The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-05
THE PERSONALITY OF THE GAR.
some Interesting Details of His Private
Life and Amusements

Inc Cars physique was exceptionally
powerful. The feats of physical strength
with which he was won't to amuse him
SELF In his youth would make the for
tune of any of his. subjects. He has
twisted and broken thick iron pokers
and bars with his hands, has bent
pewter tankards into Douquet-holders,
has burst open doors, raised heavy bur-
dens, and accomplished enough to justify
his claim to the title of the Russian
Samson. But the nickname which has
stuck to him throughout his life, al
though equally indicative of strength,
includes such other physical peculiarites
as his upward scowl, his unwieldly
gait, and strange butting of the head.
Bullock was the term of endearment
by which his father was accustomed to
call him, and he is still known as "The
Bull" by the majority of his Russian
subjects.
Raughtiness. distrust and wilfullness
are among the qualities with which he
is almost universally credited: but in
reality it is difficult not to merge the
first in natural shyness, or to dissociate
the other two from the caution that
BELTS a conscientious autocrat and the
firmness that should characterize the
lieutenant of the Lord. His habits Of life
are simpler and more prosaic than those
of his courtiers, his highest pleasures
those of the enlightened bourgeois. of
balls, dances, ceremonies, receptions
and official dinners he has holy horror.
and he never breathes freely except at
his writing table or in the circle of mis-
family. At Gatshina, near st. Peters,
burg he generally rises at seven a, M.
and after quiet stroll through the
grounds OF his palace, returns to partake
OF light breakfast, after which an
hour or SO OF severe manual labor pre-
pares him for the official business of the
day. He is always ready to put his
hands to anything in the shape of work
that has to be done. He has often been
willing to assist the gardeners, forestan
the uphoisterers, vie with the woodman,
and outstrip the snowcarrier. But his
usual work has frequently been telling
trees, saving them into planks. and
planning them for the cabinet maker, or
else chopping them up for fuel. In win
ter he has frequently put on short.
plain jacket, sbovelled all the snow that
had fallen on the avenues and walks of
the palace into mounds, and, if permit
ted, carried it away to distant spot in
the grounds.
His official duties are severe. He has
piles of ukases and edicts to read and
sign, and numerous letters and petitions
to answer and he almost always writes
his comments and decisions with his
own hand, with an outspoken regard for
truth. as he conceives it, which at times
breeds serious trouble. Nearly every
day he gives audiences to his ministers.
listens TO and discusses their reports.
and endeavors to get an insight into the |
progress they are making. He receives
his knowledge of what is going on in the |
outside world from two different sources.
The one is Gen. Tsherevin, the Cars |
jester" whose piquant stories about the |
adventures and mishaps of the actors |
on the stage of high life interest and |
amuse the appre ciative monarch, the |
other is the SO called Imperial Review. |
which, to my knowledge, existed during |
the reign of the Emperor Alexander II. |
L is manuscript selection of extracts |
from the principal newspapers, one |
chapter containing a number of items |
culled from Russian journals and the |
other composed of resumes of foreignsor- |
gans. Both are always written out on |
the finest paper, in most legible hand |
and reach the Emperor one day |
dlCef uaGe. he occasionally glanceS |
through them himself, but generally |
leaves them to be read by the adjutant |
On duty.
In the days of which / am speaking
only a short time since-lunch was al |
ways served at one O'Clock, and consist |
ed of three courses, including soup. At |
ter this modest meal his Majesty took |
his recreation, walking in the garden |
with the mem bers of his family, chatting |
with Gen. Tsherevin or one of his ad iu.
tants, or else flushing the manual task
from which pressure of official work had |
called him away in the morning. This |
relaxation was again succeeded by audi |
ences, the reading and signing of edicts /
and orders, and the killing routine of |
government by signature. At eight D.
m. dinner, consisting of four courses. az
served en- famille; and in the evening
there was always an informal tea in tha
Empress's rooms, at which the Gar an
peared in simple check blouse and
leather belt. In town he never dined. |
unless compelled by etiquette to enter.
tain foreign prince or diplomatist: |
lunch was served at 100, and consisted |
Of four courses instead of three: and in
the evening, at seven, cold supper was