The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-03
6USsIA'S kEW EMPEROR.
A soldierly and Accomplished Prince. of
Whose Character Llttle 10 Known.


The death Of Alexander III. makes his
eIdeSt son the most prominent and most
eagerly discussed man in Europe His
new position cOnferS upon him such
vast opportunities of working his fellow
creatures good or evil that the interest
belonging 10 his character, intellect and
political views IS Of necessity very keen
But Of the new Car scarcely anything
IS accurately known. For the present
nearly all that is affirmed Of him IS
purely conjcctural. This Is shown by the
conflicting theories that are current
respecting his personality. Outside a
small class Of princes and dlpiOmatists.
two entirely Incompatible accounts are
According to the more probable one
he is man very ike his father, over
reserved inheXiDle In will and penetrated
with sense partly proud, partly self
distruStful Of the magnitude and obliga-
tlons of his high destiny. According TO
the other account The CzaTewitz is so
weak that the late Emperor contemplated
an alteration in the direct succession.
Ihat IN the light Of his recent betrOthal
10 the Princess AliX looks ludicTOusly
improbable, but in any case the impor-
tant fact IS that the new cars real
iualues are for the present wrapped
IN provoking mystery.
EARLY TANNING.
In one respect Car Nicholas has been
fortunate. His mother, the CZariuI, Is
woman OF noble character, and the
care which she bestowed upon the educa-
tiOn OF her children has been power
IA! influence for good. Il am mother
10 her imperial ConsOrt when he eX-
pressed a fear that her constant solicit
tgde for her children reR might impair her
refused TO rcuounce her maternal care
in favor Of any other person.
The SCieuUiiC training OF the young
Prince was superintended by his governor
and tutor, General DanlOVitch. He
brought up his pupil free from prejudices
of all kinds, and this was greatly 10
his credit since this carly education
had TO be carried out at a time when
the hatGed OF Germany and Germans was
at its height in Russia
At the wish OF the late Car more
attention was given TO modern science
than 10 the classical work Dead Ian
guages We're not taught AT ALL and an
Clent history only up TO a certain point
while, on the other hand, the records
OF recent centuries, especially so far
as they bore upon Kussia, were carefully
read. At the same time good deal
OF Muscovite history and much that per-
tained to the rise of his own family was
kept back from the Prince
The necessary amount Of mathematics
and a very thorough knowledge Of Ee-
ography was instilled into him and
particular attention was given 10 the
language and literature Of his own coun-
try and Of Germany, France and Eng
a
speaks and writes tluentIy. He was also
thoroughly instructed in constitutional
history. law, the administration Of the
country, finance and political and social
lected and care was taken that their
instruction should not be warped by po-
litlCal views.
A DEVOTED SOLDIER.
The car Nicholas is twenty-sIx wears
Of age. He entered the army at eighteen,
and Is an ardent soldier. His regiment
OF hussars is said TO be the smartest I'm
the service. lie Is an excellent swords
man, a sure pistol shot and an accom-
plished hOrseman. Unlike many Rus
slams he Is iutOlerant Of hard drinking
and Furnishes his soldiers severely for
any transgressions I'm this respect In
appearance he bears no resemblance TO
his father, Alexander H., nor TO his
grandfather, Alexander H., nor TO his
great-grandfather, Nicholas l., all Of
of manly beauty. The new Car re-
sembles his mother or rather his moth
er's nephew, the Duke OF York eldest
son Of the Prince Of Wales The Duke
however IS rather taller than the car
Who-to sum up his physical attributes
possesses a good though slight figure
keen eyes and a dark brown beard
The car has travelled considerably
and has paid several visits to England
the last occasion being the marriage of
the Duke of York During a tour round
the world he made ,hree years ago, his
life was attempted 10y 4 Japanese ia
matte but he was saved by Prince George
Of Greece. who warded OF the sword of
the assassin with his walking stick. He
is Ataman OF the COssaCk troops. as well
as of the irregular CossaCk soldery or
the Don and the KOuban, and holds
number Of honorary COlonelCies in the
Russian and other European armies He
is also a knight of the Garter. Ii will be
remembered that he was appointed by
D. flf IN Ia
dinarv Commission which was intrusted
with the task OF distributing food 10 the
starving peasantry during the last great
famine.