Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-11-08

bad enough always, became the horror
of the century; the Jews, whose lot
was never pleasant one in Russia, be-
lent persecution.
With a private citizen the presump-
ton is for innocence till guilt is proved;
with hereditary ruler the chances are
even, but with an absolute ruler, espe-
cially Romanoff, the presumption is
always that he is despotic. We may,
therefore, with perfect safety, reject all
the excuses made for Alexander III that
he was kept in ignorance of the horrors
of Siberia; that the real condition of
his subjects was carefully concealed
from him, and that he was only cruel
where it was q cruel necessity. That he
was a devoted husband and father is to
his credit; some of the worst persecu.
tors have been so. The hard, cruel fact
remains that he reversed all the liberal
novements of his father. gave the penal
laws n sharper edge treated Jews and
| Poles with atrocious cruelty, adopted
the worst features of so called panslav-
ism and to the very last quarreled bit
terly with his son for not being equally
bigoted and intolerant.
He was most fortunate in his mar
riage. Indeed the whole history of the
Danish royal family is the pleasantest
in the recent annals of Europe and is
delightfully."- colored with romance. King
Christian TX and Queen Louise began
life in quite humble rank compare
| lively, for he was merely the fourth son
of Duke William of Sleswick- Holstein,
but when the old royal line became ex-
tinct the great powers combined to eX-
tinguish jealousy by making this youn-
ger son king of Denmark, and he took
the throne Nov. Is, 1868. His oldest
daughter is now Princess of Wales, and
his second the widowed czarina His
second son is King George | of Greece,
and the other daughter aid two SONS are
most royalty connected. So little Den
mark, largely because it is little and not
dangerous, is prolific of royalty.
Maria Daglnar became Maria Feojlo
roma when she married the cZarOHItZ,
gave up her German Professionalism and
became a membtr Of the GREEK Catholic
church, and by all accounts has intro
dueed a much needed element of mild
ness within the blood of the imperial
family, for among a thousand contra
dictions 1t is at least agreed that her
son, the successor of Alexander LII, is
purely German Danish and quite unlike
his father i'll form and disposition. Five
children were born to the ear and CA
rina-Nicplas AL xandrowiteh, bora AT
st. Petersburg May Is. ISIS; George
AlexanlrowircA, born May ., ISL;
Ncaia Al, XantIruWHa, born ApeIl Il,
1919, Michael Ale.a,drewitrh horn
Dec. J, 1878, and OIL aAiaa,reHra, bonn
June ~, lSs2
OF his children the ear, H. Il model
family man, was very fond, and many
stories ar" told Of the methods he used
to adopt t. live them pleasure. He was
very fond Of amateur theatricals, and
he was never happier than when get
ting up plays in which his children We're
to figure as actors Like Charles Dick
ems, he got an amazing amount of en-
joyment out of the details Of improvis
ing play, wardrobe, curtain and every
accessory out of ordinary materials and
in the face of serious difficulties. Be
sides his own children the actors almost
invariably included the elder children
at the court, young lads who some day
might rule provinces-possibly king
doms-and young girls destined perhaps
to be the mothers of long lines Of princes
and princesses,
In religion Alexander III was thor
ough bigot. He never once doubted
that he was the Lords anointed, rul-
ing all Russia and her subject prov
inces by divine right and that Jews,
Stundists, Mennonites and others who
did not implicitly obey his directions
We're in rebellion against God and de
serving of little consideration. The Ro-
maDofls have always been given to
sort of brutal devotion, and the natural
bent of Alexander mind was intensi-
fed by the teachings of his tutor, NJ.
Pobiedon0tsoff, in later years the much
feared chief Of the holy synod of the
Russian church. Nevertheless he taught
his pupil morality, and 1t is claimed
that Ale Xauder Ill was the only Euro
pcan sovereign Of his time who never
kept mistress. He was frantically de-
vout, and his views on education were
those of the Russian priests, As head Of
the church he consistently opposed ov-
cry form Of instruction not controlled
by the priests.
Alexander III was man os remark
able physi cal force. He stood feet /
inches III his stockings and it is told of
him that he could take silver coin of
the size of dollar and double it be