The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-03

countenance which time would surely
deepen into one of positive austerity.
Unlike the dead tzarewitch. who closely
resembled his mother, Maria Alexan-
drowna, Alexander Alexandrowitch, with
Slavonic features and determined charac-
ter, was perfect type of the Romanows
antecedent to the time of Peter the Great.
1t has been alleged that the prospect of
rulership was anything but pleasing to the
new tzarewitch. Be that as it may, it did
not for one moment deter him from pre-
pairing himself for the task and assuming
for his motto the sentence which best sums
up his character: ssThe tzar's one rule of
life is duty"
The Princess Dagmar of Denmark, who
had been called to Nice in order that she
might be present during the last hours of
the dead tzarewitch, had returned, sorrow
ing, to Copenhagen, to be told, SO soon as
her grief had moderated, that she was des-
tined to figure as empress of Russia.
Alexander Alexandrowitch well knew
that the princess was still faithful to the
memory of the former tzarewitch, whose
portrait never left her neck until the mo-
ment she assumed her bridal robes, and
this, no doubt, accounts for the cold POI
likeness of his manner previous to their
marriage Certain it is that he left to his
brothers the outward expression of cord-
atty and affection towards the princess
and. though punctilious in his attendance
at official ceremonies, pointedly Stunned
all more intimate and social gatherings.
The tzar Alexander III. and his empress
were both enchanted with the imperial
bride, who, from the first moment of her
sojourn at the Winter palace, deported
herself in a manner betting fu-
ture sovereign. In one particular
alone she excited universal admira-
ton; the easy. graceful manner in
which she would converse with each
foreign ambassador at court, fiuently
speaking the language of his own country.
At court, the fear had naturally been
felt, if not expressed, that this marriage
would result in the same manner as so
many other unions brought about solely
on grounds of convenience and political
advisability, but the possessors of such
fears were, far once, deceived. The pres
ent tzarina, Maria Federowna, is at once
the most beloved and happlest, not of SOW
ereigns only, but of women. During the
remainder of the late tzar's reign, the
young and august couple lived in man.
virtue to others and which constrasted
strongy-in matters of history one must
perforce be candid-with the happenings
at court and in the households of the late
emperor's brothers. From the moment of
his marriage the tzarewitch was surround
ed by circle of intimates young in years
and pure in character. More worldly and
less desirable associates were carefully ex-
cluded from the salon of Maria Federowna,
salon where, even to the present day,
corner is religiously devoted to souvenirs
of her life as young girl and to the men,
DRY OF the still unforgotten Tzarewitch
Nicolas Alexandrowitch. Conspicuous
among such remembrance is the large
cross of lapis and gold, garnished with
pendants of pearls in the form of tears,
which was sent to Denmark by the women
of Russia as an emblem at once of grief
and hope.
The terrible circumstances under which
the Tar Alexander III. came to the
throne, and the threatened dangers which
necessitated his retirement with his family
TO Gatchina, are too well known to bear
repetition. Formerly the winter palace
was the most accessible of royal resi-
dences; at CATCHING it is not so. The pal
ace of Anitsehkoff, too, was at once
guarded with the most minute precau-
tons; so rigorous were the measures taken
that hotel upon the perspective Newsky,
some of whose windows faced the palace
walls was al once dismantled and perma-
nently closed. The tzar's favorite resi-
dence is Gatchina. The village itself, sur
rounded by forest of venerable trees, is
under the most perfect surveillance. No
one can reside there without a special per-
nit Every one is known, and before
entering the palace even those Of the high
est position are forced 10 submit to rigid
system OF inspection and control. On each
arrival. whether il be invited guest or
hired servant, baggage and belongings are
carefully examined by trusty officers.
whose duty 1t is to unfold and inspect
each separate garment and toilet article,
and the most trihing necessaries for travel
The surprise, however, occasioned by this
first reception is soon forgotten in the
welcome and the kindness of the tar and
tzarina.
Gatchina is famous for its marvellous
COLLINS and the unique originality of its
main salon or hall. The latter is divided
by arches and colonnades into various
compartments designed for different pur-
purposes. 1t contains the tzar's work
room or study, where he examines his dis
patches and gives the consequent orders,
salon de conversation. biliiard-room, =
dlning-hal and q theater, IN which
artists of every kind perform under
the excellent ana intelligent direc-
ton of NJ WsewoIodsky most
charming and just of men. By this
means the dramatic school and school Of
dancing have gained the immediate
patronage OF the TAR, his consort and the