The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-11-02

LIS bWettutbrb Wh8 tOfCeu 10 aCcepb an or
fer Of marriage from Paul Demidoff, prince
Of San Donate, and so, when the elder
brother died and 1t was decided that for
reasons Of state Alexander should marry
the Princess Dagmar, he made no deter
mined opposition.
The marriage took place Nov. o, 1865, and
although authorities conflict about almost
everything else pertaining to the life Of
Alexander III there is no doubt that the
married life Of the couple was almost an
ideal one, notwithstanding the unusual
circumstances which led to their union.
Gar Alexander II was killed by a nihilist
bomb March 18, 1881, and his son sue
ceeded him Immediately as Gear Alexander
III. During the years that he had been
heir apparent he seems to have neglected
no opportunity to at himself for the ex-
allied and arduous duties that were before
him.
Whether his design was to so rule Rus
sia as to make Its people happy and pros
porous or simply to strengthen the Russian
throne Is q question upon which there are
vital and radical differences Of opinion.
Certain it is that he changed the policy Of
his father, who had freed the serfs and
had in many ways indicated desire to
prepare his country for more liberal ad-
ADMINISTRATION Of the government, one that
should in some degree conform to modern
ideas.
The administration Of Alexander III
tended altogether toward q stricter draw
ing Of the lines and more severe repres-
sion In every direction. The secret police
Of Russia-always the most perfect sys-
TEN of espionage in the world-became
under Alexander III more Argus eyed
than ever before. The cause of popular
education, which had received some en-
couragement under the father was crushed
by the rule of the son; the press, which,
though restricted, had faint semblance
OF freedom under the old, was fettered alb
solutely under the new regime; Siberia,
bad enough always, became the horror Of
the century; the Jews, whose lot was never
pleasant one in Russia, became the sub
jeots Of the most malevolent persecution.
Alexander III was a man of remarkable
physical force. He stood feet inches in
his stockings, and 1t is told Of him that he
could take q silver coin of the size of dol
lar and double it between his thumb and
forefinger, When in 1888 his train was
wrecked and n number of persons were
killed, 1t is said he saved those who were
injury and perhaps death by supporting
portion of the fallen roof with his shoulders
till assistance came. He kept himself in
good condition by the most severe manual
labor. Like Gladstone, he was fond Of
chopping down trees, and in the winter
time he used to shovel snow paths in his
palace grounds.
During the last war between Russia and
Turkey he showed that he had plenty of
personal courage as well as physical
strength, and although during his entire
reign he was in constant expectation of be-
ing murdered he never hesitated to show
himself to his people when he thought the
occasion demanded it, and he oftentimes
was accounted even rash in his manner of
doing this.
1t is true that he was usually if not al
ways accompanied by n guard of mounted
Cossacks; but, as has been repeatedly
shown in the history of Russia, the nihilist
does not fear death when he deems 1t his
duty to kill a car, and though the pres
ence of the Cossacks insured the immedi-
ate destruction of any one who should
throw bomb in the path of the emperor
they could not insure imperial immunity
from such a missile.
1t is q fact that whenever Alexander III
appeared in public he was greeted with
the most extravagant demonstrations Of
loyalty on the part of the people.
All authorities agree that Alexander III
was very hard worker. He rose at in
the morning, and after quiet stroll
through the grounds of the palace partook
Of an early breakfast, which was followed
Immediately by severe manual toll. As
soon as this task was finished he plunged
In I'm, fho off al h,Ic ,f
energy and dogged persistence. His work
consisted principally of the examination Of
edicts ukases, laws and all sorts of reports
on all sorts Of subjects, on the margins of
which he would write decisions or impress
sions with frankness and an abandon
that were refreshing.
Whatever he wrote upon the margins Of
the documents submitted to him was pre-
served by glazing 1t over and carefully
filing 1t in the imperial archives. His
phraseology was not always very correct
nor the sentiments very refined. ''They
are set of hogs" was q fayorite conn.,
ment. What beast he isl" (ekaya sko-
tina was another. "Discouraging" (ney-
ooteshitelno) was his fayorite word for the
report of u fire, of failure of crops or q
famine.
The car used to finish his official duties,
If possible, before luncheon, which was
eaten at l o'clock and consisted of four
courses. After luncheon he used to take
recreation in the park. The newspapers
came In for his attention at that time of the
day, and then he gave audience to those
ministers whose reports were due, although
he rarely examined the papers submitted
and never passed upon them until the fol-
lowing day. In the winter time, when in
town, he used frequently to give up the
evening to the theater, of which he was
fond, or the opera, to which he was still
more devoted. The Gatshina palace was
his fayorite residence, though for what
reason it is difficult to understand, for it Ia
dull, dreary, dingy place, and as If to
enhance Its natural drawbacks Alexan-
der III lived In the worst suit of apart
ments in the palace. OF the famous win
ter palace he had a superstitious horror,
and even in the Anitshkoff palace he
seemed to feel out of his element
Five children were born to the car Ind
czarina Nicolas Alexandrowitch, born at
St Petersburg May IS, 1858; George Alex
androwitch, born May 0, 1871; Xenia
Alexandrowna, born April g. 1876; Mich
ael Alexandrowitch born Dec. s, 1873, and
Olga Alexandrowna born June IS, 1889.
OF his children, the car, as a model FAM
lily man, was very fond, and many stories
are told of the methods he used to adopt
to give them pleasure. The car is said to
have been quite Dickens equal in anna
teur theatricals in everything but literary
ability. The cars amusements with his
children were not confined to play acting.
He was fond of putting on old clothes and
romping in the woods, and he used to de-
light in throwing sticks to be chased by
dogs, In running races with young men
and various other forms of athletic sports.
1t is claimed by those who ought to know
that Alexander III was almost the only
European sovereign of his time who did
not keep q mistress.
The czarina was the reverse of her hus-
band in appearance. She was of attractive
presence, of the northern type tall and
slender, with blue eyes and blonde hair.
She, more than any other member of the
imperial family, was in constant fear of
the czar's assassination. She was passion