| ing peril brnvcy.-a peril without surprises,
probably. but which, nevertheless, nrUuses that
moment Of anxiety which Is the fascination of the
| chase. In fact the Gear only cared for exciting
| hunts; yet his arrangements were all SYSTEM
| atical1y arranged on tho French Imperial model,
with tho personnel of officers Of the chnse,
numerous attendants, and courageous hounds.
This service was placed under tue direction OF a
Grand Master and of second otlicer,-the
former being charged with tho chasse a courre,
and the latter with the chassc a tir.
The official hunttrg-stuf were stationed at
GatschinA, always prepared to obey the Imperial
summons to remove to tho onvirons OF St-Petcrs-
burg, to hunt the stag, the hare, the wolf, and
tho fox. With tho exception Of bcAr~hunts
which were g. favorlt amusement OF the Car,
the chase without bounds was regarded as very
insignificant by his Majesty. Tho bear, fru-.
glvorous In summer, becomes cArniy0rous in
winter. At the latter period he ceases his
wandcrings and seeks retreat for the bad
scason in the depths OF a forest. Choosing M
uprooted trunk Of a tree, ho hollows 1t
out tor his chamber, and the SNOW, fall
ing on this framework, forms the roof;
after which he carpets his winter dwelling
with moss, and therein instulls hts family. To
our regret, space does not here permit us to
speak more niuute1y of the beur,-un animal Of
remarkable intelligence, whose patriarchal
manners afford Il curious study. This regularity
OF life. this prOvilent care, is the cause Of its
destruction. Those charged to discover its re-
treat track the footprints Of the animal in no.
ticing the places where tho trunks Of trees are
stripped OF moss: the beast il never very far
away. Tho age and size OF the bear arc discov-
cred BY the hight from which the moss has been
stripped from the trunk, rs, to collect it, the
animal stands erects on its hind feet to reach as
high rs possible; and 1t is only necessary to
measure tho barred places to know its exact size"
and to judge of its strength. When the retreat
of II bear was discovered, Information was given
to the head officer OF the chase, who mado daily
reports to the Car.
When Alexander II. was younger and in the
vigor Of muuhood, he went ii 9reat distance
from the Capital ana hunted In the immense
virgin forests of the interior,-hls favorit SO
jUurns being sometimes ut the chateau of
Prince ltadztylll. in Lithuania, uIld ut others
with Count Puslowski uuu Count Tyskicwicz.
His Majesty also frequently visited Nijni-Nov-
kusski. Gen. TschcrtkoT, or OF the Counts Alexis
aud Vladimir Dubrinsky, who were stlccessivcly
Ministers Of RUads und Communications Ut the
hunted In the environs OF ST. Petersburg, within
cOmpass varying from ten to forty leagues. The
rendezvous was generally In an Imperial resi-
deuce, or In one Of those pavilions tost In the
depths ct An immense forest, that were main
tanned By the Royal hunt.
In winter Alexander Il hunted once or twice