The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-21
CAR ALExANDER's CHARACTER.
One of tho siost Agreeable Of Compsn-
ioas-I,ov lie Considers Criminals.


The ear is not approachable Tor obvious
reasons. lie is the most difficult man in
tic world TO see for any purpose, because
lie so completely surrounded 10y police
and eoldiers; but when access is once
cIiucd 10 his presence he is represented as
one Of the most agreeable OF companions
mo, q good talker," as one expressed
b. "but splendid listener" He seems
io be interested in anything you are Of
}. nd TO discuss, ard often suggests topics
10 his callers in II pleasant, OIL hand way
10 draw them out lie says little himself,
but remembers all he hears aud from
Uhom he heard H. I would rather tell
GOOD story to the car than any man |
know. but ! never heard him tell one. He
.3 particularly interested on all scientific
and political topics. lie will listen as In
tently 70 a discussion Of the political
situation in America as that In Europe, and
the description Of any new discovery wiz
delight him. He VIII inquire minutely
for the details, and viii then ask where
nc can find further information. Small
talk md gossip never interests him. lie
will change the subject at once and
abruptly as soon as it is begun lie cares
nothing for newspapers and seldom reads
them, bat has O secretary who reads every
Journal Of Europe Of any importance and
IS able 20 tell the car what he wants 20
know Of current events
nnooking at his photograph does not give
ksSa than a suggestion ot the amount
~ character n the ears face. He IS a
LARGE, splendld!y built man, and moves
like an atblots. There is strength in
every motion of his hand and every glance
OF his eye. There is no face among all
the great men OF Eufope with more char
acter in its lines than >,41d TIE chief
characteristic is determination -Ae IS
man Of the most intense convictions. rs
hates and he loves very strongly; never
forqets an injury or kindness, but has a
sympathetic disposition, and is inclined TO
look upon crime as q disease.
This point was alluded 10 recently in
conversation with an official Of the gov
crnmeut who has to do with phianthropic
institutions. He told me that the car had
always shown the greatest interest in the
humane treatment Of the insane, and
had several times expressed tho opinion
that most criminals were partially or
wholly out Of their minds. lie IS much
more lonient toward the Nihilists than his
police, and 1t was through him that the
last batch arrested were sent to Siberia
instead Of being executed. He considers
the young men, the students who engage
in conspiracies against hin, as fanatics,
and IS inclined to treat them generously;
but an officer Of tae army who is guilty Of
conspiracy or treason he will never for
give. In the czar's mind hanging Is too
good for him.
The religious clement in the character Of
the emperor is exceedingly strong. lie
has always bad a serious temperament,
even when boy, and has taken 4 greater
interest in religious matters than his
father did, or in fact any Of his prcdeces-
sors. lie is scrupuiously exact I'm the per-
Torrance Of all his religious duties,
attends mass every morning Ok his life,
md always goes 10 tho icon Of the Lady
Of Kazan before attempting any great
work OF deciding uponauy great question
William Eleroy Curtis IN Chicago News.