The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-03-30
CAR ALexANoEa,s CHARACTER.
One OF the Most Agreeable of Compan-
ions-How He Considers Criminals.

One OF the Most Agreeable of Compan-
ions-How He Considers Criminsis.
The car is not approachable for obvious
reasons. He is the most difficult man in
the world to see for any purpose, because
he Ia so completely surrounded by police
and soldiers; but when access is once
gained to his presence he is represented as
one Of the most agreeable of companions
mot good talker," rs one expressed
It, "but splendid listener.n He seems
to be interested in anything you are Of a
mind to discuss, and often suggests topics
to his callers in pleasant, OFF hand way
to draw them out He says little himself,
but remembers all he hears and from
whom he heard 1t. would rather tell
good story to the car than any man
know, but never heard him tell one. He
is particularly interested on all scientific
and political topics. He will listen as in
tently to n discussion of the political
situation in America as that In Europe, and
the description of any new discovery will
delight him. He will inquire minutely
for the details, and will then ask where
he can find further information. Small
talk and gossip never interests him. He
will change the subject at once and
abruptly as soon as 1t is begun. He cares
nothing for newspapers and seldom reads
them, but has secretary who reads every
journal of Europe of any Importance, and
is able to tell the czar what he wants to
know of current events.
Looking at his photograph does not give
one more than suggestion of the amount
of character In the ezar's face. He is
large, ssplendilly built man, and moves
like an athlete. 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 Europe with more char
acter in its lines than his, and the chief
characteristic is determination. He is
man Of the most intense convictions. He
hates AMI he loves very strongly; never
forgets an injury or a Kindness, but has
sympathetic disposition, and is inclined to
look upon crime as disease.
This point was salluded 10 recently in
conversation with an official of the gov
ernment who has to owith philanthropic
institutions. He told me that the czar had
always shown the greatest interest in the
humane treatment of the insane, and
had several times expressed the opinion
that most criminals were partially or
wholly out of their minds. He is much
more lenient toward the Nihilists, than his
police, and it 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 him, as fanatics,
| and is inclined to treat them generously
but an officer of the 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 element in the character Of
the emperor is exceedingly strong. He
has always had serious temperament,
even when a boy, and has taken greater
interest in religious matters than his
father did, or in fact'any Of his predeces-
sors. He is scrupulously exact in. the per-
formance of all his religious duties,
attends mass every morning of his life,
and always goes to the icon of the Lady
Of Kazan before attempting any great
work or deciding uponany great question.
William Eleroy Curtis in Chicago News.