Litchfield enquirer., 1881-08-04
The Czar of Russia.
HIS LOT IS Nor A HAPPY ONE-BRooDING IN ss SULLEN RETIREMENT.


 ss SULLEN RETIREMENT. The Emperor still broods in sullen retire.
 ment in the castle of Gatchina writes a cor. l respondent of the London Times. His mai- esty has paid only two or three fugitive wis | its to the capital during the last month On 1 the last occasion he was to attend the funeral cortege of the late Prince Oldenburg to the | railway station. His Majesty's place was duly marked out in the official programme, but | no two people who saw the procession agree | as to whether he was behind the bier or not, and the newspapers all contradicted each oth- | CT as to the Czar's pre- esence. The most prob able version seems to be that he awaited the | remains at the railway station. There was no relaxation in the vigilance exercised at Cat. china.
 i General Count Vorontzoff Dachkoff is re- ported to have been unable to get on with his | imperial master, and to have been obliged to leave him for a time, while, on the other hand, it is stated that the Count has injured his leg and is obliged to keep himself quiet. It has not yet transpired which story is the true one. The contradiction of the first re- ports as to the way in which the village of Gatchina was protected, contradiction drawn up by Count Vorontzoff-D Dachkof himself does not apply to the vicinity of the palace, which is strictly guarded and watched A short time ago two of the grand dukes, cousins of the Emperor, were stopped in the grounds by Cossack, who threatened to spear them if they advanced. A friend, who had occasion to visit the castle to see an official, tells me that as soon as he left the railway station and took the direction toward the palace, he felt conscious that the eyes of the palace were fol- lowing him, but it was only when he was about to cross the bridge over the castle moat that he was actually stopped fs. .,4 :,
 Here the police officials were all officers They ascertained his business and escorted him to the service gate of the palace, the only one which is allowed to be approached. He at once found himself in the police office, sur rounded by officers. Ills passport was taken, and his description, the time of day and busi- ness, were all duly noted in book, which the chief of police is supposed to examine every day. An officer was then sent toinform the official inquired for, while nay friendwas kept by the police. On the officer returning with a message that the official could be seen, my friend was escorted by police officer down the long corridors to the rooms of the person he wished to see. All the way Cossack sen- tinels, with drawn swords, were tramping up and down. It can readily be imagined that no official of the palace, however high he may be placed, IS particularly overjoyed at present by the visits of his friends. '
 MY acQudlnGauC6 was tneref0f6 eXnOrt60 for the love of heaven to confine his conversa- tion to the merest commonplaces, and not to stay teo long. When he got to the train on his return journey he felt heartily glad and fortunate. though he could not shake off the sensation that the police were still at his. back. Looking out of the windows of the corridor into the court yards, of which there are four within the castle walls, he saw innumerable stacks of piled niHskets, dehoting the presence of large force of infantry, and op the open plate in front of tue palace were picketed the horses of about asquadron of cavalry Per. sons whose business calls them daily to the palace, and who are well known are rigor- ously searched. For example, a priest en- ployed in the service of the imperial chapel, was lately subjected to such close inspec- tion that even his cigarettes were not over looked
 : A Cossack officer is stationed at each of the doors of the sleeping apartments of the En- peror, the Empress and the heir apparent dur ing the night. Tie last named complains con- tinually of the restraint put upon his move, ments, since his fathers accession to the throne He IS not allowed to go out riding in the park, which particularly annoys him. None of the officers or court officials are allowed to be away from the palace more than two or three hours at time, and all are obliged to be in before nine in the evening. The court will soon remove to Peterheff, which has small port at the anolith of the iNeva.l Here four lightships will be anchored. and no other yes sels will be allowed to go near Tlae two yachts, Slavianka and Czarevna, will always be in readiness 10 convey the Emperor to and