Morris tribune., 1894-11-07
THE CzAR's LIFE.
Brief biography of the Distinguished
Ruler of Russia.

Brief Biography of the Distinguished
Ruler of Russia.
Less is known of the real personality of
Alexander III, the deceased ear of Russia,
than of any of his contemporaries among
the monarchs of Europe. He has been de
scribed as man OF marked intelligence
and of stupid dullness, as man of great
kindness and of ferocious cruelty; it has
been stated that he personally read the
newspapers every day, and that he rarely,
if ever, glanced at newspaper; it has
been declared that the real facts regarding
the condition Of his unhappy subjects were
seduoJsly kept from him, and that he was
personally well acquainted with all their
troubles; the cruelties of Siberia, it has
been claimed repeatedly, were perpetrated
entirely without his knowledge and it has,
also been said that he has not only been
cognizant of these -erueIties, but that he
has rejoiced in them.
All this being true, it must be obvious
to the reader that anything like an accu-
rate picture of Alexander III as he really
existed is out of the question Hewas the
second son of Gar Alexander IL He was
born March 10, 1915 His mother was the
Princess Maria, daughter of the late Grand
Duke of Hesse-Darnstadt
Nicholas, the Oldest son, died April "a,
1865, aged %, and Alexander became heir
apparent. Nicholas was engaged to marry
the Princess Dagmar, daughter of the
King of Denmark. and sister to the Prin-
cess OF Wales, and it was the wish of AL
exander Il, after the death of Nicholas.
that Alexander III should take her for a
wife. This was done and the marriage
has proved very happy one, notwith-
standing the unusual circumstances which
led to their union. Czar Alexander II was
killed by nihilist bomb March 13, 1881.
and his son succeeced him Immediately as
Czar Alexander III.
Physical Strength and Courage.
Alexander III was a man of remarkable
physical force He stood feet inches in
his stockings, and it is told of him that he
could take silver coin of the size of a dol
lar and double it between his thumb and
forefnger.
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
being 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.
All authorities agree that Alexander III
was very hard worker. He rose at Z in
the morning, and after a quiet stroll
through the grounds of the palace partook
of en- early breakfast, which was followed
Immediately bg severe manual toll As
soon as this task was finished he plunged
into the official business OF the day with
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 a frankness and an abandon
that were refreshing
THESE duties were usually finished by
o'clock and luncheon followed. After
this came recreation in the park and the
newspapers The evenings were fre-
quently given up to the theater or opera
There were five children and the car
was very fond of them, devising many
ways for their entertainment and amuse-
ment.
The car was intensely religious and
bigoted, but was accounted strictly honest
and sincere. He believed implicitly that
he ruled by divine right