The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-10
GLIMPSE OF RUSSIAN :RoYALTY.
DR.. Talmaee Tells of His Visit to the
Imperial Palace at st. Petersburg.

related to the Post the following anec-
dotes touching the life Of his majesty. the
Emperor of Russia, Alexander Ill
on the return of DR.. T. Dewitt Tai
mage from his expedition through Rus
sia." said the colonel. where he had
been distributing in the famine-stricken
districts the gifts secured through the
agency of his paper, the Christian Herald,
took occasion to send him copy OF
The New Era in Russia to which l re-
ceived his gracious acknowledgements in
the following characteristic little note,
which he extended me the privilege of
using as I might see ht:
Brooklyn. Oct. 4, 1892. Col. Charles a.
De Arnaud-Dear sir: Thanks for your
book The New Era i'll Russia believe
il all 10 be true. Much of It l know by OBJ
servation in Russia to be true. What
world wide defamation has been going
on for many years against that empire!
Your book viii be a mighty anudote 20
the poison hope to do little toward
correcting the literary injustices against
Russia and it's gracious. talented and good
emperor and empress. Yours, etc, 7.
Dewitt TalmaEe.
L wrote the doctor" continued the col
onel, "a letter, thanking him, as Rus
sian-American, for his appreciation of
my efforts in behalf of the truth concern
words:
Brooklyn. l South oxford street, Oct.
p. 1892 Col. c. A. De Arnaud-Dear sir:
On the Russian subject l expect to make
a systematic attempt for the correction of
the falsehood concerning Russia and its
emperor You probably know more than
any one else in this country about Rus
STA, and hope to see you soon concerning
IL. 1 am. your, etc, T. Dewitt Talmage.
I'm pursuance of this invitation" con-
tinued the colonel, Il took occasion, dur
ing trip TO New York, to visit the doc
tor at his home. where we, had a long
discussion about Russia lasting from
o'clock in the afternoon till o'clock in
the evening. in the course of which he
related the following remarkable story of
his trip:
q" Previous to my arrival in Russia,
said the doctor, I had entertained many
erroneous ideas about that country. which
had believed to be sort of Asiatic mon
strosity transplanted to European soil,
and I confess IL was not without an added
interest from all the fables concerning
the empire which had been poured into
my ears in London that / commenced in
st. Petersburg to investigate the facts. l
reached the capital in the early morning,
and, taking a stroll through the streets of
the city, I became lost, and appealed to
a stranger, whose appearance convinced
me he was an American. To my inexpres-
Sibi6 SURPRISE ne ItSEtpuutu " It IbuGLs
with many gesticulations, that he was
Russian, and could not understand Eng
fish. Here was my first lessop--a Russian
gentleman really resenb the NEST pol
ished product of the civilized west, and l
was prepared for further Developments.
On returning to my hotel, found the pre-
feet of the city of St. Petersburg awaiting
me with an invitation to meet the emperor
the following day at IL clock. The project
took me for drive through the capital
during which, the conversation having
turned upon matters of religion, inquired
whether IL was true that the Russian gov
eminent practically gave exclusive recog-
milton to the established Greek church.
The project promptly declared that abso-
| lutte intolerance of all religions was one of
the strongest characteristics of the prac-
tees of the present government, citing in
evidence the fact that he was himself a
members of the Lutheran church. This
was my second lesson.
Upon taking leave of the project
called at the American legation, where
our charge d'affairs in the absence of the
minister, kindly gave me an extended in
struction and drill as to my observance
of the rather stiff and elaborate court
etiquette, which marks an audience with
his imperial majesty, so that l felt well
| equipped to fulfill all the expected pro-
prietes. On the following day appeared
at the imperial palace promptly at the APP
/ pointed hour, and, after being ushered
| through a long series of corridors and
! apartments Of surprising magniticence
/ l finally was surprised to be left by my
/ guiding courtier at the open door of a
! small, very plain apartment, furnished in
I the exact style of the average American
| household, in which ! found the emperor
seated alone, quietly engaged with his
official cares. He Immediately arose.
| extended his hand with hearty cordiality,
and said, in the purest English, as he him
| self placed a chair for me beside his table
"Dr. Talmage, / am very happy to meet
! you" With that we opened a long con-
| versatlon, during which the emperor man
| fested both the livliest interest and most
astonishingly thorough familiarity with
| American politics, and, after a lengthy dis
| cusson of everything American, the en-
peror said: 'Dr. Talmage, you must see
my eldest son. Nicolas with which he
| touched a bell, calling his aid-de-camp,
who promptly summoned the Grand Duke
Nicolas, who appeared with the young
est daughter of the emperor, skipping
along behind him-a plump, bright lit
tie girl of probably or years, who ran
forward with childish glee, and, jump
ing upon the emperors lap. threw her
arms about his neck with many fond
caresses. When she had been introduced
to me, she gave the American gentle
man" the keenest scrutiny of which her
sparkling eyes were capable. The grand
duke was fine young man. about
% years of age. tall, of athletic
build, graceful carriage, and most no
ticeably amiable features. On being in
troduced to me the grand duke extended
his hand and said Or. Talmage / am
also glad TO meet you, for we all feel that
we have become acquainted with you
through your sermons, in which we have
found much interest and religious edi-
flcation."
" Having noticed the magnificent ply
sique of both father and son, ! asked the
emperor when the conversation turned
incidentally upon matters of health what
he did to maintain such a fine strength
in the midst of all his cares Of state. He
replied: Doctor, the secret of my
strength is in my physical exercise. This
I never fail to take regularly and freely
every day. before / enter upon any OF
the work Of my official duties and to il
attribute the excellent health which you
see / now possess"
q" Having been rendered quite as much
at home as l should have felt in a call
upon one Of my own parishioners, by the
cordial welcome Of the emperor and his
, Z cl1fIdrar l mentioned tho tall dv{ft,l