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

difficult task of conducting the work of
this new school is admirably carried out
by NJ. Wsewolodsky.
The honor of performing at CATCHING is
eagerly sought by artists. The tar and
tzarina, with the assistance of function
airy of high standing, display the utmost
generosity In their gifts of lewelry chosen
from the imperial Golfers. AS is well
known, these Golfers contain an unex-
celled, If not an unequaled collection of
precious stones, many of them, such as
diamonds, emeralds, red amelhysts, to-
PAGES, Alexandrites and garnets, coming
from the imperial mines In the Ural.
Such gems as these are freely showered
upon the artists fortunate enough to be
summoned TO Gatchina
1t may be said that Gatchina knows no
night. From twilight to dawn the palace
and grounds al so brilliantly lighted that
chance traveller might imagine the star
of the North had Talent at this spot, dis
tant but two hours journey from st. refers
burg. The military service is carried out
by attachments of cuirassiers, and the
equipped Circassians.
A retired life and the sense OF ms all
mightlness have given to the tar the
strange look which the Pharaohs, half
deltles OF ancient Egypt bore, the calm,
majestic expression of whose features no
passing event could ruffie or disturb. On
rare occasions-but they are very rare
his face lights up with an amiaole and
sympathetic smile; his utter calm Is that
of absolute power; it needed not the catas-
trophe at Borki to bear witness to his
enormous physical strength.
The daily life of the Russian autocrat
commences at an early hour. Att O'CLOCK
he leaves his bedroom, and, after rapid
toilet, with a military cloak thrown over
his shoulders, he receives his children,
who, with the tzarewitch at their head,
come to bid him good morning, lmmedi-
ately afterwards he devotes himself to
work with his aides-de-camp and secre-
taries and sometimes with certain min
listers VINO may have been summoned from
st. Petersburg; these latter, however, he
more often receives about or O'Clock in
the afternoon, giving them their instruc-
tons with a rapidity which not seldom
amounts to brusqueness. his greatest
care is bestowed upon the affairs OF the
army and navy. 1t is his Will that
hundred million in gold shall be deposited
each year in the vaults OF the fortress, and
he goes himself to see tnat this treasure of
the empire is well and faithfully guarded.
When at work. the tar allows himself
to be influenced by none; he insists upon
knowing everything and upon having the
very smallest details explained TO him;
one recognizes the fact that Russia is en-
tirely under his--the tzar's-control. Ina
moment of Impotence caused by the rep
reservations of foreign power which need
not here be named, he broke into pieces,
with one blow of his fist, the table at which
he and his astonished officers were sitting.
$50 will | break them all! he cried IN his
furious, but momentary, anger.
Alexander Ill. IS always ATTENDED by the
Count Woronzow Dachkow minister of
the court, and by General Richter; both
reside at CATCHING and share the tzar's
confidence with Generals Wocikow and
Tcherevine, Prince Obolensky and others,
known for their fidelity and disinterested-
ness.
1t may be noted here that if there is Que
crime which the tar holds in special de-
testation it is the ENLIGHTENMENT or per-
version of public moneys his distaste, too.
for what is sometimes styled diplomatic
fnesse is equally well known. Above
everything he admires straightforward
ness, and, in his own case, obstlnately fol-
lows out the course which he may once
voted to the expedition of public and state
affairs. Copies of each Russian journal,
printed upon Chinese paper, are sent in to
the tzar's cabinet. As a rule, he makes
point of glancing over the Stcet sheet
which sums up in concise form from all
the news of the day. There is also S ub-
mitted to him sheet whereon is printed.
expressly for him, such Information as it
seems necessary to appraise him OF. Under
the reign of the Tar Nicholas different
method was followed. That autocrat
would read in the papers themselves such
and passages as had been pre-
viousiy marked with red pencil by junior
plan which it was found
absorbed too much of the sovereign's time.
At midday the tar lunches with his
family, the various courses of the meal be-
ing prepared in the Russian or French
styles of cooking He himself has an ex-
cellent appetite, ana indeed may be called
q large eater. At this meal the tZarina
usually wears an indoor costume OF light
color, embellished with lace or fine en-
broidery. She is fond of the elegances OF
a Partisan toilet and knows how to
judiciously blend the highest luxurious
ness with the austere simplicity behtting
a princess. The young Grand Duchess
Xenie, and her sister, the Grand Duchess
Olga, gre invariably dressed in white,
their gowns be of lace or muslin,
or some finely woven wooden stuff.
After this first meal the tzar's chief
pleasure and distraction is to walk out
alone with his children. "Get ready, chill
dren," he will cry, and presently will seek
them out in their own apartments, where
their attendants are clothing them In their
cloaks and out-of-door costumes. Before
many minutes have passed the imperial
family are breathing the clear, frosty air,
quickly over the cracking snow,
beneath the frost-covered trees on which
the pale northern sun is shining.
Tall and strong, the tar is enyeloped In
a heavy military cloak of fur, while the
slender, graceful form of the tzarina is
wrapped in magnificent mantle OF olue-
fox or Zibeline, her head-dress small
bonnet OF velvet and precious fur.. In
front and on either side OF them their
walk, healthy and active, es-
pecially Grand Duke George, who is known
among his own family by the pet names OF
''the Marine" OF their number, the tzare-
witch alone appears somewhat deilcate,
though he has so tar thoroughly STOOD the
strain of an arduous tour through the
tropics and Eastern climes.
After an hour or two OF sucn privacy
and distractions. Alexander III remem-
bers that he Is tar, and once more taxes
up the cares of government. IL Is tnen
about 2 O'Clock, and he is at once I'M
mersed in the task of considering his
enormous correspondence, task, however,
which he has somewhat hghtened Tor
himself by the establishment OF cominls-
sion on requests at the Pdtais Marie Ac-
cording to an ancient custom IL Is oniy on
Sundays, prior to his entering church, tnat
the tar personally considers all appllca-
tons for assistance
The imperial family meet again at DIM
der. after short drive in sleigh or car
-iage, according to the season.
Guests are frequently invited to the I'M
perial table. such as the Countess Stroga-
now, grandmistress of the court ana sue
cessor to the Princess Kotchouoey, the
Countesses Golesnichew and koutouzow,
and MademoiseIle Ozerow, maids of honor
to the empress and other members OF the
suite.
The tzarina is exceedingly fond of social
and pleasures, with the one excep-
-. e - -. 100 cri Yen In the i'm