Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-14

surroundings-fromc civilization IL possible"
ne said Have you not a castle or country
house at your disposal that Is completely
cut of from all connection with the great
world, from politics and society?'
Then the empress remembered the Be-
loweschki estate in the virgin forests of the
Grodnosch government, celebrated as the
lives wild In his natural state, a pensioner
OF the cars, who annually spent nearly a
million on the preserves. Several years ago
Alexander erected a castle, in Gothic style.
in this wilderness, furnishing it luxuriously
for short stay on a hunting trip or on
similar occasions. The poor man probably
never dreamt tnat he would be carried
there in a litter, wrapped in blankets, half
dead by exhaustion and his mind wander
ing.
Keeping 1t q Secret.
To keep the cars true condition a secret
as long as possible, the continental papers
IN the pay of Monsieur De Giers-he con-
trolls journals in Berlin. Brussels. Paris and
Vienna-are publishing misleading para
graphs. day after day. announcing the Rus
sian emperor's proposed attendance at such
or such function. or that he issued ukases
ordering certain changes in the administra-
ton or in the personnel of the court. Thus
it was said the car would assist in laying
The corner stone Of the Warsaw cathedral,
and that ne had Invested Gen. Gurko of his
powers as civil governor of the kingdom of
Poland. Both these items are canards.
Gurko, to show that he is still on top, is
sued a decree today by which 800 citizens of
his district lose liberty and fortune
The question uppermost in the minds of
the leading men of Russia at the present
moment is, however, not: Will the emperor
live? but: Who will succeed him on the
throne? In Russia the cZarovitch is not
necessarily the heir presumptive. Roman
OF history shows numerous exceptions to
the general rule of ascension. If Alexander
lad his own way actually, as well as NOM
inally. he would undoubtedly name as his
successor Marie, his wife and empress.
Not that he loves his son less, or his wife
more; he is an excellent father, as well as
an exemplary husband, but the car has
grave doubts, shared by many, as to the
czarovitch's abilities and stamina. He has
tried in vain to make his boy n ull-blooded
Russian after his own pattern, but could
not eradicate his dreamy, ultra German dis
position. As a last resort Alexander in
tended to marry him to a Montenegro
princess, bur seeing his own health failing
concluded If would be best to elect as
daughter-in-law a relative of the powerful
Kaiser, who If need be- would assist Nicho-
iaus by advice and his far-reaching infu-
ence.
Many important people at the court and
IN politics hold the czarovitch incapable of
assuming the duties of a sovereign; others
mink ne Will die young: others that he will
aDQicate in favor of his mother, and with
the consent OF Germany, Austria and Great
Britain, IL the crown be offered him 1t
would De useless to speculate on the al
terhatVeS at present, Before action has
peen taken by any of the parties interested.
directly or indirectly, but in the interval
1t may not be amiss to record the czaritza's
latest performance or public function.
The Empress Impressive Show.
The Empress Marie. like most of her
reigning sisters. is honorary colonel and
proprietress" of a cuirassier regiment her
majesty's duties consisting of occasional
attendance at the maneuvers the donation
OF flag and of various sums to help cole-
brate the name day of the regiments pa
tron saint. That has been the custom for
centuries. but this year the czaritza eman-
cipated herself from tradition and resolved
to be colonel, not in name only, but like
wise in deed. About ten days ago the
Empress Marie Unexpectedly arrived in the
camp OF the guards at Krassnoje-Selo
mounted on black charger and wearing
the white and silver uniform OF the cuiras-
to report instantly, and told him she had
come to take eff the customary parade.
The officer was dumfounded at first
and said something of undeserved honor. or
words to that effect, but the empress cut
him short by commanding him to send her
a bugler. AS soon as the latter arrived she
ordered him to give the signal for alarming
the regiment. 1t was done. The empress
with her bugier and adjutant, took the lead
and a minute later sounded the order for
an attack. Fifteen hundred horses and
Ten raced down the highway for ten min
Ctes or more and were suddenly brought
to standstill in front of a cavalcade of
ladies and gentlemen coming from the OPP
poSite direction. They turned out to be
the Grand Duchess Maris Pawlowna, with
her twelve-year-old daughter two daugh-
tiers of the Prince of Wales and Princess
Marie of Greece, escorted by the czarovitch,
a number of grand dukes, a sprinkling of
princes of Denmark and Greece and the
officers OF the Chevalier Guards. They had
started in the suite of her majesty, who,
however, had given them the Slip intend
ing to surprise her relatives and friends in
the manner described.
The empress invited the ladies and gentle
men to join her at the head OF the cuirass-
iers and all rode back to camp. where regu-
lar exercises were held under the eyes of
the imperial colonel who seemed to under
stand her duties thoroughly. When at the
end Of the parade Marie galloped along the
front of her regiment, saluting each squad
ron as she passed. the cavalrymen broke
out in a hearty Health and happiness we
wish thee. imperial majesty" Later on
the empress rode to a nearby hill, where
she delivered 1.-The criticue'' of the morn
ing's work with admirable precision, be-
slowing praise and blame where it be-
longed.
The empress always had the reputation Of
an Amazon, but 1t Is asserted that she
never looked more beautiful nor more COM
does 1t all mean? ask the Russians, and
thousands add: Health and happiness we
wish thee, imperial majesty" F. F. L.
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1T WAS NO GO.