Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-30

Sketch Of the Life Of the Cxar.


Frcn the New York Herald
Alexander Alexandrovitch, car Of all the
Russias, was born February rs March 10, new
style), 1845. He was the second son Of the late
car. and, as is usual with grand dukes with no
probable prospect Of the throne, very little care
was bestowed on his education He was per-
mitted to follow his own inclinations and tastes.
He disliked gorgeous uniforms, and usually
wore civilian dress. His favorite pastimes were
hunting and muscular exercise. He was true
sportsman When his coat was off and shirt
sleeves rolled up, his tall, large figure acquired
looked animated. If not handsome. Then
there was q certain manliness and even
bravery about him. He was happy when
he surpassed his brothers, who were also
denly he was called from his sports to
occupy the responsible post Of care
witch, his senior brother, Nicholas, having
died. This happened in 1865. It was a
great shock to his future subjects, as the young
man had the credit of being an obstinate, ca
always been peyfellOws and greatly attached to
each other. and when but ten and eleven wears
old were brought to the dcathbed of the Empe-
ror Nicholas, in 1855, to receive their grand
fathers blessing and a few words Of advice.
AS might be expected at their age and on such
an occasion, they both shed many tears. That
the present car married the Princess Dagmar
(whO on her re-baptism into the Eastern church
received the names of Mary Feodorovna) at the
special request of the dying youth to whom she
request seemed hardly natural the elder brother
probably remembered that she was not without
ambition, and had thought much of the position
which she would some day occupy, and which,
in his unselfish love- he strove to secure for her
in the only possible way.
PERSONAL TRAITS.
His face has none of that pathetic melan-
choly peculiar to his fathers. His expression is
active, keen and somewhat severe His man.
ners are quick, decided and occasionally brusque
He Is not quite so tall as other members of his
family, being little under six feet in height,
but his frame is large, thick-set and muscular
He is the first emperor since Peter who has mar
ried elsewhere than in Germany. His wife
comes from Denmark. and she is as much liked
I'm Russia as her sister, the Princess of Wales. ia
in England. The two sisters resemble each
other. not only in looks. but in sweetness of
character, His domestic life has hitherto been
pure and wonderfully happy, and uuless some
thing happens to mar this we may look for
considerable change in the ideas of the court on
the subject Of morals. The czarevna has fOnr
beautiful chldren-the eldest. Nicholas, fine
boy of twelve; the second, George, about nine,
who bears striking resemblance to the
early pictures of Alexander H., and two much
younger ones, Xen;a and Michael. She has &C
companied her husband to all parts of European
Russia, and has gained the affection of the peo-
pie, particularly of the Poles. In the winter, at
the Anitchkov palace, she has an annual Christ
mas tree, but it is not invariably the children Of
the mobiles who are invited. but number from
the most squald homes In St. Petersburg.
recommended by some of the members Of the
society for the relief of distress, and these are
always sent away with good stock of warm
clothing, as well as the customary presents.
That the car has been no carpet soldier is evil
dent from the marks of frOstbites on the third
and fourth fingers of his left hand and slight
scar on his temple. where a bullet graZed his
head in one of the battles in the Turkish war.
He is very popular in Copenhagen, where
ne and the Princess Dagmar. us she is still
fondly called by the Danes, Walk about the town
together In themOst unceremOniOus manner and
are always ready to take their part in any pop
ular entertainment during the long visits which
they periodically pay at here fathers court. 1t
also speaks well for him that he is supposed to
require no extra there. but to be per-
fectly happy, leading simple life with his wife
and children, roaming about in the park and
spending quiet evenings in the castle. In the
summer of 1876 the whole Danish royal family.
including the king and queen Of Greece, were
entertained for six weeks at his palaces i'm st.
Petersburg and CZarcO-Selo. The cZar's study
in the An!tchkOv palace is small room fitted
up with maps and globes and we'll filled book
cases, in which historical works in all languages
predOminate. That he is a reader is shown by
the pile OF newspapers which he collects at the
different stations when on railroad journey to
peruse Oh the road.