The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-10-20
DESCRIPTION or LlvAplA.
Est.,s to which the Czar Has Gone in
Search of Health.

/ R0ISk0 " hhO kuO NAS4 3h2O NOuo IN
Search of Health.
Livadia. where the stricken car now
lies, is the name of an estate lying
about thirty miles southeast Of Sebas.
topol. On it stand two palaces, sur,
rounded by magnificent gardens and
vineyards, while the neighborhood is
dotted with the castles and villas be-
longing to the Russian uristocracy, to
whom the place is IL fuvorito autumn
resort. In the minds of most people
the Crimen is naturally associated only
with tiercely contested battles, hard
| ships aud heroic eats Of arms.
The place itself is strangely out of
harmony with these stern and forbid
ding ideas. The southern part of the
peninsula has been called a little Rus
| sian Italy. und it certainly has many
Just claims TO tile title. Bathed in
sunshine. surrounded by q sea of tho
deepest blue, the Crimea hangs like a
ieweled locket from the broad expanse
| of the Muscovite steppes. 1t is to the
Russians of Petersburg or Moscow
something similar to II glimpse Of the
warm, distant, gorgeous east. 1t has
inspired the greatest of their modern
poets, Pushkinc, and after him many
Others sought its shores in quest of
similar picturesque impressions.
The Crilnean coast closely resembles
the shores of Greece. 1t has The same
line of straight cliffs strealked with
am Der aud crimson. The monastery of
st. George rises abruptly on the sum-
NIT of q crag, like that of Athos, and
p~rotiles the silhouette of its church on
the brilliant azure of the sky. On the
-, ,n,to 1,~1s,,rr f,,O,,, tLa p,,.;.-f
convent TO the interior or along the
coast, every name is strangely familiar.
There is the wide bay of Balaltlavn, al
most u sea in itself, and q little farther
the Corniche road, which the Russians
proclaim proudly to be unrivaled by
the Italian one bearing the same name.
1t begins at the Baidar gate, and is at
the outset wild and deserted. but pres
emily 1t winds through pretty woods,
trailing vines and on all sides are seen
elegant villas and stately palaces
among the trees.
The Car Nicholas is credited with
making the Crimea what it is now. He
took q strong liking to the province at
an enrly visit, became passionately
fond of it and constantly improved 1t.
He planned the post road of the Cor
niche, imported the cultivation of
grapes, built the magnificent palace OF
Aloupka, and pointed out the most
favorable localities for the erection Of
dwelling houses. The wealthy mobiles
followed the example of the emperor,
ard the Crimea soon grew indipensa-
ble to the world of fashion. A
halcyon era of wealth, elegance
and picturesque prosperity was
developed. but it was interrupted by
the disastrous war Of 1854, that caused
general ruin and fight. Within tho
last twenty years only have life and
animation been restored with the OPEN
ing OF the Sebastopol railway. Alex
ander II gave a fresh impetus to That
revival by plainly avowing that he pre-
ferred his residence of Livadia to any
other of his imperial palaces. Tho
n%eighboring city of Yalta was promptly
peopled with conrtiers and function
aries eager to initiate their sovereign.
and the fortune Of that part of the sea-
board was made.
The present czar is Us fond of the
Crineu as his predecessors. He elected
to celebrate his silver wedding at
Livadin in 1901, and every year he has
spent some of his summer holidays
with his family in this beautiful palace
on the sea. He has always felt safer,
moro at his ease, less exposed to muir
derons plots and socialistic outrage.
among the gentle, unsophisticated
inhabitants OF the southern pc
ninsula, who seem to have
retained not a few of the best
characteristics of their renothe Scyth-
ian ancestors, aud who have a sincere
regard and reverence for their little
Father" Here he was able to throw
aside for a time the cares of state and
surrender himself unr~eservedly to the
enjoyment of a private and domestic
life. This is IL side of the cars char
acter with which the general public is
comparatively unfamiliar. The czar
has always taken a lively interest in
the pleasures of the peasant, and his
latest photograph illustrates one Of the
most estimable sides of his character.