Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-13
Hrs DAILY LIFE.
The Dull Routine Followed by the Gar
of All tho Russias.
From the Paris Figaro

The Dull Routine Followed by the Gar
of All the Russias.
From the Paris Figaro.
The Russian autocrat's day begins
early. At o'clock he leaves his room,
and after a rapid toilet, over which a
loose coat of military cloth is thrown, he
receives his children, who, from the
czarewitch downward, come to bid him
good morning." Immediately after he
begins work with his aides-de-camp and
his secretaries and sometimes with the
ministers, who have come out from St.
Petersburg, although he receives the
latter, as rule, in the afternoon at or
3 o'clock, giving his orders with a
rapidity which is not always without
brusqueness. The army and navy are
his chief cares.
He also wills that Ten millions
in gold are annually put into the
cellars of the fortress, and goes himself
to see whether these treasures of the en-
pire are well kept and guarded When
he is at work the emperor does not allow
anybody to influence him; he wants to
know everything, and has everything,
down to the smallest details, explained
TO him. In moment of impatience
with the representative of a power,
which we will not name, he broke a
table into thousand pieces in the pres
ence of his terrified assistants. at is
thus that | shall break them ALL" he ex-
claimed.
Alexander III is always surrounded
by Count Woronzoff Dashkof, court
minister. and by General Richter, both
of whom live at Gatchina, and who,
together with the Generals Voekoff and
Tcherevine, are in the emperor's conf
dence and are men of excellent hearts
and remarkable disinterestedness. 1t is
interesting to note that the car has q
horror of men of bad morals; he also
detests what is called the diplomatic
finesse. Ile admires straightforwardnes
and pursues with characteristic obsti-
macy the road he has traced out for
himself. The morning is spent in dis
patching business. The Russian news
papers are sent into the cars work.
room printed on Chinese paper Occa-
sionally he glances through Sect, the
paper which summarizes the news of
the day. A paper is also put before him
on which those matters are specially
printed for him which it is useful for
him to know. The empress in her
leisure hours reads the Figaro.
AT midday the car takes luncheon
with his family. This meal is always
begun with soup, and the menu is
printed in the kitchens, both in French
and Russian. The car has an excellent
appetite. He is what is called une
bonnie fourchette. The czarina always
wears light dresses, with lace or en-
broidered skirts, at the early meal She
is fond OF Partisan elegance and knows
how to combine the simplicity of an
austere princess with the greatest lux
ury. The czar's delight and recreation,
after luncheon, is walk alone with his
children. sect dressed, children" he
shouts, and he goes to find them even
In their own rooms, where the servants
are wrapping them up in furs, and put
fur boots over their thin house shoes.
Soon after the imperial family depart to
breathe the cold, bracing air and to
tramp along on the dry, cracking snow
under the trees covered with rime and
in the pale northern sunlight. The car
tall and strong, throws military cloak
or cape over his shoulders; the czarina,
small and slender, wears a magnificent
cloak Of sable or blue fox, and velvet
Russian hood, trimmed with precious
fur. Before and beside them walk their
vigorous children, strongest among
them Grand Duke George, 1.-THE sailor"
as he is called at home. Only the czare-
witch appears nervous and delicate.
After an hour or two of rest in his
family circle, Alexander III has to re-
member that he is czar, and to take up
again the burden of government. 1t is
now about o'clock, and he begins to
struggle with an enormous correspond
ence, casting disdainful look on the
human turpitudes he knows so we'll
At dinner the imperial family meet
again after short carriage or sledge
drive. Frequent guests at the dinner
table are Countess Stroganoff, the chief
lady-in-waiting; tine Countesses Coles
nichetf, Koutouzoff and several mem
beers Of the suite. The czarina is fond
of society, and there are often dancing
parties, the empress being very fond of
dancing. 1t is only to please the en-
press that the emperor is present at
these gatherings, which do not suit his
melancholy character, and it happens
sometimes, when friendly party is too
much prolonged, that he presses the
electric button and forces the company
to disperse by plunging them into dark
ness.