The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-30

which it communicates directly by a small
private staircase. The Czarina's boudoir is
elegantly furnished, but in a simple stvle.
ana with no appearance of luxury, except
such as is given by the presence Of certain
handsome pieces of furniture and objects of
art which remain to testify to the more ex.
travagant tastes of former occupants The
Empress is an admirable manager both of
her time and of everything that pertains to
the household duties. Her great intelligence
and sweetness of manner have given her an
extraordinary influence over her husband
and all other persons who are brought into
contact with her
The Car is an early riser, and the labors
OF his day commence at in the morning
Till o'clock he is occupied in his study re-
celving the ministers, who present their
weekly daily reports and consulting with
them over affairs of state. 1t is especially
significant of the policy of the present Car
that while high officials have often q diff
Guilty in obtaining an interview, his Majesty
Is always accessible to provincial deputations,
which are sometimes composed of wild
khirgiz sometimes of swarthy Kalmuks or
skin-clad Samoyedes, and sometimes of illt-
crate russian peasants who desire to present
molly picture to their great father and to ex-
press their loyalty and devotion to his per-
son. The Emperor receives one and all with
stern dignity which. though accompanied
i'll most cases by certain kindness of man
ner, always leaves the conviction that Alex
ander Iii feels himself an autocrat, and is
determined to yield none of his prerogatives,
but to impress on all who approach him that
they are IN the presence of an absolute,
though kindly master This species of self
assertion was a trait in the character of the
Emperor in his very earliest days He is de-
voted to music, and when a boy it was suggest
ed that he might derive pleasure from taking
part in the musical performances of the
palace orchestra. The then heir-apparent was
delighted at the idea, and it remained to be
settled on what instrument he should learn
to perform. Enthusiastically this imperious
prince selected the trombone as being the in.
strument with which he could produce the
greatest effect, and, lover of music though
he was his performance appeared chiefly to
consist in well-sustained and fairly success
ful effort to drown the remainder of the
orchestra
The Anitchkine Palace, which the EN-
press occupied as Czarevna, was a model of
household management, and to her initiative
are que the commencement of sweeping re-
forms in the administration of the other
overgrown palaces. She is patroness and
takes as far as possible an active share in the
management OF half the charitable institu-
tions in Russia, and particularly those that
are connected with the protection of women
and children. Every morning, while the
Emperor is busy upstairs with his minis
ters, the Empress receives the reports of
M. Delianoff and others, whom she intrusts
with the supervision of the various societies
in which she is interested. The Empresss
solictude for the safety of her husband is
well known, and it has been observed that
she is never at ease when he is called away
from home The education and care of her
children also engross much of her thoughts.
The eldest son, the Czarevtch, is in his four
teenth year, and resembles his mother in
features. He is of an active and lively dis
position, and for his years is far advanced in
his studies Russian is always the language
employed by the imperial family when they
are together, but when the boys are with
their teachers they speak French and Eng
are devoted to study by the young prin-
ces, but their education is not limited to
sedentary studies alone. They are also prac-
tised in riding and shooting, and the Care
witch Is, it is said, already good shot and
rides well.