Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-01-18

then there come reports that the
hereditary taint of insanity which has
shown itself from time to time in the
Romanotfs has marked him in an open
manner. Under these circumstances
his conduct towards his son in whom
he places little faith may be highly
important in its results.
Those who have come into contact
with the czarowitz-and they are not
numerous-all concur in the opinion
that, while not overnight, he is fairly
intelligent and very amiable.
This latter quality has made him
popular with all parties in the Russian
court even including those who look
upon him as very weak figure indeed
to support the weight of the Russian
crown-as he may some day. He has
certain grace and tact that comes to
him from his clever Danish mother and
not from his cross-grained father. He
is more of a scholar than most of the
Russian men of rank are, but is both
modest and simple of manner. Tutors
whom he has had from time to time
have reported of him that the amabil-
ity he shows in public is not assumed.
In the schoolroom he was the same.
He always met his tutors half way in
their efforts to improve him. He was
never churlish, nor did he display any
of the spoiled child qualities that
might have been looked for in
young man in his position. Not es-
pecially quick to learn, he was will
ing and patient. 1t was from one
of these tutors that the grand duke
imbibed the ideas which made him
German rather than French in his |
tastes and sympathies, con trary to
what would have been the wishes of
his father had the latter known any
thing of the matter. Still the young
man is fairly well versed in French lit
erature as well as German, and, unlike
his father, he is an admirer of Tolstoi
and of the younger writers of the mod
ern Russian period who are pushing to
the front. He is said to care little for
heavy reading of Il political or histori-
cal character. He has taste for poe
try and fiction; and in this again he is
like his mother, for Alexander Ill. has
no liking for that sort of reading, or,
indeed for any other.
AS might be expected from mild
hammered young man, the czarowitz
is not partial to war, as some of his
forefathers have been. There is moth
ing of the Don CossaclI in him He has
no ambition to crush the Turks or to
wage war with Austria, or with Eng
land on the eastern frontier. He is
peaceable young man, who would
rather improve the somewhat eXpan-
sive bit of ground now known as Rus
sia, and no one denies that there is
room for Improvement. He is unlike
his two brothers in this respect OF
these George, the naval officer, is not
the kind to turn his back on a fight.
Grand Duke Michael is the czar's ia
vorite, and, though younger than his
brother, is said to be the one whom
Alexander at times contemplates
naming as his successor. Youthful
though he is, he is extremely precau-
tious, and has talent for political in
trigue and government.
Either of these two young men
might cut a more dashing figure than
Grand Duke Nicholas. Yet these
puNiN W uih NttiAllii eiiS Vi VII NN1tlN-
ing. More than one of them have out
stronger and better equipped |
men on their own ground, What has
occurred may occur again, and, be-
sides, Duke Nicholas is young. When
his time comes to fly alone his pinions
may prove stronger than they seem.
There is one thing to be said of the
young man that cannot be said of other
knights of his age. His life has been
clean. His name is unsmirched by |
scandal He has lived quietly with |
his books and studies. His habits
have been and are of the simplest. He
Is tenderly attached to his mother,
and, If his affection for his rough bear
OF father is less strong, he has at
least given him respect and obedience
while disagreeing with him on many
points. He really wishes to improve
the condition of the people of Russia,
and on no narrow lines. He is no
apostle of war or bloodshed, and no |
prosecutor of race or religion.