New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-10
ALEXANDER III OF RUSSIA.



Although far from possessing The comeliness OF
feature and charm of manner which distinguished
the late Emperor Frederick Of Germany, the reign
ing Car OF Russia Is the only one Of the crowned
heads who can be said to resemble him in natural
majesty and dignity of dcmeanor. Noiwith-
standing the lomclincss of his strong, honest face
and the obesity of his gigantic figure there is
something about him that impresses one with the
feeling that he has been born 10 command, ana
that too in a most absolute and autOcratic mar
ner instead of being merely educated up 10 H.
This conviction was brought home 10 me most
strongly on one occasion when saw him walking
alongside of the present Emperor Of Germany
The latter was fretting, hurrying and almost
prancing around his huge companion, displaying
in the most marked manner his seli-consciouShcSs
and his prcoccupation as TO the effect which III
was producing on the spectators; while the GAR
who lowered head and shoulders above him, gave
no trace of emotion or concern, but remained
serene and even Indifferent except for gracious
acknowledgment here and there of the greeting
of some old ACQUAINTANCE. The whole scene re-
minded me Of Landsccrs famous painting OF thc
TERROR and the Newfoundland dog. roma oi
comfort rather than of splcndor and Of simplicity
rather than Of magniticcncc, the Gar nevertheless
makes no effort or even prctence to con'eH Dis
BELIEF In the Seml-dlNlDc naluIc "oIH VI '''' 49,
thority. and of his superiority above his fellow
creatures This belief is more eAcusab!e III hS
case than in that of any other monarch, owing 10
the fnct that he is not only the Autocrat OF III
the Rnssias. but the spiritual well rs temporal
chief of the Orthodox Church His subjects
particularly those of the humber class, are ac-
custouled TO regard him much in the same manner
as the Acvout and pious Breton FeaSantry LOOK
upon the ,Pope-tha is 20 say, as some one very
nearly approaching in rank TO the Godhcad ltscI.
To what an extent this exists may ne brlchN
illustrated By n little incident which TOOK p'aFe
. few months before Alexander II was Killed, ana
while | was at ST Petersburg The Gar was
strollinp along under the shady trees OF lis PHI
votc mark al Tcharskoe Sclo when suddenly Inc
oidc-dc-canp on duty for the day approach'"'
followed at short distance by a er"y-h'l''"
uouiik. dressed in the costume worn 10y III" peas
ontrv Of Southern Russia. In reply 10 the I'm
,eror's inotirics nv friend Colonel +, informed
him that the old man craycd for an audience OF
His Majesty for the purpose Of thanking MN III
person for dccrecing the emancipation OF the seFiS
twenty years previously
On the Gar reckoning 20 the peasant 70 mp
prooch. the hitter threw himself PROSTATE on we
ground and began kissing the Autocrts feet ana
amidst ,ohs 10 offer up prayers ana INNOVATIONS
IN him. lust as if the Emperor had been some
,,.,,,ri,cd soin, When M length Ac rcgamc1 his
composurc. he explained 10 tie Car that AZ ''a
date Of his emancipation from servitudc h' hal
,,,Io SOLEMN VOW 10 thank the d" little father
hefor, he died for his great act Of mercy U MS
IN ooo coo a. scrf subjects on three previous
occ,,ion, ne had walked on foo, all The way from
lis vilIo,. in Southern Russia distance Of some
: 400 milcs-for the purpose Of accomplishing MS
,.o,v But in each instance his pil0rimaAe m"
iec,. rendered fr!itlcss hy the close guard which
zinc policc kcut over tic person OF the Gar WHO
n y; Petersburg Eciug, however, seventy
wear, Of ago. and feeling that death couiH Il"
LONGER be far distant, The old peasant Iad d-tcr-
mined 70 make one more attempt 10 a'coi'pl'"
hi, vow, 80 rs 10 hc able 10 depart Tor another
world with his mind at rest. Tbs tine lie allied
he had been fortunate enough TO ind the AtiIc
father AT Tcharskoc Selo. where II was more
easy 10 obtain access 10 him. And thus lie hNd
been able 10 fulfil his hearts desire. and would
now 20 home To die at peace with himself ana
with the world.
Much moved Alexander extended his h'hd T.
hc kissed. c\claimiug: II Is who thank thee
my old friend, and ana glad 10 have seen NEE
N.S. return houIc with Gois BLESSING And nl
own and having directed Co.one! r. 10 provide
,bc old man with food, railway tickets ana
fb,, In, mouIk Aad lcft a quccr-looAIns little
buudle tied up ln mulucolorcd handkerchief az
bi, feet, In reply 10 las question the peasant,
.rlaoldcp,d by the H.onaIcns kindness iniormc4
lawn that u cont tanned tao couSriaied h"uI."n
waters. which d." had "htIn"d 80 " Li'n'S-i .ln-
.4r,lcr celebrated I'D honor oi ihr cm'nrii Atom
AVID which he lad Carried Nltt ilm ever sine, Iu
tine hope That Tie Lt,.c father ""Iii dc'tn T.
,..rpt tLcn When A.cN"ndrr dlrd irom tie
elects OF the terrible injuries lhlll'tcd upon h'h
lbs ttf \ 4-fs
..crntcd waters ia question "cic Iouud "h Hls
wrItiue-tau.c in "a hoN Il cAIulsilrN rh-I'''"
'' yylr1 rr"ple regard their sovereign with such
t,cl,,o, Of generation as thoS. displayed 10y me
old moujIk-and they are hy no means '"hi'u'I
10 The pcasautry-i; is uot sufPIlAiA- 'N'' " .@'1
,I,uU corei,cr himself as some hing NOR" than
I.,r..p ana am offence against MS person IN inc
Lglt Of q sacrilrgc rather than crime lie IS
convinced that there IS no authority above IN
.,,. that Of God alone AID that he - Iespou-ln!r
-, M ouc Int the Almighty for his acts. And he
il encouraged in this feeling by all who surround
bim-,XceI, perhaps 10y his staff OF English do.
mcstics For curiously enough, the majority OF
his servants are from HIctt hriinlh ana his
t,voritc residence a. the Anitckon Pal1cc Is
modelled and furnished ~ exact INT atom oil one
I,ndou home Of his genial bTothrr-ll-laW, Inc
jri,cc ot Wales Nor does the existence Of
Nihilisu diminish in any WAY his "Ssui 2ic' rs u"
The sacred character Of his authority. J o. aware
Of the scmi-Asatic nature OF the EHN'.'nS' .n'
their Oriental taste for cNag9cTdioh, j." 70 me-
Tia, the intense devotion and "N"ct"lnl'
Submission Of the majority Of his subjects on
the one hama must in the "rHGr "I 1"'nRs
lac couutcrhalanccd on the other hy tn"
conspiracics Of macont"nt and disanectcd persons
Plotting forms part and parcel OF ne nature o'
almost every Oriental, and the Car IS hc'us-
,n,ncd 10 deal with this Oriental failing OF his
subjects in a manner that Is far more Aslatlc than
European in It's barbarity.
"
AUSTRIAS CHTVNROrS EMPEROR