The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-02-18
HOME-LlFE OF THE CAR.
accidents Of His Concealment mt Cats.
china---Influence Of the Empress Over
the Emperor.

Notwithstanding the commencement
of the winter season and the reassembly
of the nobility in st. Petersburg, the
Car remains concealed i'm the seclusion
of Gatschina. This place is about forty
miles from st. Petersburg, with which It
is more or less directly connected by
three railways. 1t is thus quite a strate-
gical position, and possibly this circum-
stance has influenced its selection as an
Imperial retreat. The residence is sur
rounded by beautiful park, with pic
turesquely undulating grounds, the
graceful slopes being adorned with fine
old timber. The palace itself is an enor-
nous building, or block of buildings
One huge square stone edifice occupies
the center, and from it branch out on
either side circular wings which serve
as galleries to connect the main edifice,
and two smaller but substantial annexes
that face in the same direction as the
central portion, and form projections at
the ends of the general semi-circular
front. In the central block are the state
and larger reception rooms. The wing
on the left is occupied by the imperial
family. In that on the right are the
apartments for members of the house.
hold. Visitors arriving are conducted
to the central entrance, and, except I'M
der the most safe conduct and after
searching examination, no one is allowed
to approach that portion of the palace
inhabited by the Car. Thus the general
arrangement of the buildings, besides
Offering the advantages of accommoda-
ton TO be found in large mansion, af-
fords special security for the personal
safety of the Emperor, whose apartments
are completely isolated and unapproach-
able except by narrow passages that are
strictly guarded. The galleries at Cats
china have long been famed as contain
ing magnificent artistic collections. One
which leads to the Emperor's private
rooms is called the japanese gallery,
and here are assembled number of
curiosities of the highest value, which
have from time to time been presented
to the great White Car by the rulers of
China and Japan. The Japanese Min
lister, who was lately presented at Cats
china, and who is a great collector of
both European and Asiatic bric-a-brac,
stated that there was nothing in the East
to compare with this Russian collection,
and that it would be impossible to re-
place many of the ancient and extremely
valuable artistic objects that adorn the
imperial gallery. In addition to the
Asiatic curiosities, the lover of antiqui-
ties finds at Gatschina magnificent spec
linens of the most highly-worked Louis
XVI. furniture. These were presented
to Catherine the Great by the most un-
fortunate of French monarchs, and have
always been highly priced by the Russian
imperial family.
The ordinary sitting-room of the Gar,
in which he transacts business, is situa-
ted on the first floor of the block inhab-
tied by the imperial family. 1t is COM
fortably, but simply, furnished apart
ment. The style somewhat betokens
the character of its occupant. A num-
Der of heavy German-fashioned and ca
pacious arm-chairs give it an air of pom
derous solemnity. Little elegance or
ornament is noticeable, but large
writing-table and other unmistakable
signs denote that many of the Emper-
or's hours are here passed in close appli-
cation to the endless business. that de-
wolves on the autocratic head of sys-
tenn Of bureaucratic Capitalization. The
Gar is an early riser, and the labors of
his day commences at nine in the morn
ing. Till one o'clock he is occupied in
his study receiving his Ministers, who
present their weekly or daily reports,
and consulting with them over affairs of
State. The reception of Ministers is fol-
lowed by the presentation of officials
who have recently received important
appointments, or with whom the En-
peror, for some particular reason, de-
sires to converse. Occasionally newly
appointed Ambassador or diplomatic
agent is introduced to present his Gre
dentials, and rarely day passes without
one or more Russian Populations obtain
ing an audience. 1t is specially signifi-
cant of the policy of the present Car
that while high officials have often a diff
ticulty in obtaining an interview. his
Majesty is always accessible to provin-
cial deputations, which are sometimes
composed of wild Khirgiz. sometimes of
swarthy kalmuks or skin-clad Samoy-
edes, and sometimes of illiterate Russian
peasants who desire to present holy
picture to their great father and to ex-
press their loyalty and devotion to his
person. The Emperor receives one and
all with stern dignity which, though
accompanied in most cases by certain
kindness of manner, always leaves the,
conviction that Alexander Ill. feels him
self an autocrat, and is determined to
yield none of his prerogatives, but to i'm
press on all who approach him that they
are in the presence of an absolute though
kindly master. This species of self-as-
sertion was trait in the character of
the Emperorin his very earliest days. He
is devoted to music, and, when a boy, it
was suggested that he might derive
pleasure from taking part in the mu-
steal performances Of the palace orches-
ira. The then heir apparent was de-
lighted with the idea, and it remained to
be settled on what instrument BE should
learn to perform. Enthusiastically the
I'm, .,a,-,AnS collected A.